Pedro Infante
Encyclopedia
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 (the Three Mexican Roosters). He was born in Mazatlán
, Sinaloa
, Mexico. He was raised in Guamúchil
. He died on April 15, 1957, in Mérida, Yucatán
, in a plane crash during a flight that he was piloting himself en route to Mexico City
.
His film career began in 1939 with him appearing in more than 60 films, and starting in 1943, he recorded about 350 songs. For his performance in the movie Tizoc
, he was awarded the Silver Bear for Best Actor
at the 7th Berlin International Film Festival
.
, in the early 1919 they moved to Guasave
. Later in 1920, they moved to Rosario, Sinaloa
.
From adolescence, Infante showed talent and affection for music. He managed to learn strings, wind, and percussion instruments in a short time. He was a guitar
student of Carlos R. Hubbard.
His wife María Luisa León, who was somewhat well-off economically, convinced him of the need to move to Mexico City
where they would find opportunities for this talented young man.
In Mexico City, he sang the songs of composer
s including Alberto Cervantes (Alberto Raúl Cervantes González http://www.sacm.org.mx/archivos/biografias.asp?txtSocio=08173), José Alfredo Jiménez
, Cuco Sánchez
, Tomás Méndez
, Rubén Fuentes
, Salvador Flores Rivera (Chava Flores) and others. His first musical recording El Soldado Raso (The Soldier) was made on November 19, 1943, for the Peerless
Company. Infante first appeared as an extra in the movie En un Burro Tres Baturros (Three Men from Aragon on a Donkey). His career as an actor in leading roles started with La Feria de Las Flores (The Fair of Flowers) in 1943.
In that same year, a friend and neighbor of Infantes' wife, Carmen Barajas Sandoval
, offered to introduce them to Jorge Negrete
, a singer whom he admired. Barajas, who knew people in the business as she was the aunt of the child actress Angélica María
, worked then at the Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Producción Cinematográfica, S.T.P.C. (Workers of the Cinematographic Production Union). She succeeded in convincing Negrete to recommend Infante to the producer Ismael Rodríguez, and others. As a result, he was invited to appear in different pictures, such as Vuelve el Ametralladora (The Machine Gun Returns)
While married to María Luisa León, he met the dancer Lupita Torrentera, with whom he had three children, Graciela Margarita (b. 1947), Pedro Infante Jr. (March 31, 1950 - April 1, 2009) and Guadalupe Infante Torrentera (b. 1951), solidifying his reputation as a ladies' man. Irma Infante was born from his relationship with the young actress Irma Dorantes, whom he met when she was only 16 years of age. Irma Infante has had a career as an actress and a singer.
Waltz
es, cha-cha-chas
, ranchera
s and bolero
s placed him among the most popular singers of the mariachi
and ranchera
music.
Some of his most popular songs include: Amorcito Corazón (approximately My Little Love and Heart), Te Quiero Así (I Love You Like This), La Que Se Fue (She Who Left),
Corazón (Heart), El Durazno (The Peach), Dulce Patria (Sweet Fatherland), Maldita Sea Mi Suerte (Cursed Be My Luck), Así Es La vida (Life Is Like This), Mañana Rosalía (Tomorrow Rosalía), Mi Cariñito (My Little Darling), Dicen Que Soy Mujeriego (They Say I Am A Womanizer), Carta a Eufemia (Letter to Eufemia), Nocturnal, Cien Años (Hundred Years), Flor Sin Retoño (Flower Without Sprout), Pénjamo, and ¿Qué Te Ha Dado Esa Mujer? (What Has That Woman Given You?). He sang "Mi Cariñito" to his frequent on screen grandmother, Sara Garcia, so many times in so many of their movies together, that it was played at her funeral.
The world famous song Bésame Mucho
("Kiss Me a Lot", or more loosely translated to get its elusive Spanish meaning closer to its English meaning, "Give Me a Lot of Kisses"), from the composer Consuelo Velázquez
, was the only melody that he recorded in English and he interpreted it in the movie A Toda Máquina (ATM) (At Full Speed), with Luis Aguilar
.
"Amorcito Corazón", by Manuel Esperón
is one of Infante's most famous interpretations.
Infante was very often accompanied by the great musical ensembles of the time like the Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán
, Noé Fajardo's Orchestra, the Trío Calaveras and Antonio Bribiesca, among others.
By then, Pedro Infante had already created his characteristic mariachi shout
, a hobby that would lead to his death. According to Wilbert Alonzo-Cabrera, his biographer, the actor was piloting a Consolidated Aircraft X B-24-D (a variant of the B-24 Liberator
), which had been converted from heavy bomber war airplane to air cargo in San Diego, California. The plane crashed 5 minutes after taking off from Mérida, Yucatán
, in southeast Mexico.
