Fito Páez

One of the most iconic and most beloved figures in Argentine rock, singer-songwriter Rodolfo "Fito" Páez was born in Rosario on March 13, 1963. The son of a classical pianist and a municipal clerk, he rose to fame in the early 1980s as a member of the trova rosarina movement, a musical collective that combined a politically-conscious message against the reigning military dictatorship with elements from rock, folklore, tango, and protest song. After participating in the recording of Charly García's seminal albums Clics Modernos (1983) and Piano Bar (1984), Fito Páez kicked off his solo career in 1984 with the LP Del 63. Released in 1985, his sophomore effort Giros exposed him to a wider audience and featured some of his first hits, including "11 y 6," and "Yo Vengo a Ofrecer Mi Corazón." By this time, Fito Páez had earned the respect and admiration of some of the most important artists in Argentine popular music, including Luis Alberto Spinetta, who collaborated with the Rosario native on the 1986 album La La La. Devastated by the murder of both his aunt and grandmother, he poured all that anger into Ciudad de Pobres Corazones (1987), considered as one of his most visceral efforts. Following the release of Ey (1988), his last outing for EMI Music, and Tercer Mundo (1990), Fito Páez finally achieved commercial success in Argentina and Latin America with El Amor Después del Amor (1992), which became the best-selling rock album in Argentine history thanks to the success of its title track and others hit singles like "Brillante Sobre el Mic" and "Tumbas de la Gloria." That year, he embarked on a promotional tour that culminated in two shows at Vélez Sarsfield stadium. For the remainder of the decade, he released the Phil Manzanera-produced Circo Beat (1994),  collaborated with Spanish singer JoaquÍn Sabina on the 1998 album Enemigos Íntimos, and worked with producer Phil Ramone on Abre (1999). The latter included the single "Al Lado del Camino," which won Best Rock Song at the first edition of the Latin Grammys. In 2001, Fito Páez made his directorial debut in the film Vidas Privadas, which starred his then-wife Cecilia Roth. Subsequently, he continued his prolific streak on titles like Naturaleza Sangre (2003), El Mundo Cabe en una Canción (2006), Canciones para Aliens (2011), and La Ciudad Liberada (2017). In 2021, his album La Conquista del Espacio won a Grammy for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album as he was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at 22nd edition of the Latin Grammys.