Luis Alberto Spinetta

From Latin pop/rock to fusion and for more than two decades singer/songwriter and guitarist Luis Alberto Spinetta participated in some of the most interesting alternative ensembles in the Argentinian rock scene. The talented musician started getting seriously involved in music in 1968 after joining Emilio del Guercio, Edelmiro Molinari, and Rodolfo García in a band called Almendra, making their debut with a single featuring "El Mundo Entre las Manos" and "Tema de Pototo," followed by a self-titled album released in 1970 including the "rock en español" classic "Muchacha Ojos de Papel." Spinetta began his solo career in 1971 with Spinettalandia y Sus Amigos aka La Búsqueda de la Estrella. In addition, Pescado Rabioso and Invisible became his first experimental outfits. In 1980 he moved to the U.S. to make the English-titled Only Love Can Sustain, recorded in New York City and Los Angeles, California. After collaborations with local rock icons Charly García and León Gieco, Fito Páez teamed up with him to produce a double album called La La La. Director Pablo César asked him to compose the soundtrack for his movie Fuego Gris before assembling Los Socios del Desierto with drummer Daniel Wirtz and bassist Marcelo Torres. After being stricken with lung cancer, Luis Alberto Spinetta died in Buenos Aires in February 2012 at the age of 62. ~ Drago Bonacich