The death of Pedro Infante on the morning of April 15, 1957, was announced by radio personality Humberto Rodríguez, of radio station XEMH of Mérida, after one of the firefighters discovered the bracelet engraved with the name "Pedro Infante", plus the winged insignia that symbolized his aviator license. This was around 8:15 am; at 11:12 am, Manuel Bernal, of Mexico City radio station XEW
, gave the news saying: "this Monday, April 15, 1957, Pedro, our beloved Pedro...this has been confirmed, has died in a tragic accident in Mérida, Yucatán".
Year after year Pedro Infante attracts a great number of fans of every age to his shrine in the Panteón Jardín of Mexico City
, as well as one at 54th through 87th streets in the center of Mérida. Pedro Infante died amongst friends: mechanic Marciano Bautista, and copilot Manuel Vidal. Many friends, family and fans still dress up as the characters that he played in film: Pedro Chávez, Pepe el Toro, Tizoc and a number of people incarnated from the Mexican culture that Infante symbolized. His fans honor him every year with a mass, honor guards, music and the songs made famous by the Idol of Guamúchil. Until now they have all been spontaneous, without any official authority or institution organizing them.
Four statues have been erected in his honor. The one in Mexico City was made out of thousands of bronze keys donated by his fans to a Mexico City TV station after a request by TV director Raúl Velasco
. For the statue in Mérida another TV presenter (Manuel Pelayo) made a request and received keys. The third statue is in his birthplace, Mazatlán, Sinaloa. At the Paseo de Olas Altas at Mazatlán
there is a statue of Pedro Infante on a motorcycle, in honor of his role in the movie A Toda Máquina ("ATM") with Luis Aguilar
and "¿Qué te ha dado esa mujer?" also with Luis Aguilar
, Rosita Arenas and Carmen Montejo. The fourth statue is in the town square of Guamúchil, his adopted home town.
He represented not only the fun-loving and partying charro
, but also the urban hero of the working class, and it was this character that won him the love and admiration of the public in Mexico and other countries, such as Venezuela
and Guatemala
.
According to producer Jorge Madrid y Campos, who was also his legal representative, Pedro Infante's fame has increased greatly since his death. The presence of so many admirers at his shrine on the anniversary of his death is remarkable, as are the musical tributes from singers of the ranchera
and mariachi
genres that pay homage to him. As Mexican American author, Denise Chavez
, in her book "Loving Pedro Infante" put it humorously, "If you're a [Mexican], and don't know who he is, you should be tied to a hot stove with a yucca rope and beaten with sharp dry corn husks as you stand in a vat of soggy fideos. If your racial and cultural background ethncity is Other, then it's about time you learned about the most famous of Mexican singers and actors."
Some fanatics even speculated that his death was faked. They believed in the possibility that he was living "in hiding" somewhere; there have also been cases, reported in the Mexican press, of people who claim to be Infante. These cases are similar, in a sense, to other famous deceased celebrities, such as Elvis Presley
, Anastasia
, 2pac, or Jim Morrison
,with people claiming to be these individuals.
Links above are dead and need to be re-sourced.
Spanish
Jorge Negrete
Jorge Alberto Negrete Moreno is considered one of the most popular Mexican singers and actors of all time....
and Javier Solís
Javier Solís
Javier Solís was a popular Mexican singer of boleros and rancheras, and a film actor.-Early history:...
, who were styled the Tres Gallos Mexicanos (the Three Mexican Roosters). He was born in Mazatlán
Mazatlán
Mazatlán is a city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa; the surrounding municipio for which the city serves as the municipal seat is Mazatlán Municipality. It is located at on the Pacific coast, across from the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula.Mazatlán is a Nahuatl word meaning...
, Sinaloa
Sinaloa
Sinaloa officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sinaloa is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 18 municipalities and its capital city is Culiacán Rosales....
, Mexico. He was raised in Guamúchil
Guamúchil
Guamúchil , Sinaloa, is a city in northern Mexico 100 km north of Culiacán.The city serves as municipal seat of the municipality of Salvador Alvarado. At the census of 2005 the city had an official population of 61,862 inhabitants...
. He died on April 15, 1957, in Mérida, Yucatán
Mérida, Yucatán
Mérida is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Yucatán and the Yucatán Peninsula. It is located in the northwest part of the state, about from the Gulf of Mexico coast...
, in a plane crash during a flight that he was piloting himself en route to Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
.
His film career began in 1939 with him appearing in more than 60 films, and starting in 1943, he recorded about 350 songs. For his performance in the movie Tizoc
Tizoc (film)
Tizoc is a 1957 Mexican drama film directed by Ismael Rodríguez. It was entered into the 7th Berlin International Film Festival, where Pedro Infante won the Silver Bear for Best Actor.-Cast:* Pedro Infante - Tizoc* María Félix - María...
, he was awarded the Silver Bear for Best Actor
Silver Bear for Best Actor
The Silver Bear for Best Actor is the Berlin International Film Festival's award for achievement in performance by an actor.- Awards :- External links :*...
at the 7th Berlin International Film Festival
7th Berlin International Film Festival
The 7th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from June 21 to July 2, 1957.-Jury:* Jay Carmody * Jean de Baroncelli* John Sutro* Dalpathal Kothari* Fernaldo Di Giammatteo* Bunzaburo Hayashi* Miguel Alemán hijo...
