César Isella

César Isella
César Isella sings in the Salón Blanco of the Casa Rosada, 2008
Background information
Birth name	César Isella
Born	(1938-10-20) October 20, 1938 (age 78)
Origin	Salta, Argentina
Genres	Argentinian and Latin American folk music
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter, journalist
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	1954 - present
Website	César Isella, Official Websitie

César Isella (b. Salta, Argentina, 20 October 1938) is an Argentinian singer and songwriter of folk music. He joined Los Fronterizos (The Bordermen) from 1956 to 1966, was one of the main figures of the "Movement of the New Songbook", and in the 1990s he discovered and sponsored the singer Soledad Pastorutti. He has written the music for "Canción con todos" (Song with everyone), regarded as the Latin American anthem.

At age 7, was hired to join the cast of Hollywood Park, on a tour of ten days through Salta province. Two years later he scored high on a weekly singing competition, winning over seven consecutive weeks and reaching the coveted first prize: a football.

In 1954, at age 17, Isella joined the group "Los Sin Nombre" (The Nameless), next to Thomas "Tutu" Campos, Javier E. Pantaleon, Luis Gualter Menu, and Higa. The first two end up forming Los Cantores del Alba (The dawn singers) and the third, Los de Salta. The Nameless came to act with Ariel Ramírez, in a presentation at the Salta Hotel.

It was in 1956 that he joined the group Los Fronterizos (The Bordermen), replacing Carlos Barbarán, using his legal name Julio César Isella, completing the formation founded in 1953 by Gerardo López, along with Eduardo Madeo and Juan Carlos Moreno. His joining the group was critical for defining the style of Los Fronterizos making them one of the leading ensembles in the history of Argentine folklore. Lopez and Isella made the two baritone voices, first and second respectively, while Madeo and Brown were a sharp and low. This setup was what led the group to stardom achieving major popularity.

Los Fronterizos recorded five songs by Isella when he was still part of the group: "La fiera" (Hechizo), "Se lo llevó el carnaval"" (Voces mágicas), "Guitarreando" (Voces mágicas), "Corazón guitarrero" and "Un abrazo a Corrientes" (Color en folklore). After that, without Isella, recorded others for: "Los seguidores" (Sangre fronteriza), "Canción de lejos" (Desde el corazón...), "Viento no más" (Cantando), "Paloma y laurel"(Hoy!!). With Los Fronterizos, in 1964, participated in the historic original recording of "Misa Criolla", by Ariel Ramírez, considered the supreme work of Argentine music.

In 1966, began a solo career under the name César Isella. The decision surprised the audience, because after the Misa Criolla, Los Fronterizos were at the pinnacle of success.