Cacho Castaña developed an interest in music during his early years, and by age fourteen, he was a piano teacher. Raised in modest circumstances in the Flores neighborhood, he worked with his father, a shoe cobbler, until age 16. He began his career in music in his teens as a pianist in Oscar Espósito's orquesta típica, one of numerous such groups that performed tango music at the time, and also performed in the Chamamé folk genre.
Castaña became famous as a bolero singer during the 1970s, performing on Argentine television programs such as Tiempo Final and Un Cortado, among others. He authored numerous hits, including Me gusta, me gusta ("I like it, I like it"), Lo llaman el matador ("He's Nicknamed the Killer") and Hay que encontrar al ladrón ("The Thief Must be Found"), and his signature bolero: Para vivir un gran amor ("To Live a Great Love"). His lyrics became known for their extemporaneous and often autobiographical style, which he described as "writing as I would speak."
He is much better known, however, for his contributions to tango music: some of his compositions are considered classics by his fans, including Qué tango hay que cantar ("What Tango Must One Sing", with Rubén Juárez), Garganta con Arena ("Throat full of sand", an homage to Roberto Goyeneche, his mentor), "Tita de Buenos Aires", (Tita de Buenos Aires, dedicated to Tita Merello), A dónde vas? Quedate en Buenos Aires ("Where are you going? Stay in Buenos Aires"), and his ode to the Flores neighborhood: Café la Humedad. Castaña composed around 2,500 songs, of which 500 have been recorded. He produced 44 records, of which fifteen became gold records (over 20,000 sold, per CAPIF ratings), and ten, platinum (over 40,000 sold).
Castaña also starred in thirteen Argentine films, including two for which he wrote the score, El mundo que inventamos ("The World We Created", 1973) and Los hijos de López ("López's Sons", 1980); numerous picaresque comedies; and in Felicidades (2000). A confirmed bachelor for much of his life, his numerous relationships included one with Susana Giménez during the 1970s (Giménez would later become a top-rated talk show hostess in Argentina). He ultimately married Andrea Sblano, the 27-year-old daughter of a close friend, in 2006; among his other close friends was former President Carlos Menem. His television appearances in later years included a cameo on the popular Argentine telenovela, Los Roldán. He earned a Konex Award in 2005 for his work as songwriter, and his tango album released that year, Espalda con espalda ("Shoulder to Shoulder") earned a Gardel Prize.He was invited to perform "with all the other monsters" in Leopoldo Federico's series, Selección Nacional de Tango Argentino (an event he considered "the happiest day of my life"), and was inducted into the National Academy of Tango in 2007.
Castaña's career declined during the 1990s, but rebounded after 2003, and he became active in Argentina's stage and festival circuit. He headlined numerous Corrientes Avenue shows, and was a regular performer in the National Peña Festival, in Villa María. A heavy smoker, he developed emphysema in later years, and was twice hospitalized as he prepared to appear in shows. He and his wife opened a children's clothing boutique, Las Castañitas.[8] Their marriage suffered, however, and they separated in 2011. He was again hospitalized following the separation, and made a speedy recovery.
After two weeks hospitalized, Cacho Castaña died on October 15, 2019.
Zapatos de charol
Cacho Castaña Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
pañuelo color blanco como corbata
un poco de champagne en la mirada
extraño caminante, cantor de madrugadas
Camina la ciudad con cielo oscuro
su sombra muy de atrás, va sin apuro
que sueño esconderá en su guitarra
Hoy también se puede ver de madrugada
payadores sin balcón y sin guitarra
disimulando el llanto, buscando en las miradas
una canción de amor para poder llegar a la mañana
Antiguo payador de mil balcones
robaste el color a los malvones
en qué balcón quedó colgada la mentira
de aquel beso de amor que no llegó a tu vida
In Cacho Castaña's song "Zapatos de charol", the lyrics describe a mysterious and melancholic man walking through the city late at night. He is dressed in a distinctive way, wearing patent leather shoes and an alpaca suit, with a white handkerchief tied around his neck like a tie. The lyrics suggest that he has been drinking champagne and may be a singer, or "cantor", who performs in the early hours of the morning.
The song paints a vivid picture of the man's solitary journey through the dark city streets, with his shadow trailing far behind him. The lyrics hint at his hidden dreams and the songs he carries within his guitar, but he never reveals them to the world. As the night wears on, the lyrics suggest that other payadores, or traditional Argentine troubadours, can also be found wandering the city with a sense of sadness and longing. They too are searching for a song of love that will carry them through to the morning.
Overall, "Zapatos de charol" is a poignant reflection on the power of music to connect us to our deepest emotions, and the mysterious world of late-night walks and poetic yearning.
Line by Line Meaning
Zapatos de charol, traje de alpaca
He wears shiny shoes and a suit made of alpaca wool
pañuelo color blanco como corbata
His white handkerchief serves as his tie
un poco de champagne en la mirada
His eyes are filled with a hint of champagne, suggesting happiness or joy
extraño caminante, cantor de madrugadas
He is a wandering singer who prefers to perform at dawn
Camina la ciudad con cielo oscuro
He walks through the city during the night with a dark sky as his backdrop
su sombra muy de atrás, va sin apuro
He walks leisurely, with his shadow trailing behind him
que sueño esconderá en su guitarra
One wonders what dreams and emotions he keeps hidden in his guitar
cuál es esa canción que nunca canta
He may have a song that he never performs
Hoy también se puede ver de madrugada
Even today, you can see performers during the early hours
payadores sin balcón y sin guitarra
They sing without balconies and guitars
disimulando el llanto, buscando en las miradas
They hide their tears and search for love in their eyes
una canción de amor para poder llegar a la mañana
They hope to find a love song to make it through the night
Antiguo payador de mil balcones
He is an old performer who used to sing on many balconies
robaste el color a los malvones
He took the color of the flowers and used it in his music
en qué balcón quedó colgada la mentira
He wonders which balcony his lover lied on when she promised to be with him
de aquel beso de amor que no llegó a tu vida
He regrets the love that was promised but never came into his life
Contributed by William P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.