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Pedro Vargas was one of the many Mexicans who felt in Cuba as if it had been their homeland. This performer known as “Tenor of the Americas”, “Nightingale of the Americas” and “Samurai of the Song” more than broke the record for visits to Cuba by any foreign visitor.
His biographers say that his first visit to the largest of the Antilles took place in 1932. That time he was in Havana with Agustín Lara. El Flaco de Oro composed many songs to be sung by him; 92 years ago they came, precisely, so that Pedro could sing pieces by Agustín while he accompanied him on his piano.
From then to date, both achieved fame and each one on their own came to Cuba to meet more than once. His visits were news events in the press of the time.
Every time Pedro undertook a Latin American tour, Cuba was part of an itinerary that extended for more than three decades until, according to the journalist, Ciro Bianchi, concluded in March 1959 when he sang in the Capri hotel cabaret. There were three decades during which Cuban theaters were packed to see him perform; His presentations on Cuban radio and television also took place.
The Tenor of the Americas had a double bond with Cienfuegos. About 20 years ago a neighbor was kind enough to lend me a photo that the singer dedicated to his mother in 1938.
For a long time I investigated which place in our city served as host to the visitor. Without being able to verify it to date, a person told me that he came to the Pearl of the South in response to an invitation from the Liceo de Cienfuegos.
The truth is that the photo exists – or existed – since the person commenting managed to scan it. From the original, after her death, first of the lady and then of her son, I do not know what fate she suffered. The original thing about the fact is that it was not a “serial” photo, since a Dedication appears addressed to Lilian, her admirer.
Pedro Vargas’ other link with Cienfuegos was his duet recordings made in Havana with Benny Moré. Those boleros overcame the test of time and crossed the borders of Cuba and Mexico. Titles like Life is a Dream, Sorry, Only one time and Obsessionrecorded in the fifties, add to the anthology of Latin American bolero.
As a soloist, we remember him in titles such as Women, with the signature of Agustín Lara. There were more than six decades as a performer during which he recorded pieces by other compatriots such as Armando Manzanero and José Alfredo Jiménez, also including the Cuban Frank Domínguez.
In 1957 the Tenor of the Americas celebrated 25 years of performances in Cuba. That was a reason to celebrate; For the occasion he performed the Fox Song Havana of my love, composed by Armando Oréfiche and recorded with the accompaniment of the Lecuona Cuban Boys orchestra. He selected her, with all intention, to demonstrate her affection for this land that he also considered his.
Pedro Vargas was born on April 29, 1906, which will soon be 118 years old. He went from sleep to death in Mexico City, on October 30, 1989. Today he is remembered as the most popular Mexican performer in Latin America.
Our country was a special place in his career. The city of Cienfuegos was part of the mutual affection that the artist and his Cuban audience professed.
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