Charly García

Lore & Background

García was born in Buenos Aires into an upper-middle-class family. He showed early musical talent, learning to play a zither by ear at age two and later a toy piano. His parents enrolled him in the Thibaud Piazzini Conservatory in 1956, where he studied piano under a strict teacher. At age nine, he composed his first piece, 'Corazón de hormigón,' but kept it secret due to fear of his teacher's reaction. His first public performance was at age four in 1956.

Reader's Guide

In his teenage years, García co-founded the folk-rock band Sui Generis with Nito Mestre, releasing three successful studio albums that became anthems for a generation. After the band's dissolution in 1975, he joined supergroups PorSuiGieco and La Máquina de Hacer Pájaros, then founded Serú Girán in the late 1970s, which became one of the most important bands in Argentine music history for its musical quality and lyrics challenging the military dictatorship. Following Serú Girán's dissolution in 1982, García launched a prolific solo career, releasing the acclaimed trilogy Yendo de la cama al living, Clics modernos, and Piano bar. His later work included collaborations with Pedro Aznar and a second trilogy of albums. He won multiple awards, including the Konex Platino Award in 1985, a Grammy Award for Musical Excellence in 2009, and the Gardel de Oro three times. In 2010, he was declared an Illustrious Citizen of Buenos Aires, and in 2013 received an honorary doctorate from the National University of General San Martín.

Did You Know?

• García learned to play 'Torna a Surriento' by ear on the piano at a young age after hearing it from a family music box.
• He composed his first piece, 'Corazón de hormigón,' at age nine but hid it from his teacher.
• His mother worked as a producer of radio and television programs dedicated to tango and Argentine folklore.
• He won the Gardel de Oro Award three times: in 2002, 2003, and 2018.