Gervasio
Encyclopedia
José Gervasio Viera Rodríguez (27 February 1948 – 28 October 1990), also simply known as Gervasio, was an Uruguay
an singer who achieved popularity in Chile in 1983, when he won the international competition of the Viña del Mar International Song Festival
, with the song "Alma, Corazón y Pan". One of Gervasio's most famous compositions is "Con Una Pala y Un Sombrero," which he wrote in honour of his father, who died of lung cancer
.
, Uruguay
, on February 27, 1948. During his first years of life, he stayed in a children's home, and left school at 9 years old. His first public appearance as singer was in 1965, and "he did not leave music anymore, because through it he could interact with people from the upper class of Uruguay," Canal 13
reported.
Gervasio emigrated to Santiago de Chile in 1967, participating in Mario Kreutzberger's TV show Sábados Gigantes. Shortly afterwards, he already had some radio hits in Chile: "La Mujer Esdrújula" (which he performed in Sábados Gigantes), and "La Azafata". Gervasio left Chile for some time, and in Argentina he formed the band Los Náufragos, with which he had hits such as "Linda Chiquilina."
He married for the first time in Buenos Aires
, Argentina
, in the mid-1970s, and left music temporarily. He shortly broke up, and formed a duet with Helda Rozas, with whom he had his second children, and worked for about a year. Gervasio broke up with Rozas, and then returned to Chile, in 1982.
In February 1983, he participated in the Viña del Mar International Song Festival
, representing Uruguay in the international competition, with his song "Alma, Corazón y Pan." Gervasio eventually won.
Gervasio got engaged with the Chilean model Mónica Aguirre, with whom he had four children: Yanara, Nahuel, Millaray, and Lincoyán.
In May 1984, Gervasio was accused of attempted rape
by a twenty-years-old woman. The case was dismissed ten months later for lack of merit. In September 1988, he was accused for the third time of the same crime, but he was dismissed on every occasion for lack of evidence. Due to a sexual abuse allegation against him, in early 1990, Gervasio had to perform himself a psychological examination that revealed abnormal characteristics in his personality. He was arrested on March 5 of that year, and stayed fifty-two days in the Penitenciaría de Santiago prison, until he was released on bail.
His economic problems, and lack of employment, forced him to begin working in a Maipú restaurant.
, Santiago Metropolitan Region
.
It was reported he had committed suicide
, but Gervasio's sister, Blanca Viera, managed to prompt an investigation on the matter. In 1996, a case was opened, but it was dismissed two years later because evidence could not be found to prove the involvement of third parties.
Compilation albums (with other artists)
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an singer who achieved popularity in Chile in 1983, when he won the international competition of the Viña del Mar International Song Festival
Viña del Mar International Song Festival
The Viña del Mar International Song Festival is a music festival held annually during February since 1960 in Viña del Mar, Chile. It is considered the most important musical event in Latin America....
, with the song "Alma, Corazón y Pan". One of Gervasio's most famous compositions is "Con Una Pala y Un Sombrero," which he wrote in honour of his father, who died of lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
.
Life
José Gervasio was born in Cerro LargoCerro Largo
Cerro Largo may refer to:;Brazil*Cerro Largo, Rio Grande do Sul;Uruguay*Cerro Largo Department*Cerro Largo FC...
, Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
, on February 27, 1948. During his first years of life, he stayed in a children's home, and left school at 9 years old. His first public appearance as singer was in 1965, and "he did not leave music anymore, because through it he could interact with people from the upper class of Uruguay," Canal 13
Canal 13 (Chile)
Canal 13 , is the second oldest television station in Chile. It is owned by Luksic Group associated with the Papal Catholic University of Chile. Its inaugural transmission took place on August 21, 1959...
reported.
Gervasio emigrated to Santiago de Chile in 1967, participating in Mario Kreutzberger's TV show Sábados Gigantes. Shortly afterwards, he already had some radio hits in Chile: "La Mujer Esdrújula" (which he performed in Sábados Gigantes), and "La Azafata". Gervasio left Chile for some time, and in Argentina he formed the band Los Náufragos, with which he had hits such as "Linda Chiquilina."
He married for the first time in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, in the mid-1970s, and left music temporarily. He shortly broke up, and formed a duet with Helda Rozas, with whom he had his second children, and worked for about a year. Gervasio broke up with Rozas, and then returned to Chile, in 1982.
In February 1983, he participated in the Viña del Mar International Song Festival
Viña del Mar International Song Festival
The Viña del Mar International Song Festival is a music festival held annually during February since 1960 in Viña del Mar, Chile. It is considered the most important musical event in Latin America....
, representing Uruguay in the international competition, with his song "Alma, Corazón y Pan." Gervasio eventually won.
Gervasio got engaged with the Chilean model Mónica Aguirre, with whom he had four children: Yanara, Nahuel, Millaray, and Lincoyán.
In May 1984, Gervasio was accused of attempted rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
by a twenty-years-old woman. The case was dismissed ten months later for lack of merit. In September 1988, he was accused for the third time of the same crime, but he was dismissed on every occasion for lack of evidence. Due to a sexual abuse allegation against him, in early 1990, Gervasio had to perform himself a psychological examination that revealed abnormal characteristics in his personality. He was arrested on March 5 of that year, and stayed fifty-two days in the Penitenciaría de Santiago prison, until he was released on bail.
His economic problems, and lack of employment, forced him to begin working in a Maipú restaurant.
Death
On October 30, 1990, Gervasio had to assist to the Appeals Court, in order to confront the woman who had accused him of sexual abuse; however, two days before, his body was found hanging, in an abandoned house of TalaganteTalagante
Talagante is a commune and the capital city of the province of the same name in the Santiago Metropolitan Region of central Chile. The word Talagante in Quechua comes from talacanta, meaning "Lazo de Hechicero", which was the proper name of the curaca, or ruler, who dominated this central valley on...
, Santiago Metropolitan Region
Santiago Metropolitan Region
Santiago Metropolitan Region or simply Metropolitan Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. It is the country's only landlocked administrative region and contains the nation's capital, Santiago...
.
It was reported he had committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
, but Gervasio's sister, Blanca Viera, managed to prompt an investigation on the matter. In 1996, a case was opened, but it was dismissed two years later because evidence could not be found to prove the involvement of third parties.
Discography
As solo artist- Gervasio (1968 - RCA Victor / Arci Music)
- Alma, corazón y pan (1983 - RCA Argentina / BMG Chile)
- Tiempo de muñecas (1985 - BMG)
- Gervasio (1989 - Alerce)
Compilation albums (with other artists)
- Voces sin fronteras (1987 - EMI Odeon)
- La Nueva OlaNueva olaThe Nueva ola is a term applied to a loose group of musicians, mainly in Spanish speaking South America, who played and introduced rock and roll and other American and European music of the 50s and 60s to their countries. Artist associated with the Nueva ola reached their peak of popularity in the...
en 30 grandes éxitos (1997 - Warner Music)
External links
- Gervasio: el enigma y la leyenda (Gervasio: the mystery and the legend), report by Contacto (Canal 13Canal 13 (Chile)Canal 13 , is the second oldest television station in Chile. It is owned by Luksic Group associated with the Papal Catholic University of Chile. Its inaugural transmission took place on August 21, 1959...
)