The song already says: “That of lasting and passing does not give us the right to presume, because it is not the same as living, honoring life!” AND Raúl Lavié He knows very well. He learned it since Raúl Alberto Peralta was, a kid gifted with a voice willing to fulfill all the dreams.
He finds himself excited, throbbing and anxious for his show at the Broadway Theater on August 29, baptized “88 years of honoring life”. An evening to enjoy memories wrapped in great songs and then eat some gnocchi for some central restaurant that opens late.
Commemoor 88 of life and 73 of career, ideal occasion to dialogue with news, in a talk to travel through an unabarcable trajectory.
News: Is it true that his artistic name was Antonio Carrizo?
Raúl Lavié: Yes, by Antonio Carrizo and Víctor Buchino. I arrived from Rosario, there I sang in a very important orchestra, but the director did not like my style and threw me. Before looking for work there I decided to come to Buenos Aires for a week and that sealed my life, I do not believe much in coincidences, I believe in destiny, for me the path we must travel is written. Here I met a Rosario friend who set up a meeting with Víctor Buchino, at that time director of the stable orchestra of Radio El Mundo and Antonio Carrizo who was the artistic director of the station, it was in 55. He gave a test, he saw that they took a long time, they talked to each other, I did not know what happened, I was a time singing. Finally they asked me to accompany them to the radio direction, the radio auditor gave me a role in front and said: “Pibe, how much do you want to win?” I was static, I thought I was dreaming. With the signing of the contract came the change of surname, before the artistic name was very stylized.
News: Did he always have such a good voice or was he developing it over time?
Lavié: I have it from the crib. And again we return to the issues of destiny. I worked since I finished primary at 12 because my grandparents depended on me. It was a cadet, I had a bicycle above, I did not go to high school but my way of study was reading the encyclopedia “The Treasury of Youth”, at that time there was no television, only the radio. We lived in a house that we shared with three other families, our place was the garage that had an iron door, it was a tremendous heat in summer and a cold crazy in winter! At 14 I met a boy, Carlos Lila, a great admirer of Gardel, who came from Parchment to study song, we became friends and asked me to accompany him to do a test at the Serafino Musical Institute. The teacher who took the audition saw me there and asked me what I was going to sing. I replied that I was just accompanying and said: “You have a very good voice. You should study song.”
News: And he convinced him at that time?
Lavié: I didn’t want to know anything! The man was blunt, very serious. He asked me where I lived and two days later he went home to talk to my mother, we were a very humble family, it seemed impossible to take classes, but the teacher told him: “I did not ask for money, I just want me to learn to sing.” And so it was, as a result I began to enter the music environment, first in the conservatory choir, then in the youth orchestra and they proposed to sing professionally at 15. I was traveling on weekends to do shows for all neighboring towns.
News: For someone so small the night was dangerous
Lavié: There was not much danger to the boys, it was another era, there were certain codes that did not break even thieves there was always. Already from a very kid they hired me to make dances in Rosario and I was well known. All the money I did work was given to my grandparents, they took care of my diet and buying some clothes, until at 15 I already sent myself to make a suit with long pants. With the first contract in Buenos Aires, another artistic stage began, that of Lavié, now I tell you why it was the change of surname …
News: Beyond the uses of the time was there a reason then?
Lavié: Yes, my last name Peralta sounded more related to folklore. I sang a slightly different tango, the spectacular arrangements were from Victor Buchino in the style of Michel Legrand who was a very famous musician and composer, very select tangos were sung, with a great poetic wealth, but there was no bandoneon but piano. It was a total boom and the name accompanied very well. They wanted something distinctive, the voice in French is “La Voix”, “Lavuá” is pronounced and “Lavié” was left.
News: Let’s give a little jump and talk about “The Clan Club.” There you already look out to another type of music, right?
Lavié: I was 18 years old and there was a generational change in the world, another course was outlined. Alejandro Romay had already offered me before a tour plus an hour of air on Radio Libertad, so “Raúl Lavié’s show arose.” I asked them for a hand to promote the new voices and it was a success, several began to record albums, there were some jealousy because they turned figures and did not want to go to a program that was called “Raúl Lavié’s show.” They asked me if they could change the name, I innocently accepted and put “rhythm and youth.” There Palito Ortega debuted, for example, that was the beginning of the new wave. Later we went to Channel 11 with that same format plus the aggregate that he also ate. When they called us from Channel 13 to continue with another program they were hesitant with the title “The Click Club”, while we gathered I proposed to take something with the boys and said: “Come on the clan!” The producer listened to him and recognized that this was the title. I was very young and naive, then when the “Clan Club” industry began, I realized that the format was removed, but I also went true to the channel. That had a reward, when the “Clan Club” was over, the thirteen hired me exclusively for another program and I earned a lot of money making television and shows.
News: Wask the world made him a bon vivant?
Lavié: Yes, I was a demanding black, I adapted a lot to the changes, to the new clothes, to good dress and the good drink. I also liked the collection cars, I had two jaguar, an XJ8 and an MK10. One of them also helped me to change it for a ship that was where I met Laurita, my wife. My career was in crescendo, I must be the oldest artist who is in force and working every week, it seems that it was normal because they see me well, but you have to get on the stage with 88 years!
News: Just soon he will do it again with his show “88 years to honor life”, can he tell us something?
Lavié: They are going to find a show equal to the one I was doing in my best moments, I can assure you, and that I did musicals where I was El Quijote, Zorba, the violinist on the roof, two characters in Víctor Victoria and the transformist of “The Cage of Las Locas”. I do not do any taquito, I still love what I do, taking care of myself, surrounded by my family and my friends. The stage is magical, you go up and forget all the pain and this show will be very important. When I turned 80 I set a show with my friends Valeria Lynch, Patricia Sosa, Jairo … This time I will invite young people who are struggling to grow as artists. One of them is Antonella Fernández, a very beautiful woman who sings extraordinarily and who support as I once did with Abel Pintos. My son Gastón will also be with an imprint of electronic music, the Pampas Bravas group and my quintet. I tell you something, in December I will first do theater for children with a Disney work called “Christmas in the movies.” I have never thought about stopping, I would like to finish life on stage.
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