Mario Rafael Bofill is an Argentine chamamé and música litoraleña singer, songwriter, and politician born in Loreto, Corrientes, Argentina, on June 16, 1948. He began his musical career in the early 1960s, performing traditional folklore of northeastern Argentina and earning his first major award with a Gold Medal at the Mendoza Festival in 1968. He made his recording debut with a double single under Discan Producciones in 1971, which was followed by his landmark LP, Canción nueva, released on the Emi Odeón label in 1975. Throughout his career, Bofill composed over 200 songs that have been interpreted by prominent Argentine vocalists including Ramona Galarza and Teresa Parodi. His signature song, “Cantalicio vendió su acordeón”, achieved national fame and won the popular vote first prize at the Fiesta Nacional del Chamamé in 1989, the same year he was declared an illustrious citizen of his hometown, Loreto. Bofill also won first prize for an unpublished song at the Certamen Canción Nueva in 1977 with the track “Una fiesta patria en mi pueblo”. In 2001, he released his studio album, Desde el fondo del baúl, through Abraham Helú Producciones, followed by his studio album, Humedal, on the GLD label in 2005. Alongside his musical achievements, Bofill pursued a career in public service, directing the Teatro Oficial Juan de Vera from 1973 to 1978 and serving as an elected provincial senator for Corrientes Province from 2013 to 2019. In 2018, his extensive musical catalog was officially declared intangible cultural heritage of Loreto.
