Marciano Cantero, Frontman of Argentinian Rock Outfit Enanitos Verdes, Dead at 62
Horacio Eduardo “Marciano” Cantero, the songwriter and frontman for Argentinian rock band Enanitos Verdes, died on Sept. 8 at Clinica de Cuyo in the city of Mendoza. He was 62.
The singer had recently undergone surgery to remove one of his kidneys and part of his spleen.
Enanitos Verdes are considered one of the most important rock bands in Argentina and Latin America, popularizing the genre in territories where it was shunned and stigmatized. The group formed in 1979 in Mendoza as a power trio consisting of Cantero, guitarist Felipe Staiti, and drummer Daniel Piccolo. Although they were formed at the height of Argentina’s military regime amid much censorship and repression, they gigged throughout Mendoza and Cuyo, becoming the most popular band of the region.
The nascent group took to the country’s festival circuit and became a fixture, signing to indie label Mordisco, which released their self-titled debut album in 1984. That same year also saw the debut of Soda Stereo, as well as pivotal albums by Charly García, Luis Alberto Spinetta, Fito Paez, Virus, Los Abuelos De La Nada, and Andrés Calamaro, cementing Argentina as the prime exponent of rock sung in Spanish — referred to as “rock en español” or “rock en tu idioma” in Latin America.
After signing to a major, Enanitos Verdes released their second album, Contrarreloj. Produced by Calamaro, Contrarreloj included “La Muralla Verde,” their first international smash hit. The band followed this success with much touring, becoming one of Argentina’s first bands to visit other countries—including an appearance at the famed Viña Del Mar festival in Chile where they played to an audience of over 50,000 people. In 1989, at the height of their popularity, the band members were involved in a car crash that took the life of their press person Roberto Cirigliano, after which they decided to part ways.
During their time apart, Cantero released the albums Luna Nueva (1990) and Beat Club (1991). Enanitos Verdes reunited and, in 1994, they released one of the most popular songs in the rock en español canon. The song was originally written by Raúl Federico and Natalio Faingold, “Lamento Boliviano” and recorded by their band Alcohol Etílico, which also included guitarist Sergio Embrioni, who had once been a second guitarist for Enanitos Verdes. Enantos Verdes’ cover became part of their album Big Bang, and it was a smash upon release. The song helped the album sell millions of copies and currently boasts more than 300 million plays in Spotify alone. Informed in great part by Cantero’s impassioned vocals, the Enanitos Verdes cover of “Lamento Boliviano” is arguably the tune’s definitive version.
Since their 1992 reunion, Enanitos Verdes had been active both in the studio and the live circuit, accumulating a 14-album discography in their 40-plus years together. In addition to “Lamento Boliviano” and “La Muralla Verde,” they boasted hits like “Luz De Día,” “Igual Que Ayer,” “Tus Viejas Cartas,” and their live cover of the Bukis classic “Tu Carcel.” T
hey were regularly name-checked as one of the most influential rock en español bands of all time and made fans across generations. Memorably, Bad Bunny and J. Balvin, who featured Cantero in their joint track “Un Peso.” Just before Cantero’s death, the band had completed a 42-date tour in Mexico and the U.S, with a fall leg planned.
According to a report by the Argentine newspaper Clarín, Cantero had been admitted to the hospital a week before his passing.After his passing, Cantero’s son Javier declared to the press. “I want people to remember him not only as a singer, songwriter, and artist, but also as a marvelous person and my best friend in the world.”fall.
“Today, the Latin rock world is in mourning,” WR Producciones, the band’s booking agency, said in a statement on Twitter. “Marciano, you still had many stories to tell. Thank you for everything that you’ve left us, we’ll miss you.”