Augusto Algueró

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Augusto Algueró
Born
Augusto Algueró Dasca

(1934-02-23)23 February 1934
Barcelona, Spain
Died16 January 2011(2011-01-16) (aged 76)
Other namesGustavo Dasca
Occupation(s)Composer and music director
Spouses
(m. 1961; div. 1974)
Natividad Benito
(m. 1986)

Augusto Algueró Dasca (23 February 1934 – 16 January 2011) was a Spanish composer, arranger and music director.[1] He wrote more than 500 songs and about 200 musical scores for films and television.[2]

Career

Algueró was born in Barcelona, and studied both music and medicine.[1] Among his most famous songs are "Penélope", which was performed by Joan Manuel Serrat, as well as "Noelia" by Nino Bravo, "Tómbola" by Marisol and "La chica yé-yé" by Concha Velasco.[3]

He wrote the debut entry of Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest at the 1961 contest, "Estando contigo" by Conchita Bautista. He was the musical director of the 1969 contest, which was held in Madrid, and also conducted "Catherine", sung by Romuald Figuier, representing Luxembourg and "Vivo Cantando", sung by Salomé, representing Spain. "Vivo Cantando" tied for first place with other three songs with 18 points. This win marked Spain's second win in the contest and the first time that a country had won two years in a row.[4] At the 1970 contest he conducted the Spanish entry, "Gwendolyne" sung by Julio Iglesias. He wrote and conducted the Spanish entry at the 1972 contest, "Amanece" sung by Jaime Morey.

He was also the musical director of the first OTI Festival, which was held in Madrid in 1972, and also conducted "Niña", sung by Marisol, representing Spain, "Busco mi destino", sung by Rona, representing Uruguay, "Sabes que aquí estamos América", sung by Victor Heredia, representing Argentina, "Glória Glória Aleluia", sung by Tonicha, representing Portugal, "Oh señor", sung by Basilio, representing Panama and "Siempre habrá en la luna una sonrisa", sung by Fernando Casado, representing the Dominican Republic. He conducted at the interval act an orchestral medley of two of his songs, "Penélope" and "Te Quiero, Te Quiero".[5]

Algueró died at his home in Torremolinos, at the age of 76, after suffering a heart attack.[3]

Selected filmography

Year Title Notes
1950 Criminal Brigade
1952 Persecution in Madrid
1952 Forbidden Trade
1952 The Pelegrín System
1953 The Dance of the Heart
1954 One Bullet Is Enough
1955 Closed Exit
1955 Three are Three
1956 The Adventures of Gil Blas
1958 The Nightingale in the Mountains
1958 Red Cross Girls
1959 Listen To My Song
1960 An American in Toledo
1961 An Angel Has Arrived
1962 Tómbola
1962 Canción de Juventud
1963 Rocío from La Mancha
1965 Television Stories
1966 Road to Rocío
1967 Historia de la frivolidad
1968 Tuset Street
1974 Cabaret Woman

References

  1. ^ a b "Hispanically Speaking News". Archived from the original on 22 January 2011.
  2. ^ iMDB.com – Augusto Algueró entry
  3. ^ a b "Spanish Composer Augusto Alguero Dies". Latin American Herald Tribune. Archived from the original on 21 April 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Eurovision Song Contest 1969". Eurovision Song Contest. Eurovision Song Contest 1969. 29 March 1969. TVE / EBU.
  5. ^ "Festival OTI de la Canción 1972". OTI Festival. OTI Festival 1972 (in Spanish). 25 November 1972. TVE / OTI.
Preceded by Eurovision Song Contest conductor
1969
Succeeded by