3569  Dear Carlos

Date: Fri, 1 Jul 2005 21:51:40 -0400
From: Keith Elshaw <keith@TOTANGO.NET>
Subject: Dear Carlos

Hello tango friends;

It has been quite a day - reading the interesting (can I say lovely?) posts
about Gavito, remembering all the great times with him. He did have a way
of creating sweet memories out of just being.

For a few hours, I had no intention of writing.

There have been times when I have sent along a sincere note about someone
passing in the interest of helping to shed light on the person to those
who might not otherwise know of them.

Such is not the case, with Gavito (as we all affectionaltely called him)
of course.

But, here I am. Motivated in the end because he meant so much to me years
ago.

He rocketed across the tango heavens (for which we must thank producer
Luis Bravo and Gavito's inimitable partner, Marcella Duran) and in a
relatively short time became one of the biggest names after relative
obscurity for 25 years of his professional life.

Forever Tango WAS a life-saver for him. Without it, very few of us (if
any) would have heard of him. That would have been such a cruel waste.

For Carlos had been a serious student all his life. And it is good
students who make the best teachers.

He was VERY serious about learning everything he could about tango, it's
people, it's evolution, it's way. From the beginning it was in his blood
to have a place in the tango world ... and he knew it was his
responsibility to study it and revere the greats who had gone before;
understand context; educate anyone who would listen if he could.

Before he became famous, he was already a star.

It seems to me (I claim no special knowledge) that he had a special role
to play. And in that role, he was to suffer years of frustration.

For Carlos was not "known" in the conventional sense. He worked for years in
a kind of obscurity. Doing shows in Europe and the Middle-East; making a
living as a dancer - but without a "name."

He was a journey-man. Virtually unknown in his homeland. This ate
at him. It seemed unjust. How hard must it have been for him on his trips
back to Argentina before Forever Tango to be just a face in the crowd when
he KNEW what he had. (He had, after-all, begun his professional career in
the early 70's in the Copes company).

He kept at his studies. Fortunately for us, he worked in a world where he
had to master the English language. It was this which helped bring him a
large part of his ultimate following.

How could he have made so many friends - imparted so much knowledge -
without it?

The shame, of course, is that he has been taken too early. His time in the
spotlight was perhaps too brief for him to personally adjust to his role
and grow through all it's phases.

From decades of being on the fringe, he became an overnight star and the
subject of almost too much adulation. It wasn't really a "natural" change
in the sense that he found himself in an almost bewildering rise to the
top. Of course HE was ready ... but in another sense, no one could have
been. For a brief time, he took himself a little too seriously. Surely,
for this he can be forgiven. ;-)

Whom amongst us cannot relate to the tragedy of his experience. Just when he
achieves his place, the cancer strikes.

But for the last two years, he kept going with grace and the greatest
dignity.

He has left an eduring legacy. He will forever be recalled and talked
about by anyone who knew him and called him a friend.

In a piece I wrote about him in 1997, I likened Gavito to Johnny
Appleseed, spreading the true tango spirit and love everywhere he went.


How many people miss Carlos tonight - and will forever?

We who were influenced by him are his monument. And I KNOW he is pleased.



We know how he wants us to thank him for everything he gave.

Dance tango with abandon - for it, for life, with love in our hearts.

Passionately. Slowly. Doing "nothing."

Si, senor.


A bit more about our friend can be found at https://ToTANGO.net.


I am appreciating the comments offered by all. I also think it's sweet
that it's Carlos who is bringing out contributions from long-time members
of Tango-L who are mostly silent now.

He would have liked that, too.

When something like this happens, we all think about how special our
relationships are in tango. Friendships of a special kind.


I wasn't going to, but maybe I've just decided I'm going to go dance
tonight. And think, while in the tango embrace, of the man who gave me so
much I could never thank him enough for.

Gavito. Thank you, God, for him.




Keith