Samuel Castriota

Samuel Castriota was an Argentine pianist, guitarist and composer. He is the composer of the tango Mi noche triste, among other works.
Born in Buenos Aires, Castriota spent his childhood in the nearby town of San Miguel where he learned to play the guitar "by ear" that is without reading music. He returned to Buenos Aires at age 16 and began performing in small ensembles while also learning to play the piano.
He won a major prize in the lottery, and moved away from music toward establishing a hairdressing business. Eventually, however, he returned to his musical hobby and played piano in a trio that included himself, Vicente Loduca on bandoneon and Francisco Canaro on violin.
In the middle of the first decade of the twentieth century, Castriota released an instrumental tango, and Pascual Contursi provided lyrics. Carlos Gardel brought the names of Castriota and Contursi to public attention. Contursi had added lyrics to tangos composed by other artists, but not with the success that came from the collaboration with Castriota on Mi noche triste.
Castriota continued to direct his orchestra, alternating as pianist, and composing new pieces. However, those new pieces never came close to having the impact of Mi noche triste. He died in Buenos Aires on July 8, 1932.

Compositions

A la vejez
A Trípoli
Atorrante
Buen ejemplo
Campero
Chica moderna
¡Cómo brilla!
Como quiera
Como una flor
Con su china
Cordobesita
Cotorrita
Despechando
Dolor de ausencia
Don Florencio
El arroyito
El botonazo
El ciruja de Sorrento
El gaucho
El gorrión
El loco de los inventos
El señuelo
Flor de cardo
Francia
Inesita
Jardín de las rosas
La cotorrita
La mañanita
La parroquiana
La piba del norte
La yerra
Las margaritas
Lamento del corazón
Mi coronel
Mi noche alegre
Mi noche triste
Mi querida
Nido de amor
Notas lejanas
Patio olvidado
Picardía
Puerto Belgrano
Rebelde
Reja de mis amores
Reliquias camperas
Sentate hermano
¿Te acordás, Rafaela?
Una sonrisa
''Vieja milonga''