El "Polaco" Goyeneche

1926-1994

Roberto Goyeneche was born on January 29, 1926 in Saavedra's neighborhood, Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was nicknamed "El Polaco" (The Polish) by his friends because he was skinny, had long blonde hair and looked very much like a young polish man of that generation.

He was an extraordinary tango singer whose expressiveness turned him into a respected and recognized vocalist. As a teenager he frequented cafes and cabarets where the best tango singers of the 40's performed.

His first jobs were as a bus driver, taxi driver and a mechanic while his first success in the artistic world was at the age of 18 in a contest for new voices in 1944. He was later fashioned in the mighty Gardelian movement and created his own style and a way of singing, as if talking, that made him clearly identifiable.

El Polaco started his career as singer in the Raúl Kaplun's orchestra in 1944, and a few years later, in 1956, he was the singer for Aníbal Troilo's orchestra. Goyeneche's repertoire was very extensive and varied from the oldest to most modern tangos.

He sang classic tangos such as "La última curda" (Edmundo Rivero), "Naranjo en flor" (Zarateño Virgilio Esposito), "Qué solo estoy" (Raúl Berón), "Gricel" y "Garúa" (Francisco Fiorentino) with his own style. He also sang Carlos Gardel's repertoire.

He beautifully sang the tangos "Afiches", "Maquillaje" and "Chau no va mas" of Homero Expósito and re-launched an astonishing version of "Naranjo en flor". His version of "Malena" is impressive and the singing on  "Discepolín" (an Homero Manzi Poem) is touching.

He was an admirer and close friend of Aníbal Troilo with whom he recorded 26 songs, and a few years after he went solo, they got back together and recorded two albums titled "El Polaco y Yo" (The Polaco and Me) and " Te acordás Polaco?" (Do you remember, Polaco?).

He was successful as lead singer after shining as an orchestra singer and, curiously, an enthusiastic recognition and a great devotion of tango lovers came with the maturity of his voice.

He died in Buenos Aires on August 27, 1994, while at the peak of his career