"The blues is the most resilience form of Art known... That the number one reason to spread the seeds... Blues ... is waiting for them who don’t know him!!! When the blues touch the soul ... the soul remember!!! The Blues makes you happy even when you are sad for any reason!!! The blues (especially in minor mood) take you in front of the Lord!!!"

Miguel Vilanova: Don Plays The Blues

Miguel Vilanova, also known as Don Vilanova and previously as Botafogo is a legendary blues guitarist from Argentina. He began playing classical guitar at the age of nine, and at twelve he had his first electric guitar. His professional debut was at the age of 17 with Pappo's Blues. Between 1977 and 1984 he settled in Madrid, Spain, where he was part of, among others, the group Cucharada; Joaquín Sabina; Antonio Flores; and Mariscal Romero. He played as part of Chuck Berry 's Blues Band in Madrid, where the legendary American rock musician signed Botafogo's Gibson 345, and he also played at the Beale Street Music Festival. He also played with Pappo, Kevin Ayers, and others. Upon his return to Argentina he formed Durazno de Gala, with whom he recorded many albums. At the same time, he joined the bands of Rinaldo Rafanelli, Miguel Cantilo, Vitico and Javier Calamaro, as well as Pappo's Blues, Las Blacanblus and Los Guarros.

(Miguel "Don" Vilanova / Photo by Gentileza Prensa)

In 1995 Botafogo began his solo career, which included four albums. Whether with Pappo or Durazno de Gala, or as a soloist, he has performed as support for BB King, James Cotton, Guns N' Roses, Carlos Santana, Buddy Guy, Scott Henderson, and Jeff Beck. He also recorded with Taj Mahal (1994). He performed as a musician for Deacon Jones and Johnny Rivers. He participated in live jam sessions with various blues musicians who visited Argentina, such as Hubert Sumlin and Larry McCray. In 1997, Botafogo traveled to the United States, invited by harmonica player Bruce Ewan, sharing the stage with the Carey Bell Chicago Blues Band. In 2001, Miguel Vilanova Botafogo played two shows supporting Eric Clapton with local Chilean musicians. For legal reasons, in early 2008 "Botafogo" announced that he would change his stage name to "Don Vilanova".

Interview by Michael Limnios

How has the Blues and Rock Counterculture influenced your views of the world? What moment changed your music life the most?

I used to go to the cinema with my sister to see Elvis Presley movies, and I fell in love with his Gibson Hummingbird acoustic guitar. Few weeks later my sister give me my first guitar, a little Spanish guitar. Also, we saw Louis Armstrong movies and his voice impressed me a lot and his trumpet. I have been talking when I was 9, or 10 years old.

The radio was on all day long in my house ... and my mama use to call me to listen Óscar Aleman, and extraordinaire Argentine guitar player, in Gitano jazz and blues style. From the beginning the blues filled my ears, my heart!!! But, some years later I knew BB King, Freddie King, Albert King, and the English bluesmen like John Mayall, Peter Green, Mick Taylor, and Eric Clapton. At the Same time, here in Buenos Aires, Pappo, started to play and make discs and he was my influence number one. I played with him at my 17...!!! Definitely, since then I decided to be a musician forever... guitar player... make my living unique by music. My life has changed. Thanks god and the bluesmen!!!

How do you describe your sound, music philosophy and songbook? What's the balance in music between technique (skills) and soul/emotions?

I try all the time to Sound like the old style... not too many effects, in electric guitars ... but I like so much to play my Reso-phonics and acoustics guitars the most antique is a possible for me. I like to improvise my solos, not memorize them... I got some Gibsons, and Fenders, but I like to use unknown brands... I think Sound is in the fingers, I played for my father, mother, sister ... they are not in this world!!! I played and sang about things that hurt me about the world... politics... ecologic... soul...

