Pappo
Norberto Aníbal Napolitano (10 March 1950 – 25 February 2005), popularly known as Pappo, was an Argentine rock musician, guitarist, singer and songwriter. One of the most influential figures in Argentine music, he was a forerunner of Argentine rock, heavy metal and blues.
Pappo | |
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Pappo in 1981 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Norberto Aníbal Napolitano |
| Also known as | El Carpo |
| Born | 10 March 1950 La Paternal, Argentina |
| Died | 25 February 2005 (aged 54) Luján, Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1955–2005 |
| Labels | |
| Formerly of |
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| Website | elsitiodepappo |
He is considered by various Argentine musicians, by the public and by the specialized press as the best guitarist in the history of Argentine rock, while B. B. King considered him one of the best guitarists of all time.
He was a member of popular Argentine rock bands such as Los Abuelos de la Nada, Engranaje, Los Gatos and Billy Bond y La Pesada del Rock and Roll. He also founded the blues rock band Pappo's Blues; the hard rock band Aeroblus, in the 1970s; and the heavy metal band Riff in the 1980s. He also founded a band in United States called The Widowmakers.
His pseudonym came from various deformations of the abbreviation of his surname, Napo. Another nickname with which he was popularly known was Carpo, alluding to the dominance he possessed when moving the carpus of his hand while playing guitar. B. B. King nicknamed him "The Cheeseman" due to a gift he received from Pappo consisting of an Argentine cheese and a red wine.