Edgardo Donato

Edgardo Donato (Spanish pronunciation: [eðˈɣaɾðo ðoˈnato]; April 14, 1897 – February 15, 1963) was a tango composer and orchestra leader.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he was raised in Montevideo, Uruguay, where he was musically trained. Donato composed the 1924 tango "A media luz". It became a standard, which later had English lyrics and a verse melody written by Bob Musel. The latter adaptation was titled "Tell Me Marianne", and spent a week at number 1 on the British sheet music charts in June 1947.

Donato died aged 65 in 1963.

Birth and Death Data: Born Buenos Aires (capital and largest city of Argentina), Died February 15, 1963 (Buenos Aires (capital and largest city of Argentina) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1990

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, composer, songwriter

Notes: Edgardo Donato's father, Ernesto Donato, was a mandolinist, cellist, and conductor; his brother Osvaldo was a pianist, bandleader, and composer; his brother Ascanio (A. E. Donato) was a cellist and composer.

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 200 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor [Vi cat 37525-B] 10-in. approximately 1933 or 1934 La llorona Mercedes Simone Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble songwriter  
Victor BVE-40782 10-in. 12/15/1927 Volvé a casa Juan Pulido Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BVE-59574 10-in. 4/4/1930 Seguí no te parés Juan Arvizu Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BAVE-60162 10-in. spring 1930 Julián Orquesta Adolfo Carabelli Instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor 65547 10-in. 7/14/1932 Volvé! Orquestra Típica Gentile ; Malena de Toledo Instrumental ensemble, with female vocal solo composer  
Victor BAVE-66712 10-in. May 1932 Se fué sin decir adíos Libertad Lamarque Female vocal solo composer  
Victor BAVE-66849 10-in. July 1932 Volvé Orquesta Adolfo Carabelli ; Mercedes Simone Instrumental ensemble, with female vocal solo composer  
Victor BAVE-66863 10-in. August 1932 Volvé Libertad Lamarque Female vocal solo composer  
Victor BAVE-66980 10-in. 12/9/1932 El huracán Edgardo Donato Muchachos Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader, composer  
Victor BAVE-66981 10-in. December 1932 Adónde vas tan regalón? Edgardo Donato Muchachos Instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BAVE-74238 10-in. 7/13/1933 La novena Edgardo Donato Muchachos ; Félix Gutiérrez Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo and male vocal group leader  
Victor BAVE-74239 10-in. 7/13/1933 Veneración Edgardo Donato Muchachos Instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BAVE-74279 10-in. 8/8/1933 Pobre soñador Charlo ; Orquesta Adolfo Carabelli Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BAVE-74312 10-in. 9/11/1933 Triste y sin alpiste Orquesta Tipica Edgardo Donato Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader, songwriter  
Victor BAVE-74313 10-in. 9/11/1933 El acomodo Orquesta Tipica Edgardo Donato Instrumental ensemble leader, composer  
Victor BAVE-74354 10-in. October 1933 Mi Porteñita gracil Edgardo Donato Muchachos Instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BAVE-74355 10-in. Santa Milonguita Edgardo Donato Muchachos Instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BAVE-74376 10-in. November 1933 Penas Edgardo Donato Muchachos Jazz/dance band leader, composer  
Victor BAVE-74377 10-in. November 1933 ¡Qué haces! ¡Qué haces! Edgardo Donato Muchachos Instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BAVE-74414 10-in. 1/9/1934 Esto es el colmo Orquesta Tipica Edgardo Donato Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor BAVE-74415 10-in. 1/9/1934 Petronila y candelario Antonio Maida ; Orquesta Tipica Edgardo Donato Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader, composer  
Victor BAVE-74440 10-in. 2/9/1934 Ruego Edgardo Donato Muchachos Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal duet leader  
Victor BAVE-74441 10-in. February 1934 Abombada Orquesta Tipica Edgardo Donato Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader, composer  
Victor BAVE-74452 10-in. 3/12/1934 Noche Sevillana Edgardo Donato Muchachos ; Antonio Maida Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor BAVE-74453 10-in. 3/12/1934 Risas Edgardo Donato Muchachos ; Antonio Maida Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader, composer  
(Results 1-25 of 200 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Donato, Edgardo," accessed December 25, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108102.

Donato, Edgardo. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 25, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108102.

"Donato, Edgardo." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 25 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108102

External Sources

Wikipedia: Edgardo Donato

Discogs: Edgardo Donato

IMDb: Edgardo Donato

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Donato, Edgardo - https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/nb99074631

Wikidata: Edgardo Donato - https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q656025

VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/76513401

MusicBrainz: Edgardo Donato - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/e87d5ed5-5b1c-4689-a956-15a7a1635948

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

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