Hugo Díaz

Víctor Hugo Díaz (August 10, 1927 – October 23, 1977) was an Argentine harmonica virtuoso born in Santiago del Estero who became recognized as one of the world’s finest harmonica artists. After losing his sight at age five from a soccer accident and regaining it after surgery, he took up the harmonica and performed professionally from age nine. Relocating to Buenos Aires in 1946, Díaz achieved international prominence by the early 1950s, performing alongside Louis Armstrong and Oscar Peterson, and appearing at La Scala in Milan with opera singers Renata Tebaldi and Mario del Monaco. Though primarily a folklore and jazz musician with mastery of violin, piano, and bass, Díaz recorded the most important part of his tango legacy during the 1970s following a Tonodisc contract in 1972. His harmonica interpretations of tangos by Carlos Gardel—including “Soledad,” “Volver,” “Cuesta abajo,” and “Mano a mano”—became classics among tango dancers. With accompanists Roberto Grela (guitar), José Colángelo (piano), and Omar Murtagh (contrabass), he recorded three volumes of “Hugo Díaz en Buenos Aires” (1972–1974) and his final tango album “Hugo Díaz para Gardel 40 Años Después” (1975). He died in Buenos Aires in 1977 at age fifty.