Gustavo Santaolalla facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gustavo Santaolalla
Santaolalla in 2022
Background information
Birth name	Gustavo Alfredo Santaolalla
Also known as	Moviola
Born	(1951-08-19) 19 August 1951 (age 73) Ciudad Jardín Lomas del Palomar, Argentina
Origin	Buenos Aires, Argentina
Genres	Latin rock tango film score
Occupation(s)	Composer music producer musician
Instruments	Vocals guitar banjo ronroco
Years active	1967–present

Gustavo Alfredo Santaolalla (born 19 August 1951) is a famous musician and composer from Argentina. He is known for creating music for movies and video games.

Gustavo won two Academy Awards in a row for his music in the films Brokeback Mountain (2005) and Babel (2006). He also wrote the music for the popular video game series The Last of Us (2013 and 2020). Later, he helped create the music for The Last of Us TV show in 2023.

He started his music journey in Argentina. He was a guitarist and singer for the rock band Arco Iris, which he co-founded in 1967. This band mixed Argentine folk music with rock. They helped create a new type of rock music in Argentina called rock nacional. Gustavo is also part of the neotango group Bajofondo, which he helped start in 2002.

Gustavo has worked with famous director Alejandro González Iñárritu on many films. He also wrote music for TV shows like Jane the Virgin and Making a Murderer.

Gustavo's Early Life

Gustavo Alfredo Santaolalla was born in Ciudad Jardín Lomas del Palomar, Argentina, on August 19, 1951.

Gustavo's Music Career

Gustavo Santaolalla began his music career in 1967. He helped start the band Arco Iris. This rock band was special because it mixed rock music with traditional Latin American folk music. This style became known as rock nacional.

The band members lived together in a yoga community. They had some popular songs, like "Mañanas Campestres." But Gustavo felt that the strict rules of the community were too much. So, he left the group in 1975.

In 1976, Gustavo formed a new band called Soluna. He played with a young pianist named Alejandro Lerner. They released one album called Energía Natural in 1977. After that, Gustavo moved to Los Angeles. There, he started a rock and roll band called Wet Picnic.

He returned to Argentina briefly in 1981. He produced an album for Leon Gieco and recorded his first solo album. His first solo album, Santaolalla (1981), was important. It brought the new sounds of the 1980s to rock music in Argentina. His second album, Gas, came out in 1995.

Music for Films and Games

Gustavo's solo album Ronroco (1998) featured a special instrument called the ronroco. This folk string instrument became a key part of his music for movies. One song from this album, "Iguazu," was used in many films. These included The Insider, Collateral, and Babel. It was also used in TV shows like Deadwood and 24.

Gustavo also helped many other Spanish-speaking rock bands. He produced albums for groups like Café Tacuba and Molotov from Mexico. He also worked with singers like Juanes from Colombia. His work helped make rock en español popular across Latin America.

In the late 1990s, Gustavo started working on film music. He produced music for movies like Amores Perros and 21 Grams. He wrote the instrumental music for the 2005 film Brokeback Mountain. A song from that film, "A Love That Will Never Grow Old," won a Golden Globe Award in 2006. Gustavo then won his first Academy Award for the music in Brokeback Mountain in 2006.

In 2007, he won his second Academy Award for the music in Babel. He dedicated this award to his father and his home country, Argentina.

Gustavo Santaolalla in March 2007

Gustavo also worked with the group Kronos Quartet. He helped create their album Nuevo, which honored Mexican music. He is also a key person behind the Bajofondo Tango Club group. This group is part of the new neo-tango music style.

In 2013, Gustavo received praise for his music in the video game The Last of Us. This was his first time making music for a video game. He returned to compose music for the sequel, The Last of Us Part II, in 2020.

In 2015, Gustavo Santaolalla was added to the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame. This honor recognized his important contributions to music.

In 2019, famous guitarist Eric Clapton invited Gustavo to play at his Crossroads event. Gustavo performed some of his songs and played with other great musicians.

Gustavo's Unique Artistry

Gustavo Santaolalla performing in 2010

Gustavo Santaolalla has a unique way of creating music. He does not know how to read or write musical notes. He also usually does not use a large orchestra for his movie music. He sees himself as an artist who uses different ways to express his creativity.

Gustavo's Personal Life

Gustavo Santaolalla lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Alejandra Palacios. They have a daughter named Luna (born 1994) and a son named Don Juan Nahuel (born 1999). He also has an older daughter named Ana (born 1980) from a previous relationship.

Credits

Awards and Nominations

Awards

• Academy Awards:
  • 2005: Best Original Score – Brokeback Mountain
  • 2006: Best Original Score – Babel
• Annie Awards:
  • 2022: Best Music, TV/Media – Maya and the Three
• BAFTA Awards:
  • 2004: Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music – The Motorcycle Diaries
  • 2006: Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music – Babel
• BMI:
  • On 13 June 2008, Gustavo Santaolalla was honored as a BMI Icon at the 15th annual BMI Latin Awards. The BMI Icon award is given to creators who have had a "unique and lasting influence on generations of music makers."
• Golden Globe Awards:
  • 2005: Best Original Song – "A Love That Will Never Grow Old" from Brokeback Mountain
• Grammy Awards:
  • 2004: Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album – Cuatro Caminos (producer)
  • 2009: Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album: La Vida... Es un Ratico (producer)
• Latin Grammy Awards:
  • 2000: Best Rock Album – Revés/Yo Soy (producer)
  • 2001: Best Rock Solo Vocal Album – Fíjate Bien (producer)
  • 2003: Record of the Year – "Es Por Ti" (producer)
  • 2003: Album of the Year – Un Día Normal (producer)
  • 2003: Best Pop Instrumental Album – Bajofondo Tango Club (producer)
  • 2004: Best Alternative Music Album – Cuatro Caminos (producer)
  • 2005: Best Rock Solo Vocal Album – Mi Sangre (producer)
  • 2005: Producer of the Year
    • A Contraluz by La Vela Puerca
    • Bajofondo Tango Club Presenta A: Supervielle by Supervielle
    • Celador De Sueños by Orozco and Barrientos
    • Cristobal Repetto by Cristobal Repetto
    • Guau! by Arbol
    • Mi Sangre by Juanes
    • The Motorcycle Diaries: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
    • 13 by Javier García
  • 2006: Best Tango Album – Café De Los Maestros (producer)
  • 2008: Record of the Year: "Me Enamora" (producer)
  • 2008: Album of the Year: La Vida... Es un Ratico (producer)
  • 2008: Best Male Pop Vocal Album: La Vida... Es un Ratico (producer)

Nominations

• BAFTA Awards:
  • 2005: Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music – Brokeback Mountain
• Golden Globe Awards:
  • 2005: Best Original Score – Brokeback Mountain
  • 2006: Best Original Score – Babel
• Grammy Awards:
  • 2007: Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media – Brokeback Mountain: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (producer)
  • 2008: Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media – Babel: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (composer)
• Primetime Emmy Awards:
  • 2012: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music – Hell on Wheels
  • 2023: Outstanding Music Composition for a Series – The Last of Us: Long, Long Time

See also

In Spanish: Gustavo Santaolalla para niños