Angel
Villoldo (1861-1919) is
an Argentine composer and artist who has been called the "father of
the tango", a somewhat exaggerated claim, because there were many others
who contributed to the emergence of the Argentine tango.
He transformed the Spanish tanguillos and cuplés, and the Cuban
habaneras, turning these into an Argentine rhythm. In order to earn some money
for a living, it is said that he was a typographer, circus clown and any other
job he could get. However, eventually fame arrived, permitting him to
travel to Europe, where he enabled European society to become acquainted with
the Argentine Tango.