# Gustavo Santaolalla
**Gustavo Santaolalla** (born 1951 in El Palomar, Greater Buenos Aires) is an Argentine composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who won consecutive Academy Awards for Best Original Score for *Brokeback Mountain* and *[Babel](https://www.edgepedia.org/babel-film)*, helped shape the sound of rock en español as a producer, and created the music for the video game *The Last of Us* and its HBO adaptation.[1](https://www.fundacionkonex.org/b1329-gustavo-santaolalla) • [2](https://www.laphil.com/people/gustavo-santaolalla)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1951, El Palomar, Gran Buenos Aires, Argentina[1](https://www.fundacionkonex.org/b1329-gustavo-santaolalla) |
| First band | Arco Iris, founded 1967, a pioneer of fusing Latin American folk with rock; in 1972 it became the first band to play River Plate's Monumental stadium[1](https://www.fundacionkonex.org/b1329-gustavo-santaolalla) |
| Signature instrument | The ronroco, a larger cousin of the Andean charango; his 1998 instrumental album *Ronroco* led to his film-scoring career[3](https://www.umusicpub.com/us/artists/gustavo-santaolalla) |
| Oscars | Two consecutive Academy Awards for Best Original Score: *Brokeback Mountain* (2006 ceremony) and *Babel* (2007 ceremony)[2](https://www.laphil.com/people/gustavo-santaolalla) |
| Grammy record | 2 Grammy Awards and 14 Latin Grammy Awards; wins as a producer for Café Tacuba's *Cuatro Caminos* (2004) and Juanes' *La Vida... Es Un Ratico* (2009)[1](https://www.fundacionkonex.org/b1329-gustavo-santaolalla) • [4](https://www.grammy.com/artists/gustavo-santaolalla/6775/) |
| Video games | Composed the music for *The Last of Us* (2013) and *The Last of Us Part II*, and for the HBO series adaptation[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gustavo-santaolalla-mn0000651796) • [6](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/gustavo-santaolalla) |
| Method | He has never been formally trained to read or write music; he often composes entire scores from the script before any filming[7](https://apnews.com/article/9d29fbe165bd9267e978ec9fc07e4e43) • [8](https://www.barbican.org.uk/digital-programmes/gustavo-santaolalla-digital-programme) |
## Early career in Argentina
His father Alfredo gave him a charango when he was fifteen, and with it he began crossing rock with Argentine traditional music in Arco Iris, the band he founded in 1967.[9](https://elpais.com/america-colombia/2026-09-06/ronroco-el-alma-del-viaje-silencioso-de-gustavo-santaolalla.html) Arco Iris released five albums, two of them doubles, and in 1972 became the first band to perform at the Monumental stadium of River Plate; it staged multimedia shows in the direction of bands like [The Who](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-who) and [Pink Floyd](https://www.edgepedia.org/pink-floyd), including the rock opera "Sudamérica o El Regreso de la Aurora" and the 1974 modern dance work "Agitor Lucens" with choreography by Oscar Araiz.[1](https://www.fundacionkonex.org/b1329-gustavo-santaolalla) His first production discovery was the folk singer León Gieco, and together they recorded the *De Ushuaia a La Quiaca* project, traveling across Argentina recording regional performers and traditions, with a second volume in 1986.[1](https://www.fundacionkonex.org/b1329-gustavo-santaolalla) • [9](https://elpais.com/america-colombia/2026-09-06/ronroco-el-alma-del-viaje-silencioso-de-gustavo-santaolalla.html)
In 1978, with the military dictatorship making Argentina a hostile place for artists, he moved to Los Angeles, where he encountered punk and new wave and formed the band Wet Picnic with Aníbal Kerpel, still his partner today; the group recorded one album, *Balls Up*, for Unicorn Records.[1](https://www.fundacionkonex.org/b1329-gustavo-santaolalla) His solo career includes the albums *Santaolalla* (1982), *G.A.S.* (1995), the entirely instrumental *Ronroco* (1998), and *Camino* (2014).[2](https://www.laphil.com/people/gustavo-santaolalla)
