Subexplorer[Moderator - WristScan]
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Hello dear Captain! Here is the story behind the Sinatra visit to Argentina in August 1981. It is interesting to have a quick review of the local context in which this visit happened.
Aug 29, 2020,07:26 AM
In August 1981 Argentina was in the last stages of one of the darkest and bloodiest chapters of its history. In those years it was ruling a military "de facto" government which had been directing our Country since 1976 and would led to the unfortunate decision in 1982 to break into the South Atlantic War with UK in a desperate and crazy intent of gaining the favor of the citizenship and keep their government for more years. No need to review here the results of this most insane decision. Argentina returned to a Constitutional and Democratic Government system in 1983 many months after that most unfortunate War.
In this context of 1981, our Country was going through one of its many economic crisis it suffered along the last ... say... seven decades. To have an idea the inflation rate for that year was around 400%.
Now... there was a then young very popular and well known singer, music composer and producer called Ramon "Palito" Ortega whose dream was to bring his idol (and idol of many many Argentinian music lovers) Frank Sinatra to sing in Argentina.
Through his own international contacts and those of a close partner he had at the time he finally convinced Sinatra to come here and organized four shows at the local Sheraton Hotel and two additional shows at the large facilities of "Luna Park" a famous place where big shows, gatherings and sport events were and still are held. (Boxing events every Saturday night included).
I can tell you that I was very young then and married just a few years before and with two small children and the cost of one of those tickets was beyond my possibilities but I surely died for assisting at least to the Luna Park event which was just a bit cheaper. Regrettably it was not possible for me at the time.
A few days before the show, my father in law came home with a big surprise: he had bought six tickets and informed us that he was inviting us and his other daughter and son in law to assist to the show with him! (He was also a fan of Sinatra of course! Who doesn´t love Sinatra?)
That´s how I came to fulfill my dream of listening my beloved singer " en vivo" and enjoy his warm smooth legendary voice just a few yards from the stage!
Well, let me say that the stay of our loved American singer in Buenos Aires was full of anecdotes and intrigue.
He revealed himself as very fond of local pizza and his requests for that meal was usually carried to his room at the Sheraton Hotel were he stayed from his favorite pizza shop by a police car running at full speed through the streets with the siren on to arrive in just a few minutes with the pizza still hot to the hotel.
He was received by the then Military President Roberto Viola in a private meeting with some other military and personalities of the time. There is an unconfirmed story but very strong possible truth in it that there was a military/political mission of Sinatra behind his musical presence here.
It is said there was a CIA connection and that Sinatra was a liasson between the then President of USA Ronald Reagan and the local Military Junta ruling our Country considering some joint military projects in the very convulsed state of affairs here and in the whole South American area. In this mission Sinatra would have brought a personal letter of Mr Reagan to General Viola.
Sinatra´s shows went beautifully and they were commented in TV, radio and papers and assistants had a wonderful, unforgettable and one of a kind experience.
Stars of the magnitude of Sinatra (who was around 65 years old at the time) where not easy to convince to come to our Country due to the high cachet they required. It was said at the time that it was more possible to bring the Beatles here than Sinatra. Regrettably the Beatles never came here though.
Finally I will tell you that when it came the time of paying Sinatra Palito Ortega was in a real trouble as the continuous devaluation of our peso didn´t allow him to get the required amount of dollars to pay him in full.
He finally reached an agreement with Sinatra and completed the whole payment but he got in bankruptcy himself and without a single peso from the fortune he had gathered through many years of hard work in cinema acting, singing and composing.
Ortega and his whole family established in Miami and started a new career there as a producer and composer. It is said that Sinatra was deeply impressed by the efforts of this man who lost everything to comply his contract with him so they became close friends, and he helped Ortega not only financially but also opening many doors with contacts in the show business in USA and other parts of the World so that the Argentine singer could recover his wealth.
Ortega rebuilt his life and returned to Argentina later to work in politics with little luck but he is still a very popular music figure with many hits played by music stars around the world. His children became actors and film directors as well and from time to time he makes presentations in certain special events.
Hope you and our friends will enjoy this story my dear Captain! I will include some pictures from that events below.
Best cordial regards, Abel.
Scan of a show ticket. Chango was the name of Ortega’s Show producer company.
A Promotion of the several Sinatra’s shows held in Buenos Aires.
Shot during one of his shows. Photography not mine.
Sinatra and Palito Ortega :
Sinatra at one of his shows here
Sinatra and his spouse in Buenos Aires are greeted by a multitude of fans
The famous Luna Park in Buenos Aires
Sinatra is received by de facto president Viola at left of lady.
Another shot during one of his shows