You have reached a personal page dedicated to Atahuapa Yupanqui (Argentina) and Cristobal Caceres (Paraguay), 2 artists I have had the honour to meet in France (yes , I'm French). It's certainly not useful to translate in English the comments in Spanish of my Home Page. Each pic will bring you to a page detailing the records lists by label, CDs lists, books, movies ...etc. Anyway, I will summarize below the main Atahualpa Yupanqui "recording steps". Do not hesitate to contact me for more details. I do not know everything on Yupanqui but perhaps I will be able to help.

The very first Atahualpa Yupanqui recordings are the 3 "Odeon Mangruyo" records dated 1936 ("grabacion particular") with 2 songs each. This special edition were financed by Yerba Nectar and includes the famous "Caminito del Indio". At this date, Atahualpa didn't have any contract with the Odeon label. He will signed a contract with Odeon Argentina and began his recordings with them in March 1941 ( serie 900). He also recorded 78RPM with Victor Argentina (which became later RCA Victor) from 1942 (6 songs on 25/sept/42, 4 on 22/Dec/42, 8 on 2/Sept/43 and 2 on 22/Nov/43).

The success will really become international with his first trip in Europe: he arrived in Paris in August 1949, just a short step before visiting Eastern countries in 49-50, and finished his trip in Paris again in July 1950. This trip was mainly due to the fact that Yupanqui was forbidden in Argentina from 1947 to 1953 because he was member of the Communist Party. He will leave the party some years later when he realized that he was utilized by them, this is commented notably in "El Payador Perseguido". It explains the fact that his trip in Europe were mainly in Eastern Communist countries. In Paris in 1950 and before coming back to Argentina, he met Edith Piaf who proposed him a concert with her (she will give him the second part of the concert) at théatre Athénée which took place on July 7, 1950. Following this memorable concert, Atahualpa will record his first 78RPMs with Boite à Musique (BAM) and Chant du Monde.

He also made later several trips in Japan (1964-66-67). It will be an opportunity to edit a lot of records in Japan, all recordings being Argentinean ones. The sole recording made in Japan is the Crown ref LW-5186. Back in Europe from 1968, 18 years after his first visit, he worked again with Le Chant du Monde, making great recordings with the famous collection "Le Nouveau Chansonnier International" from 1968 to 1979. He will then also record for various labels as Microfon in the 80's. During his second trip in Europe from 1968, he decided to stay most of his time in Paris and lived firstly in a hotel, then in a flat located in the 14th (firstly rue Cassini then Rue Raymond Losserand until his death in 1992).

From the 80's, Atahualpa Yupanqui songs will be re-recorded or re-masterized on CDs (Emi-Odeon, RCA/BMG, Chant du Monde, Microfon, Sony....and various labels). There is not any logical order in my CD pages which contain 10 CDs each...

Apart from his records and CDs, Atahualpa Yupanqui will write some books from 1939 : poems, autobiography (El Canto del Viento, a major work, is far from being a simple biography). He will play in some movies notably Horizontes de Piedra made from his book Cerro Bayo. Several books will be dedicated to Don Ata, and he will receive a lot of awards. I finally add some concert pictures.

I must also mention Cristobal Caceres, a Paraguayan friend of Yupanqui who lived also in Paris where he came in 1951 with the Ballets de l'Amérique Latine. He was a member of the famous group Les Guaranis (or Les 4 Guaranis) who recorded its first LP with BAM in March and September 1953, before creating in 1956 the Trio Guarania with his wife Clarita Montès. We will meet them in their famous cabaret , the Rancho Guarani in Paris. I have also tried to include his discography and some pics of his former career in Argentina (where all Paraguayan artists used to live). Cristobal was known in the 30s and 40s when he created in Paraguay with his brother Emilio Bobadilla Caceres the famous "Duo Hermanos Caceres". He will also record songs with Agustin Larramendia and I have been able to find several recordings of this period, mainly thanks to a Paraguayan friend living in Iguazu who is a major contributor to the excellent website musicaparaguaya.org. In France, a lot of Guaranis records will be made after the separation with the first members of the Group (Cristobal Caceres, Gerardo Servin, Angel Sanabria). Francisco Marin is the sole initial member who will pursue the Guaranis career with his wife Florence and various artists (under the name "Les Guaranis de Francisco Marin"). I have not sorted out the different Guaranis periods but occasionaly indicate if the record is made with or without Cristobal Caceres.

Don't forget to send any comments (there are probably some mistakes on my pages) or additional information, notably about eventual missing records, or just say hello. On my side, I'll be happy to help if you're searching some information or specific Atahualpa Yupanqui or Cristobal Caceres / Guaranis records or songs.

My e-mail is indicated on the main page. Thanks for your visit. Pat