Raúl Alberto Antonio Gieco, better known as León Gieco, is a singer-songwriter from Argentina. Born in Cañada Rosquín on November 20, 1951, he is considered one of the most important and influential figures in Argentinian rock history. León Gieco showed an early interest in music, getting his first guitar at age 8 and playing at local events with his father’s band. At age 18, he moved to Buenos Aires to become a full-time musician, and took guitar lessons with legendary musician Gustavo Santaolalla. He began performing shows and in 1973 he recorded his self-titled debut, which showcased his folk-influenced style with lyrics promoting social justice. His third album El Fantasma de Canterville (1976) suffered from meddling from the country’s military government, who censored several songs. His fourth album, IV (1978) contained his most well-known hit “Sólo le Pido a Dios,” a stirring anti-war protest song that was covered by many artists throughout the years, including Bruce Springsteen. Over the following decades, León Gieco continued touring, releasing music, advocating for various social justice causes, and establishing himself as one of the most important voices in Argentine music, collaborating with some of the biggest names both inside and outside the rock nacional movement, including Charly García, Sandro, and even Argentine folklore legend Mercedes Sosa.
