Ariel Ramírez (4 September 1921 – 18 February 2010) was an Argentine composer, pianist and music director, born in Santa Fe, Argentina. He began his piano studies locally before pursuing Argentine folklore, meeting the folk singer and songwriter Atahualpa Yupanqui, whose influence encouraged Ramírez to research traditional South American rhythms across the country. He went on to study classical music in Madrid, Rome and Vienna between 1950 and 1954, and continued composing and recording until his death, ultimately producing more than 300 compositions and selling over 10 million albums.

Ramírez is considered a chief exponent of Argentine folk music, best known internationally for his Misa Criolla (1964), which built his reputation across Europe and Latin America and has been recorded by artists including Plácido Domingo, José Carreras and Mercedes Sosa. His song “Alfonsina y el mar,” written with poet Félix Luna, is one of the most beloved pieces of Argentine popular song and is widely arranged for classical guitar.

Sources:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariel_Ram%C3%ADrez