Ñico Lora
Ñico Lora | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Born | 1881 Santiago |
| Died | 1971 (aged 89–90) |
| Occupation | Folk musician |
Francisco Antonio Lora Cabrera (1881 in Maizal, Santiago[1] – 1971 in Bisonó (Navarrete)[2]) popularly known as Ñico Lora was a folk musician from the Dominican Republic. He is considered one of the fathers of merengue.[3]
Early life
His grandfather, Félix Lunnaux, was a soldier who was part of Charles Leclerc’s expedition in 1802.[4] He was the great-uncle of Francisco Antonio Lora Ramirez.
When he was a child, he learned how to play the button accordion.
Career
Though he was not educated in music theory, he reached a high level of success for his endeavors. His most influential songs were San Antonio, Tingo Talango, Eres La Mujer Más Bella, Pedrito Chávez and San Francisco. These songs remain an essential part of the musical roots of the Dominican people.[5]
Death and legacy
Ñico Lora died on April 9, 1971 in the town of Bisonó (Navarrete), where there is a plaza called "La Plaza de la Cultura Ñico Lora" which was built in 1997 to honor his achievements and contributions to Dominican music.[6] A statue in his memory was erected in Santiago in 2007.[1]
Sources
- ^ a b Sydney Hutchinson (2008). Merengue Tipico in Transnational Dominican Communities: Gender, Geography, Migration and Memory in a Traditional Music. pp. 232–. ISBN 978-0-549-81936-3. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
- ^ Enciclopedia Dominicana. Enciclopédia Dominicana. 1978. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
- ^ Darío Tejeda; Rafael Emilio Yunén (2006). El Merengue en la Cultura Dominicana y Del Caribe: Memorias Del Primer Congreso Internacional "Música, Identidad y Cultura en el Caribe". Centro León. p. 70. ISBN 978-9945-8519-7-7. Retrieved 12 May 2013. - El padre del merengue no sería Juan Bautista Alfonseca, sino Ñico Lora
- ^ Espinal Hernández, Edwin Rafael (3 December 2005). "Los descendientes de la flota de Leclerc". Cápsulas Genealógicas. Instituto Dominicano de Genealogía. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- ^ Celebridades de Santiago 2009/11/02
- ^ Sarah Cameron (1 November 1999). Caribbean Islands Handbook 2000: with the Bahamas. Footprint Handbooks. ISBN 978-0-8442-4629-1. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
Further reading
- "Los cien músicos del siglo", (published in 2000 by "Cañabrava", in Santo Domingo and written by "Antonio Gómez Sotolongo" ) in Spanish.
- Biografia de Ñico Lora