Notes on Vicente Greco

The “conventillo”, the tenement housing inhabited by many new immigrants to Buenos Aires at the turn of the 20^th century, looms large in the domain of tango. It is one of the legendary places where tango is said to have developed and flourished. In fact, two of the most prominent tango pioneers actually grew up in neighboring “conventillos”: Vicente Greco and Francisco Canaro.

There are many parallels in the development of Canaro and Greco. As young children, bot were forced to leave school and work in order to contribute to the family income, selling newspapers on the streets. Moreover, both showed an early talent for music but at first had to practice their skills on instruments owned by neighbors. The economic fortunes of the Greco family eventually improved to such a degree that the children could return to school and had time and leisure to pursue cultural interests.

Four of the Greco siblings in 1915: Elena, Vicente, Ángel, and María (from left to right.)

In his autobiography he described the family as follows:

I must tell that Vicente Greco was a fairly cultured fellow, half romantic and fond of literature—so much that he wrote a theater play entitled “Souls that suffer”, which was never staged. He was a great inspiration as a musician, and I am convinced he would have produced great works had he not disappeared so young. His first Tango was “El Pibe”; then he composed “El Moronchito”, “Rodríguez Peña”, “La Viruta”, “Ojos Negros”, “El Flete”, and many more. At the beginning of the century, we lived half a house away from each other: he in the tenement housing of Sarandí Street No. 1356, and I lived in No. 1358. The Grecos were a family of musicians and intellectuals. In addition to Vicente, his brother Domingo was a guitarist and pianist. Angel was a singer and guitarist, and he composed a successful tango, “Naipe Marcado”. Elena played the piano by intuition, but superbly. Fernando, the oldest, was a butcher, and there was another brother, Emilio. They all have passed away, except for one sister who is still alive, Maria. She used to be a school teacher and was the first [female] public accountant in Buenos Aires. Vicente, the most popular of them, was born in 1886 and died on October 12^th, 1924 when so much was still expected of his talent and calling.

By 1915, Vicente Greco was—together which Juan “Pacho” Maglio and Eduardo Arolas—among the renowned badoneonists and band leaders in Buenos Aires.

Domingo Greco was seven years older than Vicente. He also was a professional musician, at first playing the guitar and later switching to the piano.

Angel Greco, five years younger than Vicente and the “Caruso” of the family started his musical career as a singer on the theater stage.

Elena Greco at the piano

María Greco, teacher and first female accountant in Buenos Aires