## Producer of rock en español
**A label-builder.** In 1997 he founded his own record label, Surco, dedicated to Latin American alternative rock and hip-hop.[1](https://www.fundacionkonex.org/b1329-gustavo-santaolalla) His production career began with León Gieco's eponymous 1973 debut, continued in the 1980s with albums by G.I.T. and Mexico's Maldita Vecindad, and expanded in the 1990s with Maldita Vecindad's *El Circo* (1991), Molotov (whose 1997 debut sold over 2 million copies worldwide), Divididos' *La era de la boludez*, and the first of many records with Café Tacuba.[2](https://www.laphil.com/people/gustavo-santaolalla) He is described as a fundamental producer in the careers of Divididos, Bersuit Vergarabat, Molotov, Café Tacuba, and Juanes.[1](https://www.fundacionkonex.org/b1329-gustavo-santaolalla)
Two of his productions won Grammys: Café Tacuba's *Cuatro Caminos* took Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards, and Juanes' *La Vida... Es Un Ratico* took Best Latin Pop Album at the 51st.[4](https://www.grammy.com/artists/gustavo-santaolalla/6775/) In 2004 he won the Latin Grammy for Producer of the Year for work on seven albums, including Juanes' *Mi Sangre*.[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gustavo-santaolalla-mn0000651796)
## Film and the ronroco
The ronroco, an instrument created in 1968 by the Hermosa brothers of the Bolivian group Los Kjarkas as a larger, deeper charango, became his signature sound.[9](https://elpais.com/america-colombia/2026-09-06/ronroco-el-alma-del-viaje-silencioso-de-gustavo-santaolalla.html) He found one in a Buenos Aires instrument shop after moving to Los Angeles and began recording small instrumental pieces for himself, without intending to publish them; those pieces became the 1998 album *Ronroco*, eventually released on Nonesuch.[9](https://elpais.com/america-colombia/2026-09-06/ronroco-el-alma-del-viaje-silencioso-de-gustavo-santaolalla.html)
His film career began when [Michael Mann](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-mann) used "Iguazu" from *Ronroco* in *The Insider* (1999); [Alejandro González Iñárritu](https://www.edgepedia.org/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu), who also used "Iguazu" in *Babel*, then asked him to score *Amores Perros* (2000).[3](https://www.umusicpub.com/us/artists/gustavo-santaolalla) • [8](https://www.barbican.org.uk/digital-programmes/gustavo-santaolalla-digital-programme) His scores include *21 Grams* (2003), *The Motorcycle Diaries* (2004), *Brokeback Mountain* (2005), and *Babel* (2006).[1](https://www.fundacionkonex.org/b1329-gustavo-santaolalla) After being introduced to the Brazilian director Walter Salles by Iñárritu, he composed the soundtrack for *[The Motorcycle Diaries](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-motorcycle-diaries-film)*, which won a BAFTA in February 2005.[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gustavo-santaolalla-mn0000651796)
**Back-to-back Oscars.** For *Brokeback Mountain*, directed by [Ang Lee](https://www.edgepedia.org/ang-lee), he composed the entire score before a frame was filmed, sending it to Lee about twenty days after reading the script; Lee later told the Los Angeles Times that he used the music to shape the film's narrative.[8](https://www.barbican.org.uk/digital-programmes/gustavo-santaolalla-digital-programme) • [9](https://elpais.com/america-colombia/2026-09-06/ronroco-el-alma-del-viaje-silencioso-de-gustavo-santaolalla.html) The film brought him an Oscar and a Golden Globe for the song "A Love That Will Never Grow Old", co-written with [Bernie Taupin](https://www.edgepedia.org/bernie-taupin) and performed by [Emmylou Harris](https://www.edgepedia.org/emmylou-harris).[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gustavo-santaolalla-mn0000651796) He won his second consecutive Oscar for *Babel* (2006), and the two films also earned him a Hollywood Film Award Composer of the Year in 2006.[1](https://www.fundacionkonex.org/b1329-gustavo-santaolalla) • [10](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-81639/palmares/) In total his film work has brought two Oscars and two BAFTAs.[1](https://www.fundacionkonex.org/b1329-gustavo-santaolalla)
## Bajofondo and later work
Starting in 2002 he combined the roles of producer, performer, and composer in Bajofondo, a group making a contemporary version of tango and other styles of the [Río de la Plata](https://www.edgepedia.org/rio-de-la-plata) region, alongside candombe, murga, milonga, rock, electronic music, hip-hop, jazz, and classical elements.[2](https://www.laphil.com/people/gustavo-santaolalla) • [11](https://iberiaclubmagazine.iberia.com/en/articles/2025/9/gustavo-santaolalla/) The band won three Latin Grammys, including two for *Presente* (2013), and two [Premios Gardel](https://www.edgepedia.org/premios-gardel), Argentina's most prestigious music award.[2](https://www.laphil.com/people/gustavo-santaolalla)
