Onofre Paz

Onofre Paz was born in 1918 in Gobernador Castro, Tucumán Province. He grew up around traditional gaucho music and started performing early, though he had to take odd jobs to get by. In the late 1940s, folklorist Atahualpa Yupanqui heard him and encouraged him to pursue music professionally.

In 1951, Paz recorded his breakthrough album, which included the song "Paisanita de Mis Pagos." That track became his signature piece, capturing something about rural Argentine life that resonated with listeners. His voice had a plain, soulful quality that fit the material.

As he kept working, Paz began incorporating elements from Andean and Peruvian music into his folk style. This drew some criticism from traditionalists, but he kept at it. He also wrote songs that touched on social and political themes, though he never became a major commercial figure outside of folk circles.