Roberto Maida (1908–1993): Canaro's singer who took tango to Europe

Roberto Maida (born Domingo Maida, known to friends as “Mingo”; Francica, Italy, March 1908 – Buenos Aires, 30 March 1993) was an Argentine tango singer. He is best remembered for his recordings with Francisco Canaro in the 1930s and as one of the singers who brought tango to European audiences.

Early years

Maida came to Argentina with his family in 1909 and grew up in Balvanera, in central Buenos Aires. He started singing at neighbourhood parties and weddings, where he met figures such as Carlos Gardel, José Razzano and Ignacio Corsini.

The Italian bandleader Balbis heard his baritone voice and recommended him to José Galvani, owner of the Segundo Coliseo cinema at Bernardo de Irigoyen and Venezuela. Maida made his debut there, singing between silent films with Balbis’s orchestra.

At the end of 1927 he was hired for the Astral cinema on Avenida Corrientes. The house orchestra included Miguel Caló and Domingo Cuestas (bandoneons), Estanislao Sabaresse and Raúl Kaplun (violins), Armando Baliotti (piano) and Luis “Pucherito” Adesso (double bass).

Europe, 1929–1933

In a café in Boedo, Maida met the poet and composer Cátulo Castillo. A Spanish impresario offered them a contract to tour Spain, as competition for the popular trio Irusta–Fugazot–Demare. They played Seville, Barcelona and Madrid until 1930, then Lisbon, where they performed at Maxim’s and during the 1931 carnival.

In Paris, Maida sang with Manuel Pizarro’s orchestra. Eduardo Bianco then took him to Germany, where they played Hamburg, Cologne, Munich and Berlin. With Pizarro he also toured Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain. He returned to Buenos Aires in mid-1933.

Pedro Maffia and Francisco Canaro

Maida sang refrains on Pedro Maffia’s Columbia records; the best known is Confesión.

In 1934 he joined Francisco Canaro’s orchestra, debuting on record with No sé quién soy. His recordings with Canaro include:

In 1936 he appeared in Canaro’s musical comedy La patria del tango, which opened on 9 July at the Teatro Buenos Aires. In his memoirs, Canaro singled out Maida as one of the best refrain singers he had worked with.

Later career

In 1939 Maida left Canaro to sing with Argentino Galván. In 1940 he formed his own orchestra, conducted by Galván, with Máximo Mori, Tití Rossi and Héctor María Artola on bandoneon. As a soloist he recorded Yira, yira, Silbando, Música de calesita and Te odio for Columbia. In 1941 he toured neighbouring countries and sang on Radio Belgrano and Radio Sarmiento.

He retired from performing in 1968 and became building manager at Radio Belgrano. He died in Buenos Aires on 30 March 1993.

Based on a tribute by Ricardo Espinosa Belén originally published on El Portal del Tango, revised and expanded.