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| Mario Ulises Mateo Bianco was born on August 22, 1949, in the Montevidean quarter of Pocitos. Since very young, guided by his father, Antonio "Toto" Bianco, uncles and cousins, all of them members of a musicians family, he started to study at the "Escuela Municipal de Musica". After learning Music Theory and solfeggio, he studied bass, and also piano and bandoneon. |
Mario Bianco, with famous masters |
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Mario Bianco (bass) with Cesar Zagnoli (piano) and Hugo Diaz (bandoneon). |
In 1950, his father Toto and his uncle Juan Bianco established at San Jose Street 1123 their School of Bandoneon and Tuning Shop, known as "El Pulguero". Mario kept studying bass at AUDEM (Asociacion Uruguaya de Musicos) with different professors: Batesini, Addiego, Planas and then Federico Garcia Vigil at the Balzo Conservatory. By this time, through Antonio and Juan, he got in contact with most of Montevidean Tango bands, specially with Romeo Gavioli until this popular singer died, in 1957. Mario played in many "Orquestas Tipicas", as Donato Racciatti, Toto Damario, and Miguel Villasboas (for 7 years). Then, he joined Miguel Angel Trillo, to form the "Trio Sur", playing a more modern style. He also played bass in the famous trio of Cesar Zagnoli. |
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By this time, with his elder cousins, he worked in assembly
of musical instruments. These cousins formed afterwards some of the most
important bands of Montevideo, but with international reputation: The
Shakers, The Innocents, etc. They now live in Rio de Janeiro, playing
at the Sinfonica de Niteroi, after playing in the Orquestas del Teatro
of Rio and San Pablo. Their present activities can be followed at their
page: In 1976, the old shop of San Jose street was demolished, and the Biancos moved to their current location at 18 de Julio 1296, in the Galeria San Felipe y Santiago. |
Mario, with Miguel Angel Trillo (bandoneon) and Luis Alberto Etchebarne (piano) playing at Joventango in a tribute recital to his father Antonio "Toto" Bianco. |
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Mario (bass), with Edison Bordon (bandoneon) and Luis Alberto Etchebarne (piano). |
During its long life, the Biancos shop has been visited by the best bandoneon players of Montevideo and Buenos Aires. Mario and his father have been nominated as official tuners of AUDEM (Association of Uruguayan Musicians). Nowadays, Mario Bianco shares activities as bandoneon tuner and musician, leading his own group, and playing in the D'Arienzo style "Conjunto Tipico Espectaculo de Cirino-Alberti". |