.
Childhood and early career
Son of Delfino Infante García, who played the double bass in a band, and Refugio Cruz Aranda, he was the third of fifteen children, of which nine survived. Although the Infante Cruz family stayed for some time at MazatlánMazatlán
Mazatlán is a city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa; the surrounding municipio for which the city serves as the municipal seat is Mazatlán Municipality. It is located at on the Pacific coast, across from the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula.Mazatlán is a Nahuatl word meaning...
, in the early 1919 they moved to Guasave
Guasave
Guasave is a city and its surrounding municipality in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. It is located in the northwestern part of the state, southeast of the city of Los Mochis. It stands at ....
. Later in 1920, they moved to Rosario, Sinaloa
Rosario, Sinaloa
Rosario is a city and its surrounding municipality in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. It stands at.The municipality reported 47,934 inhabitants in the 2000 census.-Overview:...
.
From adolescence, Infante showed talent and affection for music. He managed to learn strings, wind, and percussion instruments in a short time. He was a 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...
student of Carlos R. Hubbard.
His wife María Luisa León, who was somewhat well-off economically, convinced him of the need to move to Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
where they would find opportunities for this talented young man.
In Mexico City, he sang the songs of composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
s including Alberto Cervantes (Alberto Raúl Cervantes González http://www.sacm.org.mx/archivos/biografias.asp?txtSocio=08173), José Alfredo Jiménez
José Alfredo Jiménez
José Alfredo Jiménez was a Mexican singer-songwriter in the ranchera style whose songs are considered an integral part of Mexico's musical heritage....
, Cuco Sánchez
Cuco Sánchez
José del Refugio Sánchez Saldaña better known as Cuco Sanchez was a Mexican singer and songwriter who wrote dozens of hits, including Anillo de Compromiso, Anoche Estuve Llorando, Por qué Peca Esa Mujer, Fallaste Corazón, Cama de Piedra, "Siempre Hace Frio", and Arrieros Somos.His songs were...
, Tomás Méndez
Tomás Méndez
Tomás Méndez was a Mexican composer and singer of Mexican music and ranchera music. He was born in Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico. He obtained his first success in 1954 with the Mexican music song "Gorrioncillo pecho amarillo" and continued in the same year with the huapangos like "Cucurrucucú...
, Rubén Fuentes
Rubén Fuentes
Rubén Fuentes Gassón , is a Mexican classical violinist and composer, who is best known for his contributions to Mariachi music. In 1944, he joined Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán as a violinist and later as a music arranger. In 1955 Fuentes stopped performing in the group, but he maintains his...
, Salvador Flores Rivera (Chava Flores) and others. His first musical recording El Soldado Raso (The Soldier) was made on November 19, 1943, for the Peerless
Peerless
Peerless was a United States automobile produced by the Peerless Motor Company of Cleveland, Ohio from 1900 to 1931. The company was known for building high-quality, precision luxury automobiles. Peerless' factory was located at 9400 Quincy Avenue in Cleveland...
Company. Infante first appeared as an extra in the movie En un Burro Tres Baturros (Three Men from Aragon on a Donkey). His career as an actor in leading roles started with La Feria de Las Flores (The Fair of Flowers) in 1943.
In that same year, a friend and neighbor of Infantes' wife, Carmen Barajas Sandoval
Carmen Barajas Sandoval
Carmen Barajas Sandoval is a Mexican aristocrat, film executive producer, bestselling author and internationally known socialite, famous for her Mexican and international films and later in her life, by her biographies of stars such as María Félix and Jorge Negrete.- Family :She was born Maria...
, offered to introduce them to Jorge Negrete
Jorge Negrete
Jorge Alberto Negrete Moreno is considered one of the most popular Mexican singers and actors of all time....
, a singer whom he admired. Barajas, who knew people in the business as she was the aunt of the child actress Angélica María
Angélica María
Angélica María Hartman Ortiz is an Mexican-American actress and a Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter. She is a legendary entertainer and is known as La Novia de Mexico .-Early life:...
, worked then at the Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Producción Cinematográfica, S.T.P.C. (Workers of the Cinematographic Production Union). She succeeded in convincing Negrete to recommend Infante to the producer Ismael Rodríguez, and others. As a result, he was invited to appear in different pictures, such as Vuelve el Ametralladora (The Machine Gun Returns)
While married to María Luisa León, he met the dancer Lupita Torrentera, with whom he had three children, Graciela Margarita (b. 1947), Pedro Infante Jr. (March 31, 1950 - April 1, 2009) and Guadalupe Infante Torrentera (b. 1951), solidifying his reputation as a ladies' man. Irma Infante was born from his relationship with the young actress Irma Dorantes, whom he met when she was only 16 years of age. Irma Infante has had a career as an actress and a singer.
