Escuela Dante Alighieri

In 1976, a week after Fito started high school at Dante Alighieri school, a civic-military coup broke out in Argentina.

The following five years were not easy for him. Education in Argentina became very strict in many senses. Academically, with the suppression of many subjects, and with the imposed discipline and mandatory use of uniforms, haircuts, etc.
He was not particularly rebellious or diligent, but he was a witty student. At that time, he started rehearsing with his high-school classmates at Toto Paniagua's house, with Mario Pajaro Gomez at the drums, Toto Paniagua at the electrical guitar, Carlos Rossi at the bass, and Fito at the piano.
Back then, he also started his first band with Ricardo Vilaseca at the piano and Patricio Prieto at the guitars. They played covers of national bands.
His father gave him a Yamaha piano, and he started the Graf band with Fabian Gallardo, Carlos Murias, and Pajaro Gomez. They debuted in Pau Casals hall.
On December 9th, 1980, he woke up to the sad news of John Lennon's assassination. Someone who was very important for him had died and he ended high school without getting his diploma. It was the end of an era.