Norberto Aníbal Napolitano, better known by his stage name Pappo, was an Argentine guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was one of the earliest pioneers of heavy rock and metal music in his native country. Born on March 10 1950 in Buenos Aires, Pappo got his first guitar at age 8 and was inspired by the early rock'n'roll of Little Richard. In 1967 he joined an early lineup of the seminal Argentine rock group Los Abuelos de la Nada, but his involvement was short-lived as the group disbanded shortly thereafter. Pappo went on to other musical projects such as Engranaje and Los Gatos, until forming his own band Pappo’s Blues in 1970. The group released a series of acclaimed albums over the 70s. In 1980, he formed the band Riff, which went on to become one of the first successful heavy metal bands in Latin America. Over the 90s he alternated between recording with Pappo’s Blues and Riff, and in 2003 he recorded what would be his last album: Buscando Un Amor, which features the highly successful ballad “Juntos a la Par.” On February 25 2005, Pappo passed away after a motorcycle accident. As a beloved figure in Argentine music, the municipality of Buenos Aires created a monument in his honor.
