Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992), brilliant, iconoclastic tango musician and composer, has become a national hero in Argentina and a cult figure for classical and jazz lovers worldwide, but only after a lifetime of controversy and struggle. Piazzolla dared to revitalize, if not revolutionize, tango - to hear in the music possibilities that others couldn't, or wouldn't, imagine. The outspoken, headstrong Piazzolla told his story to journalist and longtime fan Natalio Gorin in the spring of 1990 in a series of frank interviews. Less than four months later Piazzolla was silenced by a stroke, and Gorin completed the memoir himself, bringing out two editions in Spanish prior to this annotated English version.

NATALIO GORIN has been a journalist for more than thirty years; his passion for tango and especially for Astor Piazzolla's music led him into extensive investigations of the composer's life and work.

Translator and annotator FERNANDO GONZALEZ is a regular contributor to The Washington Post, Down Beat, and National Public Radio.

"A great document. Although Astor's music says it all, now - after reading this book - I know much better why I love him, and why I always will. - GIDON KREMER, conductor and violinist.

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