The conference was chaired by Roy Curtain, president of the Legislature’s Culture Commission and author of the bill, and had a highlight at the end, when Ricardo Soulé, Willy’s former comrade-in-arms and Vox Dei’s main composer, was present at the venue to perform an acoustic version of “Present (the moment you are)”. The two of them, along with drummer Rubén Basoalto, left an indelible mark on national rock.
The legend Willy Quiroga
In a brief but heartfelt speech, Quiroga highlighted the work of his former groupmates, saying that “everything he did he didn’t do it alone” and described Vox Dei as a “wonderful band”. “I’m just a man who found harmonies to communicate what’s in my heart,” he explained before thanking.
Immediately afterwards, he offered a small two-song electric show with his band “Willy Quiroga Project”, with guitarist Alejandro “Conejo” Jollivet” as a guest. Later, he gave way to the current formation of Vox Dei, along with guitarist Carlos Gardelini and his son Simón Quiroga on drums, and performed group classics.
It was in the middle of “Libros sapienciales”, a song from the mythical album “La Biblia” from 1971, when a closed applause ran like wildfire through the venue. Ricardo Soulé had just entered the place and, after crossing the hall on one side, he settled in the first row. “Shall we play ‘Presente?” Quiroga asked. And the closing, too emotional, remained in the memory of those who had the fortune to contemplate it.
Outstanding track record
Previously, in his introductory speech, Cortina had highlighted that “Willy deserved to receive this tribute properly, here, in this beautiful golden hall of the legislature” and reviewed the history of the Cordovan bassist, whom he defined as “avant-garde, legend and one of those responsible for the birth of Argentine rock”.
A video was also shown where dozens of artists sent their regards to the honoree. Among them were Divided, León Gieco, Javier Calamaro and the ex-Patricio Rey and his Ricotta Rounds “Tito” Fargo, Walter Sidotti and “Semilla” Buciarelli.
In addition, among the speakers were Claudia Gastaldi, the wife of the late drummer Basoalto, and Daniel Ripoll, founder of the magazine Pelo and historical organizer of the first BA Rock festivals.
“This music, these ideas, were actually part of the marginal. Today we are here. It is wonderful that later generations ended up understanding that what Willy and that generation did was culture,” Ripoll considered, while noting that “Willy and his generation came to end the complacent.
By way of closing, he said that “what we talked about with Willy since we were little has become culture, national identity.”
Source: Ambito
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