Rigoberto López Pérez
Encyclopedia
Rigoberto López Pérez was a Nicaraguan
poet and music composer. He was the assassin of Anastasio Somoza García
, the longtime dictator
of Nicaragua
.
Known mostly for his assassination of Somoza Garcia, Rigoberto López Pérez was also an amateur artist, poet and composer. Later groups such as Dead Prez
have used his message in song.
On September 21, 1981, 25 years after his death, the Sandinista government of Nicaragua declared Rigoberto López Pérez a National Hero by means of Decree no. 825.
It is really impossible to deny, the notability of Rigoberto as far as a political assassin converted into a folk-hero, but really it is also impossible to say that he is a 'composer' since no compositions have been found, and no recordings of any of his songs have been heard. We would like to have some contributor, to point out any of these compositions by Rigoberto Lopez Perez.
, Nicaragua
; son of Soledad López and Francisco Pérez. López published his first poem, "Confesión de un Soldado" (Confession of a Soldier), at the age of 17 in 1946. In 1948 he formed part of a 6-member musical group called "Buenos Aires". That same year he learned to play the violin
, which he played in the group. López composed music, mostly romantic, including "Claridad" and "Si el vino me hace llorar" which Buenos Aires released on a radio station called Radio Colonial.
Lopéz's musical influences included Beethoven; Rubén Darío
, a Nicaraguan poet, often referred to as the "Father of Modernism", was a major literary influence to him. Lopéz would often collaborate in publications such as "El Cronista" and "El Centroamericano".
López's girlfriend, Amparo Zelaya Castro, was the sister of Armando Zelaya, a journalist who drove López to the Casa del Obrero where he later shot Somoza.
Somoza and shot him in the chest. Lopéz was instantly killed in a hail of bullets and Somoza died a few days later in the Panama Canal Zone
hospital. Somoza's son, Luis Somoza Debayle
, replaced his father as president.
, Carlos Manuel Jarquin and Edgard Lang Sacasa massacred in cold blood enraged the Sandinistas and accelerated the fall of the Somoza regime.
After the Sandinista victory in July, Nicaragua's national stadium in Managua, used as a venue for baseball and football as well as concerts and other events, was named after Lopéz, but on November 20, 1998, the 50th anniversary of the founding of the stadium, then-President Arnoldo Alemán
issued a decree changing the stadium's name to Estadio Nacional Dennis Martínez.
In 2006 a monument dedicated to López was built in his honor in Managua
.
In Italy, in the 70's, Marcello De Angelis, now parliamentarian of PDL
, who then was a songwriter engaged in the political movement Third Position
, wrote a song dedicated to him, whose title is "Il poeta" (The Poet).
Nicaraguan
Nicaraguans are people inhabiting in, originating or having significant heritage from Nicaragua. Most Nicaraguans live in Nicaragua, although there is also a significant Nicaraguan diaspora, particularly in Costa Rica and the United States with smaller communities in other countries around the world...
poet and music composer. He was the assassin of Anastasio Somoza García
Anastasio Somoza García
Anastasio Somoza García was officially the President of Nicaragua from 1 January 1937 to 1 May 1947 and from 21 May 1950 to 29 September 1956, but ruled effectively as dictator from 1936 until his assassination.-Biography:Somoza was born in San Marcos, Carazo Department in Nicaragua, the son of...
, the longtime dictator
Dictator
A dictator is a ruler who assumes sole and absolute power but without hereditary ascension such as an absolute monarch. When other states call the head of state of a particular state a dictator, that state is called a dictatorship...
of Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
.
Known mostly for his assassination of Somoza Garcia, Rigoberto López Pérez was also an amateur artist, poet and composer. Later groups such as Dead Prez
Dead Prez
Dead Prez stylized as dead prez is a hip hop duo from the United States, composed of stic.man and M-1, formed in 1996 in New York City, New York. They are known for their confrontational style, combined with socialist lyrics focused on both militant social justice and Pan-Africanism...
have used his message in song.
On September 21, 1981, 25 years after his death, the Sandinista government of Nicaragua declared Rigoberto López Pérez a National Hero by means of Decree no. 825.
It is really impossible to deny, the notability of Rigoberto as far as a political assassin converted into a folk-hero, but really it is also impossible to say that he is a 'composer' since no compositions have been found, and no recordings of any of his songs have been heard. We would like to have some contributor, to point out any of these compositions by Rigoberto Lopez Perez.
