Miguel Villasboas

Uncorrected translation by Google translate

PIANIST, ORCHESTRA LEADER (1936)

He led Uruguay’s most popular tango group, after Donato Racciatti. During his career he remained faithful to a traditional and evocative style, closely linked to that of maestro Roberto Firpo.

Born in Montevideo, he was touched by the tango at a young age. His musical career was furthered by teaching, he was professor of the History of Music Education and taught until his retirement in 1993.

In 1952 he formed his first tango group, which performed successfully in dance halls, recitals and on television. In 1955 he joined Agapios’ orchestra as a pianist, and after his death in 1959 he again established his own orchestra (sextet).

During Firpo’s last performance in Uruguay in 1964, Roberto Firpo invited Miguel to play in his quartet and the latter played the tango El choclo. After listening to his performance, the maestro said to him, “Boy, you are stealing everything from me!”

His discography is impressive: 60 LPs, 18 cassettes, 10 compact discs.
He has always toured extensively at home and abroad around the world, including in 2001 with extraordinary success in Japan.

In 1976 he received a gold LP from England’s London label due to the sales success of his recording of De pura cepa.

Villasboas has been a tenacious and persistent artist in his struggle to prevent tango from losing the position it deserves in the cultural identity of the River Plate.

He played together with big stars such as: Fresedo, Caló, d’Arienzo, Canaro and singer Castillo.