Veronica Parra
Practically Family
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Have you ever heard of Carlos Gardel (1890-1935)? Born in France (or Uruguay,depending on whom you speak to), he emigrated to Argentina at the age of two. Gardel was (and remains, more than 70 years after his death in a plane crash) the single most popular interpreter of tango songs in history. In addition to singing and writing tangos, Gardel starred in numerous Argentine movies, performed on NBC radio in New York, starred in several "videos" (with Bing Crosby, Ray Noble and others) for Paramount Pictures, and had just signed a Hollywood film contract when his life was cut tragically short.
Argentina has three icons: Eva Peron, Diego Maradona, and Carlos Gardel. To this day, images of the singer are found on postcards and posters in Buenos Aires. The sound of his voice drifts from open windows. For Argentina, Gardel is Crosby, Sinatra and Elvis rolled into one.
What's less well remembered is that Carlos Gardel was the most stylish of all Golden Era dressers. Below is a photo of him in a single-breasted, peak lapel suit with a double-breasted vest -- with a horizontal stripe shirt and a pearl stickpin in his tie. It doesn't get more dapper than that!
In other sections of the Lounge, I've posted more photos of Gardel in a uniquely striped dress shirt; a snappy fedora; and even his brillantined hair.
Viva Gardel!