Early life
López was born and raised in LeónLeón, Nicaragua
León is a department in northwestern Nicaragua . It is also the second largest city in Nicaragua, after Managua. It was founded by the Spaniards as Santiago de los Caballeros de León and rivals Granada, Nicaragua, in the number of historic Spanish colonial homes and churches...
, Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
; son of Soledad López and Francisco Pérez. López published his first poem, "Confesión de un Soldado" (Confession of a Soldier), at the age of 17 in 1946. In 1948 he formed part of a 6-member musical group called "Buenos Aires". That same year he learned to play the 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....
, which he played in the group. López composed music, mostly romantic, including "Claridad" and "Si el vino me hace llorar" which Buenos Aires released on a radio station called Radio Colonial.
Lopéz's musical influences included Beethoven; Rubén Darío
Rubén Darío
Félix Rubén García Sarmiento , known as Rubén Darío, was a Nicaraguan poet who initiated the Spanish-American literary movement known as modernismo that flourished at the end of the 19th century...
, a Nicaraguan poet, often referred to as the "Father of Modernism", was a major literary influence to him. Lopéz would often collaborate in publications such as "El Cronista" and "El Centroamericano".
López's girlfriend, Amparo Zelaya Castro, was the sister of Armando Zelaya, a journalist who drove López to the Casa del Obrero where he later shot Somoza.
Assassination of Somoza
On September 21, 1956, López was able to infiltrate a party in the Club Social de Obreros de León that was attended by PresidentPresident
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
Somoza and shot him in the chest. Lopéz was instantly killed in a hail of bullets and Somoza died a few days later in the Panama Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
hospital. Somoza's son, Luis Somoza Debayle
Luis Somoza Debayle
Luis Anastasio Somoza Debayle was the President of Nicaragua from 29 September 1956 to 1 May 1963, but was effectively dictator of the country from 1956 until his death. He was born in León.Luis was educated at LSU...
, replaced his father as president.
Legacy
In April 1979, at the peak of the Sandinista's Revolutionary War, one of the five FSLN's Regional Commands in control of 24 cities altogether, was named after him. Unluckily, the FSLN's "Rigoberto Lopez Perez" Western Command was captured in full in a safe house in the suburbs of Leon and killed in captivity by dictator Somoza's forces. The Fall of this Commando integrated by Oscar Perez Cassar, Roger Deshon, Araceli Perez Darias, Idania FernandezIdania Fernandez
Idania de Los Angeles Fernandez, born July 23, 1952 in Managua, Nicaragua, assassinated in captivity in Leon, Nicaragua April 16, 1979. One of the most cherished martyrs of the Nicaraguan Revolution. Scholars in US universities have placed her name next to Camilo Torres Restrepo, Che Guevara, José...
, Carlos Manuel Jarquin and Edgard Lang Sacasa massacred in cold blood enraged the Sandinistas and accelerated the fall of the Somoza regime.
After the Sandinista victory in July, Nicaragua's national stadium in Managua, used as a venue for baseball and football as well as concerts and other events, was named after Lopéz, but on November 20, 1998, the 50th anniversary of the founding of the stadium, then-President Arnoldo Alemán
Arnoldo Alemán
José Arnoldo Alemán Lacayo was the 81st President of Nicaragua from 10 January 1997 to 10 January 2002.-Biography:Alemán was born in Managua and received his early education at the La Salle institute in Managua...
issued a decree changing the stadium's name to Estadio Nacional Dennis Martínez.
In 2006 a monument dedicated to López was built in his honor in Managua
Managua
Managua is the capital city of Nicaragua as well as the department and municipality by the same name. It is the largest city in Nicaragua in terms of population and geographic size. Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Xolotlán or Lake Managua, the city was declared the national capital in...
.
In Italy, in the 70's, Marcello De Angelis, now parliamentarian of PDL
The People of Freedom
The People of Freedom is a centre-right political party in Italy. With the Democratic Party, it is one of the two major parties of the current Italian party system....
, who then was a songwriter engaged in the political movement Third Position
Third Position
Third Position is a revolutionary nationalist political ideology that emphasizes its opposition to both communism and capitalism. Advocates of Third Position politics typically present themselves as "beyond left and right", instead claiming to syncretize radical ideas from both ends of the...
, wrote a song dedicated to him, whose title is "Il poeta" (The Poet).