| PROFILES |
| MIGUEL "BOTAFOGO" VILANOVA Performing under the name of Botafogo, Miguel was born on February 7, 1956, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He started playing the classical guitar when he was nine years old and he got his first electric guitar when he was twelve. He made his professional debut in 1973, when he was 17. From then on, Botafogo never stopped playing music. It would be impossible to say how many shows he has done. He formed several of the young leading groups in Buenos Aires. He then moved to Madrid, Spain (1977-1984), where he participated in the most famous Rock & Roll Spanish bands and accompanied almost all of the renowned Spanish Rock & Roll artists: Joaquin Savina, Antonio Flores, among others. In 1984, he returned to Buenos Aires and formed the band, Durazno de Gala, which, for ten years, led the Argentine Blues scene, they released four recordings. In 1995, Botafogo decided to play as soloist and has already released six CDs, edited by distributor Belgrano Norte: "Tr�o" (1995), "Botafogo y Amigos" (1997), "Cambios" (1998), "Live in Hollywood" (1999), "Botafogo Solo Blues Acoustic" (1999) and "Live in Japan" (2000). With Durazno de Gala, Pappo and also as soloist, Botafogo participated in shows such as opening concerts for B. B. King (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995), James Cotton (1993), Guns & Roses (1993), Carlos Santana (1993), Buddy Guy (1995), Scott Henderson (1998), Jeff Beck (1998) and Eric Clapton (2001). He recorded together with Taj Mahal (1994). He accompanied Deacon Jones and Johnny Rivers in special TV shows. He participated in live improvisations with bluesmen that visited our country such as Hubert Sumlin and Larry McCray. We need a special chapter for "Tours & Performance". Miguel Botafogo is the most representative Bluesman of Argentina who has been touring outside and inside the country. In his web site you can find most of the details. Botafogo in U. S. A.: 1997 - he played in Washington, Miami and Chicago. 2000 - Los Angeles, where he played and recorded "Live in Hollywood", accompanied by the famous organist player Deacon Jones, Paul Eckman and Fabian Jolivet. 2001 & 2003 - invited by harmonic player Bruce Ewan - an 8-date tour in Washington D.C. area that included the Baltimore Blues Festival. 2002 - he was invited to participate at one of the most important international music festival in USA the "Beale Street Music Festival" in Memphis, alongside Blind Mississippi Moris. Their performance was shown on the front page of the newspaper, The Commercial Appeal. - Botafogo in Japan: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 - Botafogo traveled to Japan, accompanied by the Japanese Hideo Ono, Julian Nakauchi, the most prestigious Japanese piano player Koshima Yoshinobu, and the Australian Alan Tilsley. Along these tours, the band performed more than 45 shows, in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Miyasaki, Nakamura, Kochi, Takamatsu and Tokushima, and others. They recorded a CD named "Botafogo Live in Japan". A 2004 Japanese tour has been confirmed. (continued on next page) |
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