Litto Nebbia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Litto Nebbia
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Litto Nebbia in 2014
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Félix Francisco Nebbia Corbacho |
| Born | 21 July 1948 Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina |
| Genres | Rock, folk, tango, jazz rock, progressive rock, soundtracks |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica, keyboards |
| Years active | 1960s–Present |
| Associated acts | Los Gatos |
Félix Francisco Nebbia Corbacho, known to many as Litto Nebbia, was born on July 21, 1948. He is a famous Argentine singer, songwriter, musician, and producer. Litto Nebbia played a huge part in starting the Argentine rock music scene.
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Litto Nebbia's Early Life and Music
Litto Nebbia was born in 1948 in Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina. Both of his parents, Martha Corbacho and Félix Nebbia, were musicians. This meant music was always a big part of his life.
Starting His Musical Journey
When Litto was a teenager, he left high school to follow his passion for music. He joined a band called "The Wild Cats" with his friend Ciro Fogliatta, who played keyboards. In 1963, they moved to Buenos Aires, a big city, to chase their dreams. They lived in a simple apartment and worked hard to make a name for themselves.
They appeared on a TV show called Escala Musical several times. They also became regular performers at a popular club called La Cueva. This club was a very important place for the early rock music scene in Argentina.
Forming Los Gatos and "La Balsa"
In 1966, Litto Nebbia and Ciro Fogliatta formed a new band called "Los Gatos". The band became well-known for their all-night shows. They wrote most of their own songs, often at a famous café called "La Perla del Once".
One of their most famous songs, La balsa (meaning The Raft), was written there by Litto Nebbia and another songwriter named Tanguito. It was released on July 3, 1967, and quickly sold over 250,000 copies! This was a huge success.
The Birth of Argentine Rock
The album that included La balsa also featured another popular song, Ayer nomás (Just Yesterday). This album was the first local rock music production to sell more copies than rock albums from America or Britain in Argentina. Because of this, La balsa is often called the song that marked the birth of Argentine rock music.
Rolling Stone Magazine in Argentina later named La balsa the number one song on their list of the 100 best songs in Argentine rock. The success of the song really helped the band, who were struggling financially. After the song became a hit, they were invited to perform it on TV. They were so excited that they watched their own performance on a TV set in a store window!
Challenges and Solo Career
After La balsa became a hit, there were some disagreements about who contributed more to the song, especially after Tanguito's death in 1972. Also, the government at the time, led by General Juan Carlos Onganía, was very strict. They didn't ban the song, but they closed down La Cueva club, which was a central place for rock bands like Los Gatos.
The band itself also started to change. Their guitarist, Kay Galiffi, moved to Brazil. Litto Nebbia left the group in 1969, and by 1970, Los Gatos had broken up.
Litto Nebbia then started his solo career with RCA Records. His first solo album, Litto Nebbia, became even more popular because some of its songs were used in a local movie called El extraño de pelo largo (The Long Haired Stranger). He explored different music styles, including Chacarera (a type of folk music) in 1971 and 1972. In 1973, he formed the Litto Nebbia Trio, which focused on jazz music.
Exile and Return to Argentina
In 1976, Argentina faced a new difficult period with a new government. Because of challenges and safety concerns, Litto Nebbia had to leave the country and live in Mexico. Even in exile, he continued to create music. He released some of his most successful albums during this time, like Canciones para cada uno (Songs for Each of You) in 1978, and Sólo se trata de vivir (It's Only About Living) in 1981.
In 1982, Litto Nebbia was expecting his daughter, Miranda, and felt that things were getting better in Argentina. So, he decided to return home.
Concerts and New Ventures
After his return, Litto Nebbia performed in a big concert in May 1983 called the Rosariazo. He was joined by other famous musicians like Silvina Garré, Juan Carlos Baglietto, and Fito Páez. In 1986, he released his fiftieth album, Demasiadas maneras de no saber nada (Too Many Ways to Know Nothing).
His mother, Martha Nebbia, had turned an old shoe store into her new home. She invited Litto to set up a recording area there. With the help of Salvador Barresi, the sound engineer from his Los Gatos days, they created a proper recording studio. It opened in 1988 and was named El Nuevo Mundo ("The New World").
Melopea Records and Legacy
The success of El Nuevo Mundo Studios led Litto Nebbia to start his own record label in 1989, which he named Melopea Records. The name came from an Ancient Greek music theory term and also from his own album from 1974.
Melopea Records became known for finding and supporting new musical talents. It also helped release old, unreleased tango songs from many decades ago. Some of these included works by famous tango artists like Juan Carlos Cobián and Roberto Goyeneche. In 2002, Litto Nebbia was honored as an "Illustrious Citizen of Buenos Aires."
In 2007, Los Gatos reunited for a special performance, though their drummer Oscar Moro had passed away a year earlier. In 2010, Litto Nebbia presented a collection of nine albums showcasing Argentine rock music. He also hosted a gathering of other great Argentine rock musicians on 9 de Julio Avenue as part of Argentina's 200th anniversary celebrations. Two very influential musicians, Charly García and Luis Alberto Spinetta, have said that Litto Nebbia and Los Gatos inspired them when they were starting their own careers.
Images for kids
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Litto Nebbia in 2014
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Los Gatos in 1967. From top: Ciro Fogliatta (organ), Oscar Moro (drums); bottom: Litto Nebbia (vocals, harmonica and tambourine), Alfredo Toth (bass), and Kay Galiffi (guitar).
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A plaque marks the importance of the La Perla del Once café in the history of Argentine rock.
See also
In Spanish: Litto Nebbia para niños
