Terig Tucci (June 23, 1897 – February 28, 1973) was an Argentine composer, orchestrator, conductor, violinist, pianist, and mandolinist. He was a leading advocate of music for the tango in the United States who collaborated with the singer Carlos Gardel.
Biography Tucci was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1897. His first composition, "Cariños de madre" was performed for a zarzuela at the Avenida Theatre in 1917. Following a career as a violinist in local cinema orchestras, he left for New York City in 1923.
From 1930 to 1941 he performed for NBC Radio as a member of the NBC Orchestra under the direction of Hugo Mariani.Hispanic New York: A Sourcebook Remeseira, Claudio Ivan. Editor. Columbia University Press, 2010, pp. 457-458 "Carlos Gardel in New York" The RCA Victor recording label named Tucci as its executive producer of their lucrative Latin American music unit in 1932. In 1934 he collaborated as an orchestrator with his fellow countryman Carlos Gardel as part of the tango vocalist's contract with Paramount Pictures in their Astoria, Queens studios.The Film Industry In Argentina an Illustrated Cultural History Finkielman, Jorge. McFarland 2014 p. 186 Tucci also served as both a close friend to Gardel as well as his musical scribe during the early 1930s.The Tango in the United States Groppa, Carlos G. McFarland 2018 p. 132 The Life, Music, and Times of Carlos Gardel Collier, Simon. University of Pittsburgh Press 1986 p. 226-231 He also played mandolin in a trio with Adolfo Mejía Navarro on guitar and Antonio Francés on lute.
While remaining at the helm of RCA Victor's Latin unit, Tucci was appointed to the post of Musical Director for the new Latin American Network La Cadena de las Americas at CBS Radio in 1941.CBS News The Columbia Broadcasting System Original image from the New York Public Library.Diario de Centro America Guatemala July 20, 1944, Number 18, p. 1 "Eusebia Cosme Actuara de Nuevo en loas Programas de la Columbia" Terig Tucci composer and supervisor for La Cadena de las Americas on Google Books(in spanish) In this post he also served as the lead music arranger for CBS' Pan American Symphony Orchestra from 1940 to 1949 where he collaborated with the accordionist John Serry Sr. and the conductor Alfredo Antonini on the radio program Viva America.The New York Times, 18 January 1942, pg. 27"Biography", Accordion World, Bedford Hills, New York, Vol 11,(11), 3 March 1946Multicultural America A Multimedia Encyclopedia Sage Publications ebook "Cultural Contributions" During this tenure at CBS in New York City, he also collaborated with singers Juan Arvizu, Nestor Mesta Chayres and Elsa Miranda.Media Sound & Culture in Latin America & The Caribbean. Editors: Bronfman, Alejandra & Wood, Andrew Grant.University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, 2012 Pg. 49 In 1942 he emerged as the musical director and performer in daily concerts for the Macy's Latin-American Exposition in New York City under the patronage of Eleanor Roosevelt, Mrs. Henry A. Wallace and ambassadors from throughout South America.Macy's Latin American Fair Jan. 17-Feb. 7, 1942 R. H. Macy Co., New York, NY 1942 See the sections on Patrons of the Fair and Music on archive.org"Macy's Latinn American Fair Jan. 17-Feb. 7, 1942" Macy's Inc. Press release 1942 on Google Books In addition, while orchestrating music for CBS's La Cadena de las Americas Orchestra, he collaborated with the actress Eusebia Cosme from 1943 until 1946.Unbecoming Blackness the Diaspora Cultures of Afro-Cuban America Lopez, Antonio. NYU Press 2012 p.98 He also performed for General Electric from 1941 to 1947, and subsequently for the Voice of America network, from 1951 until 1959. During the 1950s he also composed music for documentaries and radio programs at the United Nations in New York City.
Later in life, Tucci continued to compose and arrange music which was enjoyed by audiences even in South America. In 1967 he was commissioned by the Asociacion Venezolana de Artistas de le Escena to compose a work for the Caracas Festival of Music in celebration of the fourth centenary of the founding of the city of Caracas. The work featured a tenor accompanied by women's voices and orchestra."The Many Words of Music" Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) 1967
Tucci led his tango orchestra in numerous RCA recordings, including "My Buenos Aires" in 1958. He retired from RCA Victor in 1964. In 1969, Tucci wrote a reflection on Gardel's last days, Gardel en Nueva York. He lived out his own final years in his Forest Hills, Queens home.TodoTango -Terig Tucci's biography on Google
Death Tucci died during a visit to Buenos Aires in 1973 and was buried on Long Island.Terig Tucci's grave site in the Cemetery of the Holy Rood on Long Island, NY
Archived works The Discography of American Historical Recordings catalog at the University of California at Santa Barbara includes several master recordings of performances and compositions by Terig Tucci on the Victor, Columbia and Brunswick labels from the years 1933-1954 which are accessible online.Terig Tucci recordings and collaborations (1933-1954) on The Discography of American Historical Recordings at the University of California - Santa Barbara on adp.library.ucsb.edu
References
External links
Terig Tucci on The Discography of American Historical Recordings at The University of California Santa Barbara Record albums - Terig Tucci y su Orquesta de la Columbia Broadcasting System - Performances by Terig Tucci on archive.org