Actor
His natural talent for acting was made evident in such pictures as:- Tizoc, along with María FélixMaría FélixMaría Félix was a Mexican film actress and one of the icons of the golden era of the Cinema of Mexico and also one of the myths of the Spanish language Cinema for her life style and personality...
, which gained him the Silver Bear for Best ActorSilver Bear for Best ActorThe Silver Bear for Best Actor is the Berlin International Film Festival's award for achievement in performance by an actor.- Awards :- External links :*...
at the 7th Berlin International Film Festival7th Berlin International Film FestivalThe 7th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from June 21 to July 2, 1957.-Jury:* Jay Carmody * Jean de Baroncelli* John Sutro* Dalpathal Kothari* Fernaldo Di Giammatteo* Bunzaburo Hayashi* Miguel Alemán hijo...
.
- The massive migration from the countryside to the cities (mostly to Mexico City) during the 1940s fed the required labor force for rising manufacturing industries. This urbanization created the "working neighborhoods" and the culture of "la vecindad" (group of small apartments around a common patio), and found in Pedro Infante an identifiable icon for these, the new urban working class, with his character Pepe el Toro (Pepe the Bull) in the melodramatic trilogy made up of Nosotros los pobresNosotros los pobresNosotros los pobres is a 1948 Mexican drama film directed by Ismael Rodríguez.-Plot:Two kids take a book from a trash can. They begin to read the story of a poor neighborhood in Mexico City. Carpenter Pepe "El Toro" lives with his daughter "Chachita" and woos pretty Celia, known as "La Chorreada"...
, Ustedes los ricosUstedes los ricosUstedes los ricos is a Mexican film made during the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. It is the second film in a trilogy. The first is Nosotros los pobres and the third is Pepe El Toro...
, and Pepe el Toro (We the Poor, You the Rich, and Pepe the Bull), costarring with Evita Muñoz "Chachita".
- He worked with Sara GarcíaSara GarcíaSara García was a Mexican actress who made her biggest mark during the "Golden Age of Mexican cinema". During the 1940s and 1950s, she often played the part of a no-nonsense but lovable grandmother in numerous Mexican films...
("Mexico's grandmother") in many movies for Mexican cinema. Sara Garcia frequently played the role of his loving but "no nonsense" grandmother in their movies together, in which she constantly tried to get him to behave, but never succeeded.
- If that same urbanizing population had the nostalgia for the rural life, and with it the popularity of rancheraRancheraRanchera is a genre of the traditional music of Mexico originally sung by only one performer with a guitar. It dates to the years of the Mexican Revolution in the early 20th century. It later became closely associated with the mariachi groups which evolved in Jalisco. Ranchera today is also played...
music and the idealized charroCharroCharro is a term referring to a traditional horseman from Mexico, originating in the central-western regions primarily in the state of Jalisco including: Zacatecas, Durango, Guanajuato, Morelos, Puebla...
, it was not until he played the poor carpenter with a strong chilangoChilangoChilango is a Mexican slang demonym for a person born in Mexico City suburbs or its surrounding areas and moved there. Sometimes it has a negative connotation when used principally by someone in one of the 31 sovereign States of Mexico....
(Mexico City) accent that Pedro Infante achieved a status, at least in Mexico, at the same level of celebrity such as CantinflasCantinflasFortino Mario Alfonso Moreno Reyes , was a Mexican comic film actor, producer, and screenwriter known professionally as Cantinflas. He often portrayed impoverished campesinos or a peasant of pelado origin...
, the Soler Brothers and even Jorge NegreteJorge NegreteJorge Alberto Negrete Moreno is considered one of the most popular Mexican singers and actors of all time....
and María FélixMaría FélixMaría Félix was a Mexican film actress and one of the icons of the golden era of the Cinema of Mexico and also one of the myths of the Spanish language Cinema for her life style and personality...
. Despite that, he kept on playing the role of the charro and even the northern Mexican rancher (perhaps his most authentic character) in Ahí viene Martín Corona (Here comes Martín Corona) in 1951 and Los Hijos de María Morales (The Sons of María Morales) in 1952. When Jorge Negrete died in 1953, Pedro was no longer in the shadow of the international idol, even though Pedro was very affected by the disappearance of his idol. During his burial service some saw him slightly inebriated, a rare sight given that Infante was not a drinker.
- The Mexican child star María Eugenia LlamasMaría Eugenia LlamasMaría Eugenia Llamas is best known for her roles as "La Tucita" in the Golden Age of Mexican cinema in the late 1940s and in the 1950s. She began appearing in these films in 1948 at the age of four. She is the winner of the Mexican equivalent of the Oscar, the Premio Ariel Mexicano. While she...
, who was only four at the time, made her screen debut with him in the 1948 movie classic, "Los Tres HuastecosLos Tres HuastecosLos tres huastecos is a 1948 Mexican comedy-drama film directed by Ismael Rodríguez .-Plot:Raised separately in three villages in La Huasteca , Lorenzo, from Tamaulipas, is an atheistic bronco; Juan de Dios, from San Luis Potosí, is a parish priest; while Víctor, from Veracruz, is a captain in the...
