From "el Portal del tango" we pay

Homage to a big man.                                                                                             

Ovidio Catulo Castillo was born on August 6th, 1906 in Buenos Aires city. He was Jose Gonzalez castillo's son. When he was a child the family moved to Valparaiso (Chile) because of the political situation of our country. When Hipolito Yrigoyen assumed as Argentinian president they decided to come back. When he was 8 he began to   study music: he learnt Theory sol-faing and violin. Some years later he started to study piano and composition. He also practiced boxing. Although it was not his passion he was pre-selectionated to participate in the 1924 Olympic Games in Amsterdam. His first tango was rewarded in the "Disco Doble Nacional" contest, which was organized by Max Glucksman. It was called "Organito de la tarde"(The afternoon little pipe organ), and later on Cátulo´s father wrote the lyrics for it.. Something that called people attention was Castillo's culture and intelligence, because in those times people believed that tango composers where poor and uncultured. In 1927 he went to Spain with an orchestra formed by Ricardo Malerba and Miguel Calo ("bandoneones"), Alfredo Malerba (piano), Carlos Malerba and Estanislao Savarese (violins), Roberto Maidana (singer) and Catulo (Pianist and director). Their repertory: "Caminito del taller"(The factory little road), "Acuarelita de arrabal", "Silbando" (Whistling), "El aguacero"(The heavy shower), and "Invocacion al tango" (Invocation to the tango). Their tour was a big success so they continued it for more than 2 years and their return was full of honors. In Buenos Aires he was named in the Musical Municipal Conservatory, 1930, teacher of theory and sol-faing. In 1931 he went to Europe with the Sarmiento theatre company. In 1935 he decided to do only the poem creation choosing the colaboration of musicians who had orchestra to compose the music. Anibal Troilo's colaboration was very important because of the quality of his work. The most important were "Maria", "La ultima curda (The last drunk), "La cantina"(The wine cellar), "A Homero" (To Homero), "Y que" (So what), "Una cancion"(A song), "Desencuentro". Among the incredible list of tangos of his creation we can mention: "Dinero,Dinero"(Money, Money) (with Enrique Delfino), "Te llaman violin"(You are called violin) (Together with Elvino Vardano), "La Madrugada"( The midnight) (WIth Angel Maffia), "Un hombre silba"(A man whistles) (Sebastian Piana's music), "para que te quiero tanto"(Why I love you so much) (with Juan Lorenza) , "Papel Picado" and "Tango sin letra(Tango without words) and others. He also worked as a journalist  in newspapers like "El lider", "El Nacional" y "Ultima hora". He also was president of SADAIC and of the National Cultural Comission till he was despoiled of his charges for politic reasons in 1955 untill 1958 when Arturo Frondizi assumed as president. He went on working in SADAIC and when he was 69 years old (October 19th, 1975) he died of a heart attack in his house.