Neneco Norton
Encyclopedia
Neneco Norton is a musician, composer and orchestra director. He was born in 1923 in Asuncion
, capital of the Republic of Paraguay on December 8, the day of the festival of the Virgin of Caacupé
, an important date for Paraguayans. His parents were Apolonio Benitez and Hermelinda Gonzalez.
Despite his age, he maintains his activity in music.
. He learned theory and higher sight-reading with maestro Jose de Jesus Villalba, and then studied harmony with Professor Otakar Platill.
While in the Rojas Silva battalion, he formed a musical group. Its members included Luis Meza Osmer, Rubito Medina on guitar, Benjamin Cabañas on clarinet, and a singer who later would be famous: Luis Alberto del Paraná
.
Norton was awarded the title of senior professor of theory and music theory at the Jorge Baez Conservatory. He formed his own orchestra, Los Caballeros del Ritmo, a remarkable grouping comprising Rudy Heyn, Chon Duarte, Paco Gomez, Victorio Ortiz and Nelson Mendoza. The band went on tour throughout Paraguay, as well as to cities in Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay.
. This success was joined by numerous compositions throughout his long career as a composer, conductor, and orchestral arranger. Other highlights include "Buscándote" and "Tus Ojos". The song "Yo vì un Amanecer," with lyrics by journalist Humberto Rubin and with the voice of Niño Pereira, represented Paraguay in the Third World Song Festival held in Rio de Janeiro.
Singers such as Luis Alberto del Parana, Agustín Barboza
, Pura Agüero Vera, Ñeco Gonzalez, and Oscar Barreto Aguayo sought the direction and orchestral arrangements of Norton for making records and for live presentations on television, radio, and in theaters.
Singers such as Luis Alberto del Paraná, Samuel Aguayo, Hannibal Lovera, Ramona Galarza, and Julio Iglesias; and groups such as Indios, Alberto y Los Trios Paraguayos
, Los Gomez, and Los Tres Sudamericanos; as well as Herminio Giménez
, Florentín Giménez
, Luis Bordón
, and Bernardo Avalos have recorded compositions by Neneco Norton.
He collaborated with Paraguayan playwright and journalist Alcibiades Gonzalez Delvalle to create works such as Reseda, Naranjera, Ribereña, The Arribeños, La Morena, Del Trigal, El Delegado and Cañaveral. Neneco also worked with playwright Mario Halley Mora in La Promesera of Caacupé and Mustafa. With Críspulo Melgarejo he shared the authorship of Marido de Contrabando, El Gringo de la Loma and Escuela Pyhare. Librettist Rogelio Silverado was another creative companion of Neneco Norton. Their collaborations included the play La Candeladria de mi Barrio.
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
, capital of the Republic of Paraguay on December 8, the day of the festival of the Virgin of Caacupé
Caacupé
Caacupé is a city and district in Paraguay. It is the capital of the department of Cordillera.The town was founded in 1770 by Carlos Murphy, a grenadier at the service of King Charles III of Spain, although a first settlement existed here from the 17th century.The city is the seat of the Roman...
, an important date for Paraguayans. His parents were Apolonio Benitez and Hermelinda Gonzalez.
Despite his age, he maintains his activity in music.
Early career
Neneco got his start in music when he played trumpet in the battalion band of the Rojas Silva battalion of Salesianito, a private school in Asuncion. His lessons in elementary music theory were taken with Ernesto Pérez AcostaErnesto Pérez Acosta
Ernesto Perez Acosta was a Salesian priest. He was Chaplain in the Chaco War and trainer of youngsters.-Youth and studies :The father Ernesto Perez Acosta, popularly known as "Pai Perez" was born in Itauguá January 17, 1889...
. He learned theory and higher sight-reading with maestro Jose de Jesus Villalba, and then studied harmony with Professor Otakar Platill.
While in the Rojas Silva battalion, he formed a musical group. Its members included Luis Meza Osmer, Rubito Medina on guitar, Benjamin Cabañas on clarinet, and a singer who later would be famous: Luis Alberto del Paraná
Luis Alberto del Paraná
Luis Alberto del Paraná was a Paraguayan singer and guitarist. During the fifties, sixties and early seventies, he traveled extensively around the globe with his group Los Paraguayos, popularizing Paraguayan music. He is the best-selling Paraguayan musician ever.-Family and early life:He was born...