" ("The Three Men from Hausteca") as "La Tucita", a screen name she has used ever since. She played with him again under the sceen name La Tucita in his classic 1949 film comedy, "Dicen que Soy un Mujeriego" ("They Say I am a Womanizer").
- One of his better roles was that of Juventino Rosas in the movie "Sobre las Olas" ("Over the Waves"), based on the life of the Mexican waltz composer. Infante's natural musical abilities contributed to helping him to get into character.
- An important point in his career as an actor was winning the Ariel AwardAriel AwardThe Ariel is the Mexican Academy of Film Award. It has been awarded annually since 1947. The award recognizes excellence in motion picture making, such as acting, directing and screenwriting in Mexican cinema. It is considered the most prestigious award in the Mexican movie industry.- History :The...
given by the Mexican Academy of Arts and Cinematographic SciencesAcademia Mexicana de Artes y Ciencias CinematográficasThe Academia Mexicana de Artes y Ciencias Cinematográficas was founded on July 3, 1946 in Mexico City.-History:The following people were present before a notary public during the signing of the document:...
for Best Actor for his role in La Vida No Vale Nada (Life is Worth Nothing, a line from the song Camino de Guanajuato).
Musical interpretations
Waltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
es, cha-cha-chas
Cha-cha-cha (dance)
The Cha-cha-cha is the name of a dance of Cuban origin.It is danced to the music of the same name introduced by Cuban composer and violinist Enrique Jorrín in 1953...
, ranchera
Ranchera
Ranchera is a genre of the traditional music of Mexico originally sung by only one performer with a guitar. It dates to the years of the Mexican Revolution in the early 20th century. It later became closely associated with the mariachi groups which evolved in Jalisco. Ranchera today is also played...
s and bolero
Bolero
Bolero is a form of slow-tempo Latin music and its associated dance and song. There are Spanish and Cuban forms which are both significant and which have separate origins.The term is also used for some art music...
s placed him among the most popular singers of the mariachi
Mariachi
Mariachi is a genre of music that originated in the State of Jalisco, in Mexico. It is an integration of stringed instruments highly influenced by the cultural impacts of the historical development of Western Mexico. Throughout the history of mariachi, musicians have experimented with brass, wind,...
and ranchera
Ranchera
Ranchera is a genre of the traditional music of Mexico originally sung by only one performer with a guitar. It dates to the years of the Mexican Revolution in the early 20th century. It later became closely associated with the mariachi groups which evolved in Jalisco. Ranchera today is also played...
music.
Some of his most popular songs include: Amorcito Corazón (approximately My Little Love and Heart), Te Quiero Así (I Love You Like This), La Que Se Fue (She Who Left),
Corazón (Heart), El Durazno (The Peach), Dulce Patria (Sweet Fatherland), Maldita Sea Mi Suerte (Cursed Be My Luck), Así Es La vida (Life Is Like This), Mañana Rosalía (Tomorrow Rosalía), Mi Cariñito (My Little Darling), Dicen Que Soy Mujeriego (They Say I Am A Womanizer), Carta a Eufemia (Letter to Eufemia), Nocturnal, Cien Años (Hundred Years), Flor Sin Retoño (Flower Without Sprout), Pénjamo, and ¿Qué Te Ha Dado Esa Mujer? (What Has That Woman Given You?). He sang "Mi Cariñito" to his frequent on screen grandmother, Sara Garcia, so many times in so many of their movies together, that it was played at her funeral.
The world famous song Bésame Mucho
Bésame Mucho
"Bésame Mucho" is a Spanish language song written in 1940 by Mexican songwriter Consuelo Velázquez.-Inspiration:According to Velázquez herself, she wrote this song even though she had never been kissed yet at the time, and kissing as she heard was considered a sin.She was inspired by the piano...
("Kiss Me a Lot", or more loosely translated to get its elusive Spanish meaning closer to its English meaning, "Give Me a Lot of Kisses"), from the composer Consuelo Velázquez
Consuelo Velázquez
Consuelo Velázquez was a Mexican concert pianist, songwriter and recording artist.According to her obituary, she was 88 years old when she died...
, was the only melody that he recorded in English and he interpreted it in the movie A Toda Máquina (ATM) (At Full Speed), with Luis Aguilar
Luis Aguilar (actor)
Luis Aguilar Manzo was a Mexican film and television actor and singer of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. He was also known as El Gallo Giro, and was noted for his performances in films as El 7 leguas and El látigo negro .Aguilar was born in Hermosillo, Sonora...
.
"Amorcito Corazón", by Manuel Esperón
Manuel Esperón
Manuel Esperón González was a Mexican song writer and composer. He wrote many songs for Mexican films, including Ay, Jalisco, no te rajes! for the 1941 film of the same name, Cocula for El peñón de las ánimas , and Amor con Amor Se Paga for Hay un niño en su futuro...
is one of Infante's most famous interpretations.
