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| Nito Mestre | |
|---|---|
| Name | Nito Mestre |
| Birth name | Carlos Alberto Mestre |
| Birth date | 1952-06-03 |
| Birth place | Buenos Aires |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, musician |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Associated acts | Sui Generis, Charly García, León Gieco, Luis Alberto Spinetta, Gustavo Cerati |
Nito Mestre (born Carlos Alberto Mestre; 3 June 1952) is an Argentine singer, songwriter and musician, best known as co-founder and lead vocalist of the folk-rock duo Sui Generis. Mestre has had a prolific solo career and numerous collaborations with major figures of Argentine and Latin American rock, contributing to the development of rock en español across decades.
Mestre was born in Buenos Aires into a family with musical interests and grew up during the era of the Peróns and the cultural shifts of the late 1950s and 1960s in Argentina. He attended schools in Buenos Aires Province and was influenced by the local scenes around venues like La Cueva and festivals such as the Cosquín Festival. Early exposure to artists including The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and regional voices like Atahualpa Yupanqui and Mercedes Sosa shaped his formative musical outlook. Mestre studied rudimentary music theory and popular songcraft while participating in amateur groups and community events linked to cultural institutions such as the Centro Cultural General San Martín.
In the early 1970s Mestre co-founded Sui Generis with pianist and songwriter Charly García; the duo emerged from the lineage of Argentine progressive and folk-rock movements alongside bands like Almendra, Manal, and Los Gatos. Sui Generis recorded seminal albums including "Vida" and "Confesiones de Invierno", released on labels connected to the Argentine industry and promoted at venues such as Teatro Ópera and Teatro Astral. The duo's lyric-driven, melodic songs like "Canción para mi muerte" and "Rasguña las piedras" resonated with audiences navigating the political landscape after the 1976 Argentine coup d'état. Sui Generis performed in major events and shared stages with artists like Luis Alberto Spinetta and León Gieco before their well-known farewell concert at the Estadio Obras Sanitarias and later at a historic show at Estadio Luna Park, an event that aggregated fans from the broader rock nacional movement.
After Sui Generis, Mestre launched a solo career that included albums, tours, and partnerships with artists across Latin America and Spain. He collaborated with figures such as Gustavo Santaolalla, Fito Páez, Andrés Calamaro, Jorge Drexler, and Gustavo Cerati on recordings and festival appearances at stages like Venezia Jazz Festival and international circuits including Latin Grammy-linked events. Mestre formed ensembles featuring members who had played with Soda Stereo, Invisible, and Serú Girán, and he participated in tribute projects honoring songwriters such as Atahualpa Yupanqui and Astor Piazzolla. His solo discography includes studio records, live albums recorded at venues like Teatro Colón adjunct spaces, and compilations distributed in markets including Spain, Mexico, and Chile.
Mestre's style blends acoustic folk, pop-rock, and singer-songwriter traditions with arrangements influenced by artists like Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, and Argentine contemporaries Charly García and Luis Alberto Spinetta. His vocal timbre and melodic phrasing connect to folk roots represented by Mercedes Sosa and Atahualpa Yupanqui, while harmonic and production elements recall the work of producers such as Gustavo Santaolalla and engineers who collaborated with Fito Páez and Andrés Calamaro. He has explored orchestral textures reminiscent of Astor Piazzolla-inspired fusion and incorporated electric guitar lines analogous to those of Pappo and Héctor "Pomo" Lorenzo in Argentine rock.
Mestre has maintained residences in Buenos Aires and has participated in cultural activities tied to institutions like the Fundación Konex and music education initiatives connected to Universidad de Buenos Aires affiliates. He has family ties and private pursuits including involvement with non-profit events alongside artists such as León Gieco and Mercedes Sosa in benefit concerts. Mestre has been present at commemorative gatherings for peers like Charly García and has appeared on radio programs broadcast by stations such as Radio Nacional (Argentina).
Throughout his career Mestre has received acknowledgments from Argentine cultural bodies and industry organizations including honors from Fundación Konex, festival prizes at events like Cosquín Festival, and recognition connected to retrospectives of rock nacional. He has participated in milestone celebrations for Argentine music alongside awardees such as Luis Alberto Spinetta, Gustavo Cerati, Fito Páez, Andrés Calamaro, León Gieco, and has been featured in documentaries and exhibitions curated by institutions like the Museo de la Música Popular Argentina and cultural programs at Teatro Colón adjunct venues.
Category:Argentine singers Category:Rock en español musicians