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Pedro Maffia

Pedro Mario Maffia (August 28, 1899 – October 16, 1967) was an Argentine tango bandoneonist, bandleader, composer and teacher, as well as starring in several tango films.

The son of Italian immigrants Angelo V. Maffia and Luisa Spinelli from Lombardy, Maffia had a hard upbringing; he was beaten with a chain by his father and lived in dire poverty. He eventually ran away from home to live in the town of Punta Alta in Buenos Aires Province, where he was discovered by Carlos Gardel and José Razzano.

Maffia is remembered as a pioneer of the bandoneon and a great stylist. He was one of the first to play the instrument a cappella. He had a relaxed playing style and an inventiveness for misplaced accents and nuances.

Maffia starred in a number of tango films including ¡Tango! (1933), Canillita (1936) and Fueye querido (1966). He also worked as a music teacher, and wrote an important method of teaching the bandoneon.

The bandoneonist Aníbal Troilo dedicated a song to him entitled A Pedro Maffia.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 28, 1899 (Buenos Aires), Died October 16, 1967 (Buenos Aires)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1949

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, leader, bandoneón

Notes: Brother of bandoneon player and composer Angel Maffia. Often listed on Victor disc labels as "P. M. Maffia."

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-37661 10-in. 2/3/1927 ¿Por qué no has venido? Juan Pulido Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-43368 10-in. 3/16/1928 Noche de Reyes Juan Pulido Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BAVE-44192 10-in. summer 1928 Amarguras Orquesta Típica de Caro Instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor 65783 10-in. 6/23/1933 Ventarron Lely Morel Female vocal solo composer  
Victor BAVE-74053 10-in. 3/13/1933 Ventarrón Alberto Gómez ; Orquesta Típica Victor Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BAVE-74062 10-in. 3/13/1933 Ventarrón Alberto Gómez ; Orquesta Típica Victor Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BAVE-86667 10-in. 10/4/1934 Juan Manuel Félix Gutiérrez ; Orquesta Típica Pedro Maffia Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor BAVE-86668 10-in. 10/4/1934 A través de los años Félix Gutiérrez ; Orquesta Típica Pedro Maffia Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader, composer  
Victor BAVE-93914 10-in. 9/24/1937 Abandono Orquesta Típica Pedro Laurenz Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BAVE-93993 10-in. between 11/23/1937 and 11/29/1937 Abandono Alberto Gómez Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BA-442 10-in. 11/12/1923 Hasta cuándo Orquesta Típica Fresedo Instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BA-621 10-in. 6/25/1925 Julián Pedro Laurenz ; Pedro Maffia Bandoneón duet instrumentalist, bandoneón  
Victor BA-622 10-in. 6/25/1925 Buen amigo Pedro Laurenz ; Pedro Maffia Bandoneón duet instrumentalist, bandoneón  
Victor BA-704 10-in. 11/12/1925 Sonsa Pedro Laurenz ; Pedro Maffia Bandoneón duet instrumentalist, bandoneón  
Victor BA-705 10-in. 11/12/1925 Titina Pedro Laurenz ; Pedro Maffia Bandoneón duet instrumentalist, bandoneón  
Victor BAVE-870 10-in. summer 1926 La cumparsita Pedro Laurenz ; Pedro Maffia Bandoneón duet instrumentalist, bandoneón  
Victor BAVE-871 10-in. summer 1926 Pura maña Pedro Laurenz ; Pedro Maffia Bandoneón duet composer, instrumentalist, bandoneón  
Victor BAVE-998 10-in. fall 1926 Sentencia Orquesta Típica de Caro Instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BAVE-1014 10-in. fall 1926 Negro Pedro Laurenz ; Pedro Maffia Bandoneón duet instrumentalist, bandoneón  
Victor BAVE-1015 10-in. fall 1926 Pato Pedro Laurenz ; Pedro Maffia Bandoneón duet instrumentalist, bandoneón  
Victor BAVE-1016 10-in. fall 1926 Mocosita Pedro Laurenz ; Pedro Maffia Bandoneón duet instrumentalist, bandoneón  
Victor BAVE-1017 10-in. fall 1926 Allá en el bajo Pedro Laurenz ; Pedro Maffia Bandoneón duet instrumentalist, bandoneón  
Victor BAVE-1415 10-in. Summer 1927 Amurado Agustín Magaldi Male vocal solo, with guitars composer  
Victor BAVE-1421 10-in. fall 1927 Amurado Orquesta Típica de Caro Instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BAVE-1620 10-in. Winter 1928 Bandoneón Rosita Quiroga Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor BAVE-1634 10-in. winter 1928 Bandoneón Orquesta Típica Julio Pollero Instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BAVE-012144 10-in. 3/23/1938 La mariposa Orquesta Típica Juan D'Arienzo Instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor MBS-032021 10-in. before 2/22/1939 Sentencia Susana Dulier ; Orquesta Argentina de Pepe de la Vega Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BAVE-039168 10-in. between 12/22/1939 and 1/25/1940 La mariposa Hugo del Carril ; Orquesta Tito Ribero Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BAVE-039289 10-in. 5/15/1940 Llanto Fernando Díaz ; Orquesta Típica Francisco J. Lomuto Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BAVE-039631 10-in. 11/13/1940 No aflojes Orquesta Típica Angel d'Agostino ; Angel Vargas Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BAVE-039853 10-in. 4/16/1941 Te aconsejo que me olvides Francisco Fiorentino ; Orquesta Típica Anibal Troilo Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BAVE-091270 10-in. 3/31/1949 Cuando volveras Aldo Calderon ; Orquesta Típica Anibal Troilo Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BAVE-091346 10-in. 7/22/1949 La mariposa Orquesta Típica Anibal Troilo ; Edmundo Rivero Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor CU-313[a] 10-in. before 4/12/1940 Abandono Juan Ernesto Peronet Male vocal solo, with guitars composer  
