Orquesta Típica Alberto Mancione

ith a brand new ensemble, he appeared at the opening of the Tibidabo cabaret on April 25, 1942, sharing the bill with the Aníbal Troilo orchestra. It was lined up with Alberto Mancione, Jorge Gutiérrez, Juan Salomone and Antonio López (bandoneons), Doroteo López, Jorge Fernández and Antonio Casanova (violins), José Cimarro (piano), Pablo Piazza (double bass), Horacio Torres, later replaced by Floreal Ruiz for six months (singers).

In 1950, as exclusive artist of Radio El Mundo, the personnel of his orchestra were as follows: Mancione, Ángel Domínguez, Roberto Vallejos, Antonio Longarella and Julio Menor (bandoneons), Francisco Mancini, David Aszenmil, Bautista Huerta and Manuel La Plaza (violins), Francisco Orrego (piano), Julio Zeitlin (viola), Ángel Molo (cello), Ítalo Bessa (double bass); the singers: Héctor Alvarado, in 1949 Jorge Ledesma and Carlos Vidal were included, the latter to replace Alberto Carol (for a very short time) and, in 1950, Francisco Fiorentino. They appeared at the Montecarlo dance hall on Corrientes and Libertad and recorded for the RCA-Victor label.

An interesting story: Mancione himself was who auditioned Alberto Deluchi to substitute for his singer Alberto Carol (the same one who recorded as vocalist of the Orquesta Típica Victor). It happened on Radio Splendid. The applicant picked up “Margot” and was successful, so he joined the orchestra. His singing partner was Héctor Alvarado. The orchestra’s agent, Julio Curi, suggested he needed a stage name. After listening to the Martínez-Ledesma duo, he suggested Jorge Ledesma as sobriquet and so it remained.

Their debut took place at the Cote D’Azur cabaret, on 536 25 de Mayo Street and, soon thereafter, on Radio Splendid. The following year they were hired by Radio El Mundo at prime time shows: Estrellas a mediodía, the never forgotten Glostora Tango Club —when Alfredo De Angelis was on leave— and at the dancing shows on weekends. With Mancione, Jorge Ledesma committed to disc 18 tracks.



In 1966 he put together a quartet with José Aguilera (piano), Pibledo (double bass), César Rilla (violin) and Mancione (bandoneon). On September 20, 1974, with a new quartet he appeared at the El Farolito tearoom of Villa Crespo, for a fourteen-year tenure.

Other musicians who played in his orchestra were: Juan José Paz, Armando Medialdea, Norberto Digoraro, Osvaldo Requena (pianists).

Carlos Pazo, Nicolás Paracino, Héctor Lettera, Ricardo Varela and Tito Rodríguez (bandoneon players).

Fernando Suárez Paz, Antonio Napole, Fernando Espíndola, Ángel Pando, Edmundo Baya, Ángel Bodas, Natalio Lamicella, Ángel Vilar, Mauricio Marcelli and Alfonso Bernaba (violinists).

Dino Quarlieri, Terreyro (cellists).

Mario Monteleone, Juan Vasallo, Román Arias, Fernando Cabarcos, Ángel Cardozo and Héctor Guri (double bass players).

The vocalists of his orchestra who succeeded in recording were: Jorge Ledesma, Héctor Alvarado, Ángel Varela, Francisco Fiorentino and Luis Correa. The actor Ubaldo Martínez was also featured in the milonga “La mujer y los vinos”.

We must also include José Torres, the best of his singers of whom some radio air takes are still kept; Horacio Torres, Floreal Ruiz (as Carlos Martel), Horacio Acosta, Alberto Carol, Carlos Vidal, Osvaldo de Sanctis (Osvaldo Ramos). Later: Alberto Rial, Olga Cabrera, Jorge Miró and Ángel Taborda.

He recorded 44 pieces, always for the Victor label. The first record “Ventarrón” and “Tinta roja”, was cut on July 28, 1950.