Marcelo Chanampa

Marcelo Chanampa was born on a rainy morning in Buenos Aires, in August 2, 1967. His childhood would have been a lot more relaxed if only his family hadn´t moved so often. Firstly, he lived in Villa Devoto, afterwards came Merlo (known, in those times, as the “modern” neighbourhood called Olivetti, which was actually the name of the factory his father used to work for). Some years later, they settled in Moreno.

Those days were full of activities like drawing, painting, and music. Because, strange at it may sound for an Argentinian kid, he didn´t enjoy football much.

“Obviously, I used to go out a lot, usually with my older brother, and play different games with my friends. But there´s a wordless law when it comes to neighborhood football matches here, and it states that awful players are supposed to be goalkeepers. So … Imagine what I always ended up doing whenever I couldn´t get out of being part of a team? Thing is, within time, I turned out to be a good one. But I´d like to make clear that, as a matter of fact, I’d rather stayed at home reading comics and drawing superheros."

It was pretty normal to listen to many different kinds of music in his house back then. His father was a good singer (mostly boleros and folklore music), while his mother used to love every melody she would come across with in everyday´s life.

“Actually, I can´t say I´ve missed listening to any musical gender. I used to try and, usually, like everything. But it was when I listened to The Beatles that I totally lost it. I went crazy about their music. For some time, I cared about nothing else. Fortunately, I opened up to other kinds of music again when I became a teenager."

Deep change took place when his family had to move to La Rioja (Argentinian Province – NW) in January 1981. Even though it wasn´t easy at first, soon he had already made some new friends at school. As a student of an Art secondary school, he decided to join Plastic Art carrer. But soon his tendency towards music became the reason to join a Choir at the same time.

It would be fair to say that his musical carrer started then, in 1982, as a member of the Teen Choir that belonged to the Art Center, and in a vocal group called “Kantorei”, both in La Rioja.

Some time later, and along with three friends called Mariano and Andrés Flores and Daniel Mercado, he decided to start his own vocal group, “Talpa”. Daniel quit a short time later, and Miguel Marcos replaced him. They won the “Pre-Cosquín” contest in 1990.

“Funny thing, actually, is the fact that we split exactly by the time we were beginning to develop our own distinctive sound. Well, I guess we were just young and thought we could do anything.”

He participated in the Polyphonic Choir (La Rioja University) and in the Town Hall Choir (La Rioja – Conducted by Camilo Matta). As a part of this last one, he had the opportunity to participate also in a theater play “Cantata Riojana”, along with the composers (Ramón Navarro and David Gatica), Rioja Trío and Pancho Cabral in 1995.

A call from Pica Juárez, former mate of secondary school days, led to a chance to perform some songs with other singers as María "Bruja" Salguero and Kike Alamo. Some time later, and as a consequence of a pleasant rehearsing environment, they decided to form another vocal group, “Serviñaku”, reaching final stages in Pre-Cosquín contests twice in a row (1992-93).

“Despite how short it tended up lasting, I still consider our sound then as unique. Now “La Bruja” is one of the best singers throughout the country, and Kike is one of the soloist singers I admire the most”.

Along with his groupal activities, began his soloist carrer.

He started Broadcasting carrer. Some time later, he got his certificate as a National Broadcaster, given by the Federal Broadcasting Comitee (COMFER), working in La Rioja´s State Channel and at important city media Businesses.

In 1997, he decided to move back to Buenos Aires. But it wasn´t until 2000 that a very particular event took place in his life.

“My friend Andrés Flores, former partner in “Talpa”, was working in Radio Nacional, conducting La Rioja´s Singing Children Choir. Whit him was another friend, Camilo Matta, who apart from being a member and musical arranger of “Librevoz” vocal group, also used to make the arranges to the Children Choir. That very same day, “ALBAHACA” had a presentation. And as soon as it was over, Camilo introduced me to Eduardo Ferraudi”.

In December that year, I had presentation in La Rioja´s House, with Hernán Roveda in guitar, and I met Eduardo one more time. Shortly after that, I got his call to join the group.. And here I am..”.

Because of being so open when it comes to music, I couldn´t help accepting an offer of join an independent Zarzuela group. We performed in “La Verbena de la Paloma”, in River Plate´s Auditorium, and in the Colonial Theater, in 2002. That same year, I was bariton back up in the National Polyphonic Choir, during one presentation in Belgrano´s Auditorium.

Also, I would like to state that my love for Rock & Roll music led me to join, with some music mates, a group called “Lonpley” (Buenos Aires´ slang for Long Play). We performed Progressive and Symphonic Rock covers.

From the beginnings of 2001 up to date, he is a member of “ALBAHACA”, Argentinian Folkore Music, and “Vocal Consonante”, a Chamber Choir.