True Love Stories behind Tangos

Ada Falcón - Francisco Canaro

They met for the recording of La Morocha (The Brunette) in 1929.

Tangos by Francisco Canaro

Yo No Sé Que Me Han Hecho Tus Ojos (I Don’t Know What Your Eyes Have Done To Me), 1930

Te Quiero (I Love You), 1932

Envidia (Envy), 1936

Resentimiento (Resentment), 1937

Esperar (Waiting), 1937

El Día Que Yo Pueda, 1937

Cuando El Corazón, 1938

Nada Más (No More), 1938

No Mientas (Don’t Lie To Me), 1938

She stopped recording with Canaro in 1938 and left Buenos Aires in 1942.

Ramón Sixto Ríos & Mercedes Strickler Khalov

Inspired by a real love story with the composer Ramón Sixto Ríos (1913-1995) and Mercedes Strickler Khalov (1916-2001) who was born and lived all her life in Humboldt, province of Santa Fe. They met in 1939 when he visited her native town touring with theater company. They had formal relationship for 2 years mainly by letters since he lived in Buenos Aires, and she in the village.  He proposed to her in 1941 but she rejected. Despite that he kept writing to her for many years. For the pain of love not returned, he composed this song in 1941 as chamame which became one of the best known Argentinian folklore song. He later married another woman but she passed away 2 years later. In his later years he met with Mercedes Stickler again and proposed to her but she rejected, this time as well. When he passed away he gave the copyright of this song to her as the last gesture. 

Merceditas (Dear Young Mercedes)

José María Contursi (1911-72) & Susana Gricel Viganó (1920-94)

They met in 1935 at radio station. Contursi was 24, Gricel was 15. Read their story on todotango

Quiero Verte Una Vez Más (I Want to See You One More Time), 1940

Gricel (Gricel), 1942

Toda Mi Vida (My Whole Life), 1942

Cada Vez Que Me Recuerdes (Every Time You Remember Me), 1943

Sombras, Nada Más (Shadows, Nothing More), 1944

Cristal (Crystal), 1944

Garras (Claws), 1945

La Noche Que Te Fuiste (The Night You Went Away), 1945

Sin Lágrimas (Without Tears), 1946

Y La Perdí (And I Lost Her), 1947

Tú (You), 1949