Infante was very often accompanied by the great musical ensembles of the time like the Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán
Vargas de Tecalitlán
Vargas de Tecalitlan is a Mexican folk ensemble of mariachi music created in 1897 by Gaspar Vargas. From 1950 it has been under the artistic guidance of Rubén Fuentes. The group's musical direction has been the responsibility of Don Jose "Pepe" Martinez since 1975.-Members:A minimum mariachi group...
, Noé Fajardo's Orchestra, the Trío Calaveras and Antonio Bribiesca, among others.
By then, Pedro Infante had already created his characteristic mariachi shout
Death and homages
Infante was a fanatic of aviationAviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
, a hobby that would lead to his death. According to Wilbert Alonzo-Cabrera, his biographer, the actor was piloting a Consolidated Aircraft X B-24-D (a variant of the B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
), which had been converted from heavy bomber war airplane to air cargo in San Diego, California. The plane crashed 5 minutes after taking off from Mérida, Yucatán
Mérida, Yucatán
Mérida is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Yucatán and the Yucatán Peninsula. It is located in the northwest part of the state, about from the Gulf of Mexico coast...
, in southeast Mexico.
The death of Pedro Infante on the morning of April 15, 1957, was announced by radio personality Humberto Rodríguez, of radio station XEMH of Mérida, after one of the firefighters discovered the bracelet engraved with the name "Pedro Infante", plus the winged insignia that symbolized his aviator license. This was around 8:15 am; at 11:12 am, Manuel Bernal, of Mexico City radio station XEW
XEW
XEW is the callsign of the following broadcast stations in Mexico City, Mexico:*television station XEW-TV, channel 2*radio station XEW-AM, 900 kHz*radio station XEW-FM, 96.9 MHz...
, gave the news saying: "this Monday, April 15, 1957, Pedro, our beloved Pedro...this has been confirmed, has died in a tragic accident in Mérida, Yucatán".
Year after year Pedro Infante attracts a great number of fans of every age to his shrine in the Panteón Jardín of Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, as well as one at 54th through 87th streets in the center of Mérida. Pedro Infante died amongst friends: mechanic Marciano Bautista, and copilot Manuel Vidal. Many friends, family and fans still dress up as the characters that he played in film: Pedro Chávez, Pepe el Toro, Tizoc and a number of people incarnated from the Mexican culture that Infante symbolized. His fans honor him every year with a mass, honor guards, music and the songs made famous by the Idol of Guamúchil. Until now they have all been spontaneous, without any official authority or institution organizing them.
Four statues have been erected in his honor. The one in Mexico City was made out of thousands of bronze keys donated by his fans to a Mexico City TV station after a request by TV director Raúl Velasco
Raúl Velasco
Raúl Velasco was born in Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico. For 30 years, he was the Mexican host/producer of the TV show Siempre en Domingo which is his hallmark contribution to the Latin American world and eventually to other parts of the world where Spanish entertainment programs are broadcast.Raúl...
. For the statue in Mérida another TV presenter (Manuel Pelayo) made a request and received keys. The third statue is in his birthplace, Mazatlán, Sinaloa. At the Paseo de Olas Altas at Mazatlán
Mazatlán
Mazatlán is a city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa; the surrounding municipio for which the city serves as the municipal seat is Mazatlán Municipality. It is located at on the Pacific coast, across from the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula.Mazatlán is a Nahuatl word meaning...
there is a statue of Pedro Infante on a motorcycle, in honor of his role in the movie A Toda Máquina ("ATM") with Luis Aguilar
Luis Aguilar
Luis Aguilar is an American soccer player who until recently played defense for the Montreal Impact of the USL First Division.- Career :...
and "¿Qué te ha dado esa mujer?" also with Luis Aguilar
Luis Aguilar
Luis Aguilar is an American soccer player who until recently played defense for the Montreal Impact of the USL First Division.- Career :...
, Rosita Arenas and Carmen Montejo. The fourth statue is in the town square of Guamúchil, his adopted home town.
The social phenomenon of Pedro Infante
The Mexican idol died intestate. http://www.mexicolegal.com.mx/consultas/r31737.htm Because of this, the main beneficiaries of his legacy have been the producers of the extremely successful movies in which he starred, as well as the "Peerless" music company http://www.univision.com/content/content.jhtml?cid=6488 (now associated with Warner Music), and thanks to the large income his pictures and songs still generate, they are the ones who have contributed greatly to promoting and updating him.He represented not only the fun-loving and partying charro
Charro
Charro is a term referring to a traditional horseman from Mexico, originating in the central-western regions primarily in the state of Jalisco including: Zacatecas, Durango, Guanajuato, Morelos, Puebla...
, but also the urban hero of the working class, and it was this character that won him the love and admiration of the public in Mexico and other countries, such as 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...
and Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
.
