Jorge Valdez (1932–2002), born Leo Mario Vitale, was an Argentine tango singer and composer from Buenos Aires. Valdez studied piano from age ten and debuted at fifteen on the radio program El Piano en la Argentina. In 1957, Valdez joined Juan D'Arienzo's orchestra, following a trial with the tangos “Eras como la flor” and “Remembranza”. Valdez recorded 117 titles with D'Arienzo, including the milonga “Baldosa floja” with Mario Bustos. Leaving the ensemble in 1964, Valdez recorded with Osvaldo Requena, including the tracks “Gricel” and “En esta tarde gris”. He toured the Americas as a tango ambassador alongside Carlos Dante and Alberto Morán. Despite a deep tongue injury sustained in a 1990 car accident, Valdez returned to performing in Buenos Aires following extensive rehabilitation. Valdez died of a hepatic disease in Buenos Aires on February 21, 2002.