Columbia CO22569 10-in. 3/15/1938 Cuando volverás : Spanish tango Manuel Velasquez Male vocal solo, with piano, and 2 guitars composer  
Columbia W95636 10-in. approximately 1927 ¿Porque no has venido? Pilar Arcos Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia W96502 10-in. May 1928 Noche de reyes : Tango canción Fortunio Bonanova Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia W96508 10-in. May 1928 La noche de reyes Joseph M. Lacalle ; Orquesta del Maestro Lacalle Instrumental ensemble composer  
Columbia W370130 10-in. between 1930 and March 1932 Anoche en el club Pedro Maffia ; Orquesta Típica Pedro Maffia Instrumental ensemble leader  
Columbia W370155 10-in. between 1930 and March 1932 Afreando Pedro Maffia ; Orquesta Típica Pedro Maffia Instrumental ensemble leader  
Columbia W370303 10-in. between 1930 and March 1932 Lamento de amor Pedro Maffia ; Orquesta Típica Maffia Instrumental ensemble leader  
Columbia W370332 10-in. between 1930 and March 1932 No te hagas la Greta Garbo Pedro Maffia ; Orquesta Típica Pedro Maffia Instrumental ensemble leader, composer  
Columbia W370342 10-in. between 1930 and March 1932 No llores m'hijita Pedro Maffia ; Orquesta Típica Maffia Instrumental ensemble leader  
Columbia W370343 10-in. between 1930 and March 1932 Yira...yira Pedro Maffia ; Orquesta Típica Pedro Maffia Instrumental ensembleInstrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W370476 10-in. between 1930 and March 1932 Taconeando Orquesta Castellano ; Tania Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
OKeh W401302 10-in. 11/9/1928 Noche de Reyes Alberto Infantas Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Brunswick E27824 10-in. 7/3/1928 Noche de reyes Orquesta Típica [Louis Katzman] Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E27827 10-in. 7/3/1928 Noches de reyes Pilar Arcos Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E30118 10-in. 6/19/1929 Bandoneón Genaro Veiga Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Brunswick E30824 10-in. 9/30/1929 Te aconsejo que me olvides Orquesta Típica Osvaldo Fresedo ; Genaro Veiga Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Brunswick BA652 10-in. 1930 Reo noble Orquesta Típica Pedro Maffia Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader  
Brunswick BA686 10-in. 1930 Rezongon Orquesta Típica Pedro Maffia Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader  
Brunswick BA783 10-in. 1930 El matrero Luis Díaz ; Orquesta Típica Pedro Maffia Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader  
Brunswick BA789 10-in. 1930 Rezongon Orquesta Típica Pedro Maffia Instrumental ensemble leader  
Brunswick BA792 10-in. 1930 Los ceibos del Parana Luis Díaz ; Orquesta Típica Pedro Maffia Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo leader  
Brunswick BA795 10-in. 1930 Llorando la carta Orquesta Típica Pedro Maffia Instrumental ensemble leader  
Brunswick B14113 10-in. 10/4/1933 Berretines El Tango Romantico Instrumental ensemble composer  
Brunswick B14186 10-in. 10/20/1933 Cuando el mundo te arrincone : Tango canción Orquesta Típica Don Alberto Instrumental ensemble composer  
Odeon Ki 6915 10-in. approximately 1934 Taconeando Carlos Gardel Male vocal solo, with guitars composer  
Columbia (U.K.) L26 10-in. between May 1923 and December 1925 La preciosa Orchestre Tano Genaro Instrumental ensemble composer  
Columbia (U.K.) L38 10-in. between May 1923 and December 1925 Pobre gallo bataraz Orchestre Tano Genaro Instrumental ensemble composer  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Maffia, Pedro," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/112414.

Maffia, Pedro. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/112414.

"Maffia, Pedro." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/112414

External Sources

Wikipedia: Pedro Maffia

Discogs: Pedro Maffia

IMDb: Pedro Maffia

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Maffia, Pedro, 1899-1967 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2004050936

Wikidata: Pedro Maffia - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q369514

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/148149196547974792546

MusicBrainz: Pedro Maffia - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/0c7e5e60-7db8-4fa9-beea-ea7dc197ddde

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