In 2013 he composed the music for [Naughty Dog](https://www.edgepedia.org/naughty-dog)'s *The Last of Us*, the highest-selling new video game of that year, and later for *The Last of Us Part II*.[2](https://www.laphil.com/people/gustavo-santaolalla) • [5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gustavo-santaolalla-mn0000651796) When HBO adapted the game, he returned as composer; the series received 24 Emmy nominations in 2023, including one for Santaolalla's music for the episode "Long, Long Time".[7](https://apnews.com/article/9d29fbe165bd9267e978ec9fc07e4e43) • [6](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/gustavo-santaolalla) His later film credits include *The Book of Life* (2014), for which he wrote original songs with Paul Williams, and *Pedro Páramo* (2024).[12](https://www.laopera.org/discover-la-opera/about-us/artists/creative-team/gustavo-santaolalla) • [13](https://www.metacritic.com/person/gustavo-santaolalla/)
In 2027 the [New York Philharmonic](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-york-philharmonic) will give the world premiere of his multimedia work *El Payador perseguido*, commissioned by the orchestra, with Santaolalla appearing as soloist in his Philharmonic debut.[14](https://res.cloudinary.com/nyphil/image/upload/v1772811434/pdfs/newsroom/2627/26-27-sa-release-FINAL.pdf)
## Method and recognition
He has never been formally trained to read or write music; he works from the script rather than the finished footage, describing a preference for composing "from an abstract thing" and conceiving music in visual terms.[7](https://apnews.com/article/9d29fbe165bd9267e978ec9fc07e4e43) • [15](https://cvc.cervantes.es/el_rinconete/anteriores/abril_14/25042014_01.htm) • [8](https://www.barbican.org.uk/digital-programmes/gustavo-santaolalla-digital-programme) For *The Last of Us*, he worked on the score for three years before any images could be rendered.[8](https://www.barbican.org.uk/digital-programmes/gustavo-santaolalla-digital-programme)
Among his distinctions are the Konex awards: a special mention in 1995 for *De Ushuaia a la Quiaca*, the Konex de Platino in 2005 as arranger/artistic producer, and a Konex Diploma al Mérito in 2015.[1](https://www.fundacionkonex.org/b1329-gustavo-santaolalla) *Time* magazine chose him as one of the 25 most influential Latin personalities, and Buenos Aires named him a [Personality](https://www.edgepedia.org/personality) of the City.[1](https://www.fundacionkonex.org/b1329-gustavo-santaolalla)
## References
1. [Gustavo Santaolalla, Fundación Konex](https://www.fundacionkonex.org/b1329-gustavo-santaolalla)
2. [Gustavo Santaolalla, LA Phil](https://www.laphil.com/people/gustavo-santaolalla)
3. [Gustavo Santaolalla, Universal Music Publishing Group](https://www.umusicpub.com/us/artists/gustavo-santaolalla)
4. [All Grammy Awards and Nominations: Gustavo Santaolalla, Recording Academy](https://www.grammy.com/artists/gustavo-santaolalla/6775/)
5. [Gustavo Santaolalla, AllMusic biography](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gustavo-santaolalla-mn0000651796)
6. [Gustavo Santaolalla, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/gustavo-santaolalla)
7. [For 'Last of Us' composer Gustavo Santaolalla, silence is key, AP News (2023)](https://apnews.com/article/9d29fbe165bd9267e978ec9fc07e4e43)
8. [Gustavo Santaolalla, Barbican Digital Programme](https://www.barbican.org.uk/digital-programmes/gustavo-santaolalla-digital-programme)
9. [Ronroco: el alma del viaje silencioso de Gustavo Santaolalla, El País (2026)](https://elpais.com/america-colombia/2026-09-06/ronroco-el-alma-del-viaje-silencioso-de-gustavo-santaolalla.html)
10. [Gustavo Santaolalla: Récompenses et nominations, AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-81639/palmares/)
11. [Interview with Gustavo Santaolalla, Iberia Club Magazine (2025)](https://iberiaclubmagazine.iberia.com/en/articles/2025/9/gustavo-santaolalla/)
12. [Gustavo Santaolalla, LA Opera creative team](https://www.laopera.org/discover-la-opera/about-us/artists/creative-team/gustavo-santaolalla)
13. [Gustavo Santaolalla, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/person/gustavo-santaolalla/)
14. [New York Philharmonic 2026–27 Season Announcement](https://res.cloudinary.com/nyphil/image/upload/v1772811434/pdfs/newsroom/2627/26-27-sa-release-FINAL.pdf)
15. [Música y cine: una conversación con Gustavo Santaolalla, CVC Rinconete (2014)](https://cvc.cervantes.es/el_rinconete/anteriores/abril_14/25042014_01.htm)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Film, TV, and video-game composers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license