According to producer Jorge Madrid y Campos, who was also his legal representative, Pedro Infante's fame has increased greatly since his death. The presence of so many admirers at his shrine on the anniversary of his death is remarkable, as are the musical tributes from singers of the ranchera
Ranchera
Ranchera is a genre of the traditional music of Mexico originally sung by only one performer with a guitar. It dates to the years of the Mexican Revolution in the early 20th century. It later became closely associated with the mariachi groups which evolved in Jalisco. Ranchera today is also played...
and mariachi
Mariachi
Mariachi is a genre of music that originated in the State of Jalisco, in Mexico. It is an integration of stringed instruments highly influenced by the cultural impacts of the historical development of Western Mexico. Throughout the history of mariachi, musicians have experimented with brass, wind,...
genres that pay homage to him. As Mexican American author, Denise Chavez
Denise Chavez
Denise Elia Chavez is an American author, playwright, and stage director. She was born to an Hispano family in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States, and graduated from Madonna High School in Mesilla. She received her Bachelor's from New Mexico State University and Master's degrees in Dramatic...
, in her book "Loving Pedro Infante" put it humorously, "If you're a [Mexican], and don't know who he is, you should be tied to a hot stove with a yucca rope and beaten with sharp dry corn husks as you stand in a vat of soggy fideos. If your racial and cultural background ethncity is Other, then it's about time you learned about the most famous of Mexican singers and actors."
Some fanatics even speculated that his death was faked. They believed in the possibility that he was living "in hiding" somewhere; there have also been cases, reported in the Mexican press, of people who claim to be Infante. These cases are similar, in a sense, to other famous deceased celebrities, such as Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, Anastasia
Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia
Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia was the youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, the last sovereign of Imperial Russia, and his wife Alexandra Fyodorovna....
, 2pac, or Jim Morrison
Jim Morrison
James Douglas "Jim" Morrison was an American musician, singer, and poet, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band The Doors...
,with people claiming to be these individuals.
Filmography
- El Organillero (The Organ Grinder) (1939)
- En Un Burro Tres BaturrosEn un burro tres baturrosEn un burro tres baturros is a 1939 Mexican film. It stars Carlos Orellana....
(Three Men of Aragon on a Donkey) (1939) - Puedes Irte De Mí (You Can Leave Me) (1940)
- Jesusita En ChihuahuaJesusita en Chihuahua"Jesusita en Chihuahua" is a Mexican polka which was written by Quirino Mendoza y Cortés while he was serving as a Lt. Colonel in the Mexican Revolution and directing the military band in Puebla....
(Jesusita in Chihuahua) (1942) - La Razón De La Culpa (The Reason Of The Blame) (1942)
- La Feria De Las Flores (The Fair of Flowers) (1942)
- Arriba Las Mujeres (Up With The Women) (1943)
- Cuando Habla El Corazón (When The Heart Speaks) (1943)
- ¡Viva Mi Desgracia! (Long Live My Bad Luck!) (1943)
- Mexicanos al grito de guerra (Mexicans at the Cry of War) (1943)
- Escándalo De Estrellas (The Stars' Scandal) (1944)
- Cuando Lloran Los Valientes (When The Brave Weep) (1945)
- Si Me Han De Matar Mañana (If They Should Kill Me Tomorrow) (1946)
- Los Tres GarcíaLos tres GarcíaLos tres García is a 1947 Mexican film. It stars Carlos Orellana.-Cast:*Pedro Infante as Luis Antonio García*Sara García as Grandma Luisa García*Marga López as Lupita Smith García*Abel Salazar as José Luis García...
(The Three Garcías) (1946) - Vuelven Los GarcíaVuelven los GarcíaVuelven los García is a 1946 Mexican film. It stars Sara García....
(The Garcías Return) (1946) - Soy Charro De Rancho Grande (I Am a Charro Of Rancho Grande) (1947)
- Nosotros los pobresNosotros los pobresNosotros los pobres is a 1948 Mexican drama film directed by Ismael Rodríguez.-Plot:Two kids take a book from a trash can. They begin to read the story of a poor neighborhood in Mexico City. Carpenter Pepe "El Toro" lives with his daughter "Chachita" and woos pretty Celia, known as "La Chorreada"...
(We The Poor) (1947) - La Barca De OroLa barca de oroLa barca de oro is a 1947 Mexican film. It stars Carlos Orellana....
(The Golden Boat) (1947) - Cartas Marcadas (Marked Cards) (1947)
- Ustedes los ricosUstedes los ricosUstedes los ricos is a Mexican film made during the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. It is the second film in a trilogy. The first is Nosotros los pobres and the third is Pepe El Toro...
(You The Rich) (1948) - Dicen Que Soy MujeriegoDicen que soy mujeriegoDicen que Soy un Mujeriego is a 1949 Mexican comedy-drama film directed by Roberto Rodríguez. This Mexican film classic was made during the Golden Age of Mexican cinema...
