Monday, December 22, 2008

Gaitas: Astolfo Romero - Una Florecita


I would like to Wish everybody a Merry Christmas and a Feliz Navidad, and what better way to celebrate than with gaitas, the traditional music of Zulia State.
In Venezuela, Christmas isn't Christmas without gaitas and Astolfo Romero was one of the great voices of the genre.
"El Parroqiano", as he was known, was born on 8 February 1950 in the neighbourhood of El Empedrado in Maracaibo, the capital of Zulia State.
Part of Santa Lucia, El Empedrao is known for its colourfully-painted colonial houses.
Astolfo started singing professionally with the children's group Los Invasores and graduated to top groups such as Los Cardenales del Exito, the Gaiteras de Pillopo and Maragaita, which he founded and directed.
Sadly, in May 2000 Astolfo died of a heart attack, robbing Venezuela of one of its great gaiteros, but not before he founded the University of Gaita in 1980.
Florecita was one his many hit compositions.

More Gaitas: Maracaibo 15 - La Negra del Tamunangue

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