Horacio Adolfo Salgán was an Argentine classical and tango pianist, composer, and conductor born on June 15, 1916, in Buenos Aires. Salgán began piano studies at age six and started a professional career in 1930 accompanying silent films. In 1936, he joined the orchestra of Roberto Firpo. Salgán formed his own orchestra in 1944, though Radio Belgrano and RCA dismissed the group because of dissonances in their sound. In 1950, Salgán recorded the EP Para fanáticos solamente with Astor Piazzolla, which included the composition “A fuego lento”. He formed the Quinteto Real in 1960 to perform instrumental tangos. Salgán performed at the Lincoln Center in 1970 and the Teatro Colón in 1972. In 1976, he premiered the Oratorio Carlos Gardel. Salgán appeared as himself in the 1998 film Tango, no me dejes nunca. He received the Premio Konex de Brillante in 2005. Salgán performed for the final time in 2010. He died on August 19, 2016.