(They Say I'm A Womanizer) (1948) - Los Tres HuastecosLos Tres HuastecosLos tres huastecos is a 1948 Mexican comedy-drama film directed by Ismael Rodríguez .-Plot:Raised separately in three villages in La Huasteca , Lorenzo, from Tamaulipas, is an atheistic bronco; Juan de Dios, from San Luis Potosí, is a parish priest; while Víctor, from Veracruz, is a captain in the...
(The Three Huastecos) (1948) - Angelitos Negros (Little Black Angels) (1948)
- No Desearás La Mujer De Tu Hijo (You Shall Not Covet Thy Son's Wife) (1949)
- La Oveja Negra (The Black Sheep) (1949)
- La Mujer Que Yo Perdí (The Woman That I Lost) (1949)
- El Seminarista (The Seminarian) (1949)
- Sobre Las Olas (Over The Waves) (1950)
- El Gavilán Pollero (The Chickenhawk) (1950)
- Las Mujeres De Mi General (My General's Women) (1950)
- También De Dolor Se CantaTambién de Dolor se CantaTambién de dolor se canta is a Mexican film of the golden age of Mexican cinema. It stars Pedro Infante, Irma Dorantes and Guillermina Grin. It also features a number of cameo roles from Mexican actors famous at the time, including Germán "Tin Tan" Valdés, Fannie Kauffman and Pedro Vargas amongst...
(Singing Also From Pain) (1950) - Islas MaríasIslas MaríasThe Islas Marías are an archipelago of four islands that belong to Mexico. They are located in the Pacific Ocean, some off the coast of the state of Nayarit. They are part of the municipality of San Blas, Nayarit...
(1950) - A.T.M. A Toda Máquina! (At Full Speed) (1951)
- ¡¿Qué Te Ha Dado Esa Mujer?! (What Has That Woman Given You?) (1951)
- Ahí Viene Martín Corona (There Comes Martín Corona) (1951)
- Necesito Dinero (I Need Money) (1951)
- El Enamorado (The Lover) (1951)
- Un Rincón Cerca Del Cielo (A Place Near Heaven) (1952)
- Ahora Soy Rico (Now I Am Rich) (1952)
- Dos Tipos De CuidadoDos tipos de cuidadoDos tipos de cuidado is a 1953 Mexican film. It stars Carlos Orellana....
(Two Guys To Be Afraid Of) (1952) - Por Ellas Aunque Mal Paguen (For Them Although They Pay Badly) (1952)
- Ansiedad (Anxiety) (1952)
- Sí, Mi Vida (Yes, My Dear) (1952)
- Había Una Vez Un Marido (There Once Was A Husband) (1952)
- Pepe el Toro (Pepe The Bull) (1952)
- Los Hijos De María MoralesLos hijos de María MoralesLos hijos de María Morales is a 1952 Mexican film. It was directed byFernando de Fuentes....
(The Sons Of María Morales) (1952) - Gitana Tenías Que Ser (You Had To Be Gypsy) (1953)
- Reportaje (News Article) (1953)
- Cuidado Con El Amor (Beware With Love) (1954)
- Los Gavilanes (The Sparrowhawks) (1954)
- Pueblo, Canto Y Esperanza (People, Song And Hope) (1954)
- La Vida No Vale NadaLa vida no vale nadaLa vida no vale nada is a 1955 Mexican film. It was written by Luis Alcoriza and directed by Rogelio A. González....
(Life's Worth Nothing) (1954) - Escuela De VagabundosEscuela de vagabundosEscuela de vagabundos is a 1955 Mexican film. It was produced byFernando de Fuentes....
(School Of Vagabonds) (1954) - El Mil Amores (The Thousands Lover) (1954)
- Escuela De Música (School Of Music) (1955)
- La Tercera PalabraLa tercera palabraLa tercera palabra is a 1955 Mexican film. It stars Sara García....
(The Third Word) (1955) - El InocenteEl inocenteEl inocente is a 1956 Mexican film. It was written by Luis Alcoriza....
(The Innocent) (1956) - Pablo Y Carolina (Pablo And Carolina) (1956)
- Tizoc (1957)
- Escuela De RaterosEscuela de raterosEscuela de rateros is a 1958 Mexican film. It was written by Luis Alcoriza....
(School Of Thieves) (1957)
Discography
The following sites contain a relation, allegedly complete, of all the recordings made by Pedro Infante, in 78 RPM discs and always with Discos Peerless.Links above are dead and need to be re-sourced.
- Full Discography - Most of the songs have lyrics, video and some notes
External links
EnglishSpanish
- Tributo a Pedro Infante
- Pedro Infante's Official Label Site - Free music online
- Pedro Infante - The most complete website
- Pedro Infante at ILCE
- Biography of Pedro Infante at Univisión
- Biography of Pedro Infante at Biostars-Mx
- Pedro Infante at La Farándula.com
- Tribute to Pedro Infante in his 50th Death Anniversary
- Homage to PEDRO INFANTE mariachi musical genre
- Asi era Pedro Infante