Marciano Cantero, singer of Los Enanitos Verdes, died at the age of 62. The musician died in his native Mendoza, where he was admitted to the Cuyo Clinic. He had undergone emergency surgery last week and had removed a kidney and part of his spleen, according to El Clarín.
Horacio Eduardo Cantero Hernández, his full name, was born on August 25, 1960. His first contact with music occurred when he first heard The Beatles, when he was only 9 years old. He took his first steps in Mendoza with guitarist Felipe Staiti and drummer Daniel Piccolo. Together, at the end of the 70’s they became the most popular band in Mendoza and decided to try their luck in Buenos Aires. Los Enanitos Verdes is considered one of the most important rock bands in Spanish.
Although their self-titled debut album came in 1984, it wasn’t until Contrarreloj, their 1986 album, that the band gained recognition throughout Argentina and Latin America. Produced by Andres Calamaro, the album had singles like “Tus Viejas Cartas”, “Cada Time Que Di Adiós” and “La Mural Verde”, which are true Latin American hymns.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Enanitos Verdes became one of the most prominent groups in Latin American rock. Its singer, Marciano Cantero, has pursued a solo career in parallel and in 2019 collaborated with Bad Bunny and J Balvin on “Un peso”, from the Oasis album.
“Amigos”, “Lamento boliviano”, “Igual que ayer”, and “Tus viejas cartas” are some of the most remembered songs of Enanitos Verdes. What few knew is that the latter is inspired by a true story of Marciano, who, in the early 1980s, had to break up with his then-girlfriend, Viviana, thanks to the success the band was having, which forced him to move from his native Mendoza to Buenos Aires.
The true story that inspired “Your Old Letters”
During the 1980s and 1990s, Enanitos Verdes became one of the most prominent groups in Latin American rock. Its singer, Marciano Cantero, has pursued a solo career in parallel and in 2019 collaborated with Bad Bunny and J Balvin on Un peso, from the Oasis album.
Friends, Bolivian Lament, Same as Yesterday, and Your Old Letters are some of the most remembered songs by Enanitos Verdes. What few knew is that the latter is inspired by a true story of Marciano, who, in the early 1980s, had to break up with his then-girlfriend, Viviana, thanks to the success the band was having, which forced him to move from his native Mendoza to Buenos Aires.
Although no longer in the same city, the couple continued to interact and write letters to each other. On a tour in Bogotá, thinking about the letters from his girlfriend, the musician composed Tus Viejas Cartas, a song that made its way onto his album Contrarreloj (1986), which included the participation of Andrés Calamaro. “And where is that beautiful illusion now?” says the lyrics. “I always wondered why everything that happened had happened, the lyrics reflect the pain of that moment,” Marciano said in an interview with Mega 98.3.
The illusion remained intact and after 32 years the couple met again and later married. “Fortunately we met again (in 2018) and we got married last year,” said Marciano, who is now completely based in Mendoza, now with his young love.
After several decades of career and 14 studio albums, Enanitos Verdes continues to be one of the most important and recognized groups of Argentine rock and it was exciting for many fans that the story of one of their most recognized songs had a happy ending.
Rest In Peace.