"I can tell you that in my country there are more and more young people learning how to play the blues with all the instruments everywhere! I am a teacher; I know what I'm talking about!!! My books are working all over South America ... I swell! I am very positive about the future with the blues!!!" (Photo: Don Vilanova and the late great bluesman Pappo, Argentina)

Why do you think that the Blues music continues to generate such a devoted following in Argentina?

Blues in Argentina likes to many people... thanks Óscar Aleman, Pappo, the first band singing blues in Spanish, called Manal, and many others. I think Blues origin is like the Tango ... port areas, people from other countries, Poor people... I think that is the reason why is easy for the public to understand the blues feel!!! And the people have admired the guitar players since the beginning of the country.

What´s been the highlights in your career so far? Are there any memories from gigs, jams, open acts and studio sessions which you’d like to share with us?

Well, since my debut in 1973, beside my idol; Pappo I feel complete!!! But, since that moment horizon Open for me ... I was lucky to play with enormous artists in Spain, I played all over Spain during many years among 1978, and 1984!!! I used to say that I played on the five continents... and is true. For me played in Japan was fabulous, in Australia, too. In many countries in South America, in blues festivals in Medellin Colombia, in Rock al Parque in Bogotá, in front of 100.000 persons!!! In Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay, I open for Eric Clapton two times in Chile, I Also open for BB King, Carlos Santana, Jeff Beck, Scott Henderson, in Argentina.

I open for Chuck Berry in Spain, and ten years later he played in Buenos Aires with my guitar !!!... a 345 Gibson!!! Signed by him ... of course!! Taj Mahal recorded on one of my discs!!! I did many tours in the USA with Bruce Ewan, one of the best harmonica players!! Played in Beale Street music festival ... besides the Mississippi River... a dream!!! Every single show I made is super important to me ... I still be a little boy playing in the ludic sense!!! And everything is a miracle for me!!!

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

These days are very hard for those who make their living with music playing blues... but still fill our hearts... and forever... Many years ago... for me was impossible to go out to the streets without listening to at least... five minutes, Howlin' Wolf ... or Mississippi John Hurt... or All Along the Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix!!! I can tell you that in my country there are more and more young people learning how to play the blues with all the instruments everywhere! I am a teacher; I know what I'm talking about!!! My books are working all over South America ... I swell! I am very positive about the future with the blues!!!

"Blues in Argentina likes to many people... thanks Óscar Aleman, Pappo, the first band singing blues in Spanish, called Manal, and many others. I think Blues origin is like the Tango ... port areas, people from other countries, Poor people... I think that is the reason why is easy for the public to understand the blues feel!!! And the people have admired the guitar players since the beginning of the country." (Miguel "Don" Vilanova / Photo by Hugo J. Panzarasa)

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

Be a better person, better musician, be thankful with life, have been grown like a man. Thanks, the music, the blues, I am a father, grandpa!!... lucky to have visited many countries, always playing music!!! Have ground spiritually and have a bigger cosmovision!!! Know these days... that every single atom is formed with vibrations... Sounds...music ... I used to tell the audience that not so many years ago, an anthropologist found a little flute somewhere in Africa, made of a bone... maybe a child’s bone of a leg... with five holes... Like the mother scale of the blues; the Pentatonic scale!!!

The analysis of the bone said it was 25.000 years old !?!?!?Can you believe this? The Sounds of the blues scale are inside us... deeply!!!

Why is it important to we preserve and spread the blues? What is the role of music in today’s society?

The blues is the most resilience form of Art known... That the number one reason to spread the seeds... Blues ... is waiting for them who don’t know him!!! When the blues touch the soul ... the soul remember!!! The Blues makes you happy even when you are sad for any reason!!! The blues (especially in minor mood) take you in front of the Lord!!!

What are you doing to keep your music relevant today, to develop it and present it to the new generation?

I make everything possible for me!!! I still record my songs, I still study music with a professor, I go on tour, I play with new musicians who are starting, I use to do clinics, write books for learning guitar, "my" music is in the platforms... well ... I'm doing my best!!!

(Miguel "Don" Vilanova / Photo by Hugo J. Panzarasa)