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Pedro Maffia

Pedro Mario Maffia (August 28, 1899 – October 16, 1967) was an Argentine tango bandoneonist, bandleader, composer and teacher, as well as starring in several tango films.

Maffia had a hard upbringing, he was beaten with a chain by his father and lived in dire poverty. He eventually ran away from home to live in the town of Punta Alta in Buenos Aires Province, where he was discovered by Carlos Gardel and José Razzano.

Maffia is remembered as a pioneer of the bandoneon and a great stylist. He was one of the first to play the instrument a cappella. He had a relaxed playing style and an inventiveness for misplaced accents and nuances.

Maffia starred in a number of tango films including ¡Tango! (1933), Canillita (1936) and Fueye querido (1966). He also worked as a music teacher, and wrote an important method of teaching the bandoneon.

The bandoneonist Aníbal Troilo dedicated a song to him entitled A Pedro Maffia.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 28, 1899 (Buenos Aires), Died October 16, 1967 (Buenos Aires)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1941

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, leader, bandoneón

Notes: Brother of bandoneon player and composer Angel Maffia. Often listed on Victor disc labels as "P. M. Maffia."

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 56 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BAVE-1634 10-in. Winter 1928 Bandoneón Orquesta Típica Julio Pollero Instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BAVE-012144 10-in. 3/23/1938 La mariposa Orquesta Típica Juan D'Arienzo Instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BAVE-039168 10-in. between 12/22/1939 and 1/25/1940 La mariposa Hugo del Carril ; Orquesta Tito Ribero Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BAVE-039631 10-in. 11/13/1940 No aflojes Orquesta Típica Angel d'Agostino ; Angel Vargas Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BAVE-039853 10-in. 4/16/1941 Te aconsejo que me olvides Francisco Fiorentino ; Orquesta Típica Anibal Troilo Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W95636 10-in. approximately 1927 ¿Porque no has venido? Pilar Arcos Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia W96502 10-in. May 1928 Noche de reyes : Tango canción Fortunio Bonanova Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia W96508 10-in. May 1928 La noche de reyes Joseph M. Lacalle ; Orquesta del Maestro Lacalle Instrumental ensemble composer  
Columbia W370130 10-in. between 1930 and March 1932 Anoche en el club Pedro Maffia ; Orquesta Típica Pedro Maffia Instrumental ensemble leader  
Columbia W370155 10-in. between 1930 and March 1932 Afreando Pedro Maffia ; Orquesta Típica Pedro Maffia Instrumental ensemble leader  
Columbia W370303 10-in. between 1930 and March 1932 Lamento de amor Pedro Maffia ; Orquesta Típica Maffia Instrumental ensemble leader  
Columbia W370332 10-in. between 1930 and March 1932 No te hagas la Greta Garbo Pedro Maffia ; Orquesta Típica Pedro Maffia Instrumental ensemble leader, composer  
Columbia W370342 10-in. between 1930 and March 1932 No llores m'hijita Pedro Maffia ; Orquesta Típica Maffia Instrumental ensemble leader  
Columbia W370343 10-in. between 1930 and March 1932 Yira...yira Pedro Maffia ; Orquesta Típica Pedro Maffia Instrumental ensembleInstrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W370476 10-in. between 1930 and March 1932 Taconeando Orquesta Castellano ; Tania Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
OKeh W401302 10-in. 11/9/1928 Noche de Reyes Alberto Infantas Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Brunswick E27824 10-in. 7/3/1928 Noche de reyes Orquesta Típica [Louis Katzman] Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E27827 10-in. 7/3/1928 Noches de reyes Pilar Arcos Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E30118 10-in. 6/19/1929 Bandoneón Genaro Veiga Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Brunswick E30824 10-in. 9/30/1929 Te aconsejo que me olvides Orquesta Típica Osvaldo Fresedo ; Genaro Veiga Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Brunswick BA652 10-in. 1930 Reo noble Orquesta Típica Pedro Maffia Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader  
Brunswick BA686 10-in. 1930 Rezongon Orquesta Típica Pedro Maffia Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader  
Brunswick BA783 10-in. 1930 El matrero Luis Díaz ; Orquesta Típica Pedro Maffia Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader  
Brunswick BA789 10-in. 1930 Rezongon Orquesta Típica Pedro Maffia Instrumental ensemble leader  
Brunswick BA792 10-in. 1930 Los ceibos del Parana Luis Díaz ; Orquesta Típica Pedro Maffia Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader  
(Results 26-50 of 56 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Maffia, Pedro," accessed June 6, 2023, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112414.

Maffia, Pedro. (2023). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved June 6, 2023, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112414.

"Maffia, Pedro." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2023. Web. 6 June 2023.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112414

External Sources

Wikipedia: Pedro Maffia

Discogs: Pedro Maffia

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Maffia, Pedro, 1899-1967 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2004050936

Wikidata: Pedro Maffia - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q369514

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/66181713

MusicBrainz: Pedro Maffia - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/0c7e5e60-7db8-4fa9-beea-ea7dc197ddde

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