Pedro Flores (composer)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pedro Flores born (March 9, 1897 – July, 1979) in the town of Naguabo, Puerto Rico was one Puerto Rico's best known composers of Ballads and Boleros.

(1897-1979)

Flores was one of 12 children born into a poor family. Flores' father died when he was only nine years old and therefore, he was forced to work at a young age. When he was 16 years old, he took a special course in the University of Puerto Rico (Universidad de Puerto Rico) and received his teachers certificate. Flores taught for five years and worked for one year at a sugar mill in the island of Vieques.

In 1918, he served in a clerical position in the U.S. Army. He was honorably discharged from the Army when he was 24 years old.

In 1926, Flores went to New York without any formal musical education and joined another Puerto Rican composer, Rafael Hernandez in his "Trio Borinquen". Even though Flores and Hernandez became very good friends, they also became competitors as composers. When Flores wrote "Sin Banderas", Hernandez rushed and wrote "Preciosa".

In 1930, Flores formed his own trio which he named "Trio Galon", and whose music and songs had a faster beat then the "Trio Borinquen". Flores had problems with the music publishing company and he abandoned the trio. He moved to Mexico and then lived in Cuba for a short period of time. Flores eventually returned to New York where he reorganized his "old" trio. Some of the singers of this new trio were Myrta Silva, Daniel Santos and Pedro Ortiz Davila "Davilita".

Some of the songs written by Flores were: "Amor Perdido" (Lost Love), "Bajo un Palmar" (Under the Palm Tree), "Borracho no Vale" (A Drunk isn't Worth Anything), "Linda", "Sin Banderas" (Without a Flag), "Despedida" (Farewell) and "Perdon" (I'm Sorry).

Among those who have performed his songs are: Beny More, Los Panchos, Celia Cruz, and Maria Luisa Landin. A 1996 television special honoring his work features versions by many Puerto Rican and international artists, such as Ednita Nazario, Marc Anthony, Yolandita Monge and Shakira.

Pedro Flores died in San Juan, Puerto Rico on July, 1979 and is buried in Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery located in Old San Juan