Biography
Angel Gregorio Villoldo Arroyo (1861 - 1919) was an Argentine musician, one of the pioneers of tango music. He was a lyricist, composer and singer. He often played guitar and accordion when singing and managed to tell stories by singing, something that made him famous and sought after in cafes and convents in Buenos Aires. There is not much information about his childhood and youth. He was born in Buenos Aires, probably on February 16, 1861. Until he became established in music, Viloldo did many other jobs to make a living, such as being a printer, a circus clown, a security guard in remote Buenos Aires neighborhoods.In 1889, he published a collection of cantos criollos (Creole folk songs), including original lyrics intended for guitar singing. In 1916, he released other songs with a deep national content, entitled Argentine Folk Songs, in commemoration of the centenary of Argentina's Declaration of Independence. He wrote a modern method of learning the guitar with symbols, called Método América, published in 1917.
He traveled to France to record phonographs, and this gave a boost to Argentine music in Europe. The most important piece of music composed by Villoldo was "El Choclo", which stands out for its melody and rhythm. Other special musical works of Villoldo were "El torito", "Cuidado con los 50", "Una fija", "Yunta brava", "El cachorrito", "Pineral", "El pimpollo", "Trigo limpio" and " The bicycle ». Another of his compositions, the milonga "Matufias (O el arte de vivir)", contains a description of the history of Argentina. He died in 1919, although there are some who claim that he lived for many years, away from the lights of fame.