.
Norton was awarded the title of senior professor of theory and music theory at the Jorge Baez Conservatory. He formed his own orchestra, Los Caballeros del Ritmo, a remarkable grouping comprising Rudy Heyn, Chon Duarte, Paco Gomez, Victorio Ortiz and Nelson Mendoza. The band went on tour throughout Paraguay, as well as to cities in Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay.
Song writing career
Norton has written more than eighty compositions. The guarania "Aquel Ayer," a renowned work, marked his first experience in the field of composition and was recorded by Luis Alberto del Paraná, who catapulted it to success. He is the author of one of the most well known Paraguayan songs, "Paloma Blanca" (The White Dove). This song has been recorded by countless national and international performers, including Julio IglesiasJulio Iglesias
Julio José Iglesias de la Cueva , better known simply as Julio Iglesias, is a Spanish singer who has sold over 300 million records worldwide in 14 languages and released 77 albums. According to Sony Music Entertainment, he is one of the top 15 best selling music artists in history,...
. This success was joined by numerous compositions throughout his long career as a composer, conductor, and orchestral arranger. Other highlights include "Buscándote" and "Tus Ojos". The song "Yo vì un Amanecer," with lyrics by journalist Humberto Rubin and with the voice of Niño Pereira, represented Paraguay in the Third World Song Festival held in Rio de Janeiro.
Singers such as Luis Alberto del Parana, Agustín Barboza
Agustín Barboza
Agustín Pío Barboza was a Paraguayan singer and composer.-Childhood and youth:Barboza was born in Asunción, Paraguay. In his adolescence , he went to Buenos Aires to work as a seaman aboard the Mixu, a ship flying the Argentine flag. Alternating his work of seaman with musical activities, he met...
, Pura Agüero Vera, Ñeco Gonzalez, and Oscar Barreto Aguayo sought the direction and orchestral arrangements of Norton for making records and for live presentations on television, radio, and in theaters.
Singers such as Luis Alberto del Paraná, Samuel Aguayo, Hannibal Lovera, Ramona Galarza, and Julio Iglesias; and groups such as Indios, Alberto y Los Trios Paraguayos
Alberto y Los Trios Paraguayos
Alberto y Los Trios Paraguayos was a trio from Paraguay formed by Luis Alberto del Paraná, with Digno García and Agustín Barboza. They toured the UK in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and released a number of UK records in the 1960s...
, Los Gomez, and Los Tres Sudamericanos; as well as Herminio Giménez
Herminio Giménez
-Life:At the early age of 11 he was already part of the Paraguarí music band and two years later he was hired to be part of the Asunción marching band. While at the marching band he made his first successful song, a polca named Jasy Morotí, in 1918. He was the first person to record Paraguayan...
, Florentín Giménez
Florentín Giménez
Florentín Giménez is a prolific composer with more than 400 compositions; many of them were extraordinary hits....
, Luis Bordón
Luis Bordón
Luis Bordón was a musician and composer of Paraguay and interpreter of the Paraguayan harp.- Childhood and Youth :Luis Bordón was born in the city of Guarambaré Central Department, Paraguay on August 19, 1926, and from a very early age he was fanatical with the art of musical performance, supported...
, and Bernardo Avalos have recorded compositions by Neneco Norton.
Compositions for the stage
In addition to writing songs, Neneco was devoted to compose musical works for the local theater, called Paraguayan Zarzuela.He collaborated with Paraguayan playwright and journalist Alcibiades Gonzalez Delvalle to create works such as Reseda, Naranjera, Ribereña, The Arribeños, La Morena, Del Trigal, El Delegado and Cañaveral. Neneco also worked with playwright Mario Halley Mora in La Promesera of Caacupé and Mustafa. With Críspulo Melgarejo he shared the authorship of Marido de Contrabando, El Gringo de la Loma and Escuela Pyhare. Librettist Rogelio Silverado was another creative companion of Neneco Norton. Their collaborations included the play La Candeladria de mi Barrio.