Luis Alfonzo Larrain
Encyclopedia
Luis Alfonzo Larrain was a Venezuelan composer, music director and producer, better known as the Magician of the dancing Music.
, Aragua state
, Venezuela
, son of Ana Larrain Martínez and Alejandro Alfonzo Pérez. In 1918, his family moved to Caracas
, living in the parish of La Pastora. From very young, Luis feels attracted by music, being his first influences the band directed by Carlo Bonet and Ana Martinez. His mother teach him to sing and play cuatro
. At the age of nine, Luis starts to compose, being stimulated by Spanish singer Pilar Arcos. In 1925, Luis forms a small orchestra, next to Raúl Briceño, Rafael Uzcategui and Eduardo Serrano
.
In 1927, founded the Flava Orchestra. Soon gets inside it musicians: Federico Ayesta (Trumpet
), Heber Hernández (Violin
), Luis Eladio Guevara (Saxophone
) and Antonio Lauro
(Guitar
). In 1930, Luis starts to work in the Broadcasting Caracas (nowadays Radio Caracas Radio
), next to manager William Henry Phelps
, and personalities like, Cecilia Martínez, Margot Antillano, Conchita Ascanio, Edgar J. Anzola, Francisco Fossa and Ricardo Espina. For this date directs the musical groupings: Staff Acrobats, The Sons of Night and Luis Alfonzo Larrain's melodic quartet, in which participates Graciela Naranjo
, Fidel Peters, Ofelia Ramón and Enrique Alvarenga. In 1937, forms the Luis Alfonzo Larrain's Great Orchestra, that worth to him the title of Magician of the dancing Music.
Larrain was pupil of Vicente Emilio Sojo
and carry out arrangements for popular merengues
, that worth the aristocratic status that permitted his internationalization and refinement. In his marriage with Elisa Soteldo, singer of the orchestra, they had a daughter Keyla Ermecheo, celebrated professional of the Classical Dance and who stand out in the world of the worldwide Ballet
.
In the 1930s and 1940s, singers like: Ada Alba, Carmen Chirinos, Flor Díaz, Trino Finol, Luisín Landáez, Marco Tulio Maristani, Kiko Mendive, Manolo Monterrey, Graciela Naranjo
, Juanito Renot, Rafa Robles, Elio Rubio, Leo Rodríguez, Hilda Salazar, Mario Suárez
, Callos Torres, Orlando Vallejo, and Maurice Chevalier, acted along with the Larrain's Orchestra. Also international artists like Carlos Gardel
, Tito Guizar, Pedro Vargas
, Miguelito Valdez, Teo Camargo, Jorge Negrete
, Pedro Infante
and Nat King Cole
. Next to his musical activity, worked writing in different publications and newspapers about art, history, musical Topics and humor.
In 1939 stand out in cinematography, developing the musical production for the movie Carambola with argument of Fini Veracoechea, written by Rafael Brunicardi and script of Sara Cabrera, also founded the Estudios Larrain (Larrain Studios) for the recording and production of music albums. This company was administered by his wife Eduvigis Bravo, with the help of their children Mario, Luis Alfredo, Mariela and Gustavo, until it culminated its activities in 1987. On 24 May 1955 Luis Alfonzo Larrain founded "SACVEN", Society of Authors and Composers from Venezuela, important institution, for its social projection, in benefit of the economical security of all the Venezuelan colleagues, also edited the project of the law of authors and composers, that was approved at the Venezuelan National Congress.
Luis Alfonzo Larrain died on 4 July 1996, in Caracas
.
Some of his works: “Quisiera”, “Vente pa’ca”, “Amandanos”, “Dulce y Picante”, “El Morrocoy”, “El pon pon”, “Se que me Quieres”, “Rosendo”, “Oye mi Cancion”, “La Pelota”.
Early life and career
Luis Alfonzo Larrain was born in the city of La VictoriaLa Victoria, Aragua
La Victoria is a city in the state of Aragua in Venezuela.It is famous for the independence battle of 12 February 1814, where José Félix Ribas led a young and inexperienced army that succeeded in halting the royalist troops of José Tomás Boves at La Victoria...
, Aragua state
Aragua (state)
Aragua State is located in the north-central region of Venezuela. It has plains and jungles and Caribbean beaches. The most popular are Cata and Choroni...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, son of Ana Larrain Martínez and Alejandro Alfonzo Pérez. In 1918, his family moved to Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
, living in the parish of La Pastora. From very young, Luis feels attracted by music, being his first influences the band directed by Carlo Bonet and Ana Martinez. His mother teach him to sing and play cuatro
Cuatro (instrument)
The cuatro is any of several Latin American instruments of the guitar or lute family. The cuatro is smaller than a guitar. Cuatro means four in Spanish, although current instruments may have more than four strings....
. At the age of nine, Luis starts to compose, being stimulated by Spanish singer Pilar Arcos. In 1925, Luis forms a small orchestra, next to Raúl Briceño, Rafael Uzcategui and Eduardo Serrano
Eduardo Serrano
Eduardo Valentín Serrano Torres , was a Venezuelan popular musician, conductor and composer.-Biography:...
.
In 1927, founded the Flava Orchestra. Soon gets inside it musicians: Federico Ayesta (Trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
), Heber Hernández (Violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
), Luis Eladio Guevara (Saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
) and Antonio Lauro
Antonio Lauro
Antonio Lauro was a Venezuelan musician, considered to be one of the foremost South American composers for the Guitar in the 20th century.- Biography :Antonio Lauro was born in Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela...
(Guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
). In 1930, Luis starts to work in the Broadcasting Caracas (nowadays Radio Caracas Radio
Radio Caracas Radio
Radio Caracas Radio is a Venezuelan radio station. It is owned by Empresas 1BC, Venezuela's second largest privately-owned media corporation, which also owns Radio Caracas Televisión, a popular and controversial cable and satellite channel.-Background:...
), next to manager William Henry Phelps
William Henry Phelps
William Henry Phelps was an American ornithologist and businessman.-Early life:Born in New York City to Dudley F. Phelps, and of Louise Lander Prince Phelps, he attended Milton Academy and Harvard College...
, and personalities like, Cecilia Martínez, Margot Antillano, Conchita Ascanio, Edgar J. Anzola, Francisco Fossa and Ricardo Espina. For this date directs the musical groupings: Staff Acrobats, The Sons of Night and Luis Alfonzo Larrain's melodic quartet, in which participates Graciela Naranjo
Graciela Naranjo
Graciela Naranjo [nah-rahn'-ho] was a Venezuelan singer and actress. A radio, cinema and television pioneer in her homeland, she made her professional debut as a bolero singer in 1931. From the thirties onward her fame as a singer grew, she appeared in films and had her own TV show in an...
, Fidel Peters, Ofelia Ramón and Enrique Alvarenga. In 1937, forms the Luis Alfonzo Larrain's Great Orchestra, that worth to him the title of Magician of the dancing Music.
Personal life and career
Vicente Emilio Sojo
Vicente Emilio Sojo was a Venezuelan musicologist, educator and composer, born in Guatire, Miranda.- Biography :...
and carry out arrangements for popular merengues
Venezuelan merengue
The word merengue designates a musical form extended through all the Caribbean. The first occurrences of merengue in print in Venezuela are from scores of “dance merengue” of the second-half of the 19th century . As a dance craze, merengue acquired popularity in Caracas during the 1920s. It is...
, that worth the aristocratic status that permitted his internationalization and refinement. In his marriage with Elisa Soteldo, singer of the orchestra, they had a daughter Keyla Ermecheo, celebrated professional of the Classical Dance and who stand out in the world of the worldwide Ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
.
In the 1930s and 1940s, singers like: Ada Alba, Carmen Chirinos, Flor Díaz, Trino Finol, Luisín Landáez, Marco Tulio Maristani, Kiko Mendive, Manolo Monterrey, Graciela Naranjo
Graciela Naranjo
Graciela Naranjo [nah-rahn'-ho] was a Venezuelan singer and actress. A radio, cinema and television pioneer in her homeland, she made her professional debut as a bolero singer in 1931. From the thirties onward her fame as a singer grew, she appeared in films and had her own TV show in an...
, Juanito Renot, Rafa Robles, Elio Rubio, Leo Rodríguez, Hilda Salazar, Mario Suárez
Mario Suárez (singer)
Mario Suárez is a Venezuelan folk singer.From very young, at the age of nine, was presented to Carlos Gardel by his father, who was his driver during his visit to Venezuela, this meeting influence Mario Suárez in what will be his career as singer.In 1936, Mario Suárez moved to Caracas, beginning...
, Callos Torres, Orlando Vallejo, and Maurice Chevalier, acted along with the Larrain's Orchestra. Also international artists like Carlos Gardel
Carlos Gardel
Carlos Gardel was a singer, songwriter and actor, and is perhaps the most prominent figure in the history of tango. He was born in Toulouse, France, although he never acknowledged his birthplace publicly, and there are still claims of his birth in Uruguay. He lived in Argentina from the age of two...
, Tito Guizar, Pedro Vargas
Pedro Vargas
Pedro Vargas Mata was a Mexican singer and actor, from the golden age of Mexican cinema. He was known as the "Nightingale of the Americas".-Biography:...
, Miguelito Valdez, Teo Camargo, Jorge Negrete
Jorge Negrete
Jorge Alberto Negrete Moreno is considered one of the most popular Mexican singers and actors of all time....
, Pedro Infante
Pedro Infante
José Pedro Infante Cruz , better known as Pedro Infante, is the most famous actor and singer of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema and is an idol of the Latinamerican people, together with Jorge Negrete and Javier Solís, who were styled the Tres Gallos Mexicanos . He was born in Mazatlán, Sinaloa,...
and Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
. Next to his musical activity, worked writing in different publications and newspapers about art, history, musical Topics and humor.
In 1939 stand out in cinematography, developing the musical production for the movie Carambola with argument of Fini Veracoechea, written by Rafael Brunicardi and script of Sara Cabrera, also founded the Estudios Larrain (Larrain Studios) for the recording and production of music albums. This company was administered by his wife Eduvigis Bravo, with the help of their children Mario, Luis Alfredo, Mariela and Gustavo, until it culminated its activities in 1987. On 24 May 1955 Luis Alfonzo Larrain founded "SACVEN", Society of Authors and Composers from Venezuela, important institution, for its social projection, in benefit of the economical security of all the Venezuelan colleagues, also edited the project of the law of authors and composers, that was approved at the Venezuelan National Congress.
Luis Alfonzo Larrain died on 4 July 1996, in Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
.
Some of his works: “Quisiera”, “Vente pa’ca”, “Amandanos”, “Dulce y Picante”, “El Morrocoy”, “El pon pon”, “Se que me Quieres”, “Rosendo”, “Oye mi Cancion”, “La Pelota”.
See also
- VenezuelaVenezuelaVenezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
- Venezuelan music