Waldo de los Ríos, born Osvaldo Nicolás Ferraro on September 7, 1934, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was a celebrated composer, conductor, and arranger known for blending classical music with pop sensibilities.
From a musical family, he studied at the National Conservatory of Buenos Aires under Alberto Ginastera, mastering piano and composition. In the 1950s, he formed the group Los Waldos, pioneering Argentine folk-pop fusion, before moving to Spain in 1958 to expand his career.
De los Ríos gained international fame in the 1970s with his orchestral arrangements of classical works, most notably his 1971 hit “Symphony No. 40” (Mozart), which sold over a million copies.
His album Sinfonías topped charts in Europe and Latin America, while his scores for films like Savage Pampas (1966) showcased his cinematic flair. A prolific artist, he composed for Spanish TV and collaborated with pop acts like Raphael.
Despite his success, De los Ríos battled depression, tragically taking his own life on March 23, 1977, in Madrid at age 42. Married to actress Isabel Pisano at the time of his death, his innovative fusions left a lasting mark on orchestral pop music.
