| Agustín Barboza | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Agustín Pío Barboza |
| Born | 5 May 1913 Asunción, Paraguay |
| Died | 18 December 1998 (aged 85) Asunción, Paraguay |
| Genres | Guarania |
| Occupations | Singer, composer |
| Years active | 1998 |
| Labels | Philips |
Agustín Pío Barboza (5 May 1913 – 18 December 1998) was a Paraguayan singer and composer.
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Barboza was born in Asunción, Paraguay. In his adolescence (1929), 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 Basilio Melgarejo Molinas (“Melga”). They formed a duo and later formed the trio of Melgarejo-Barboza-Feliu.
In Buenos Aires, he worked with other singers, such as Samuel Aguayo, Emilio Bobadilla Cáceres and Diosnel Chase, served as a soloist in the orchestras of Francisco Alvarenga, Juan Escobar and Julián Alarcón, the last two served as his mentors. In 1933, he sang with José Asunción Flores; a year later he recorded “Ñasaindype” with Flores based on a poem by Felix Fernandez. It was the first “guarania” ever recorded. He was also a soloist with “Orchestra Ortiz Guerrero”, a noted orchestra consisting of José Bragato, Aniceto Vera Ibarrola, Emilio Bobadilla Cáceres, Gumersindo Ayala Aquino, and others, directed by Flores. In 1943, he returned to Paraguay, with Jose Asuncion Flores, Francisco Alvarengda,and Emilio Vaesken. They were invited to participate in Asuncion’s Foundation Day parade on August 15.
He also formed a trio with Felix Perez Cardozo and Eulogio Cardozo. In 1944, he continued his studies in the Music School of Rio de Janeiro University, thanks to a scholarship granted by the government. He also gave concerts and auditions in theaters and on radio. During this time, he studied with Carlos Lara Bareiro, who encouraged him to travel and make Paraguayan music better known.
In 1947, he traveled from Brazil to Mexico, where he was invited by Gumersindo Ayala Aquino to join the group “Los Guaireños”, with Luis Alberto del Paraná, Digno Garcia and Humberto Barua. They playe in Mexico, Cuba and throughout Central America. In the early 1950s, he went on tour though the northern countries of South America and Central America, Mexico, the United States and Europe, as a soloist or with various groups.
In 1954, Luis Alberto del Paraná asked him to join the “Trio Los Paraguayos”, with the harpist Digno Garcia. In Europe, they signed a contract with Philips, a Dutch record company. This relationship lasted for many years. they were dubbed the “ambassadors of Paraguayan music”.
In 1957 he organized his own group “Barboza y sus compañeros”, with Ramón Mendoza, Leonardo Figueroa and Carlos Centurion, continuing with his spreading work through Europe and Middle East.
In 1962, after settling in Paraguay, he got married with the singer Yvera (Francisca Zayas), forming an artistic couple to carry out presentations in radios, theaters, and television. In 1968, while in Europe, they created the group “Los Barboza”. They recorded three long plays and carry out presentations in radios, television, theaters, schools, universities and public entertainment houses. Their daughter Diana Barboza, also worshiped popular singing, joined the family group in 1988.
In 1994, the government conceded Berboza the award of the National Order of Merit, for his work dedicated to the composition and the spreading of the Paraguayan music.
In 1996 he wrote an anthological autobiographical book named Ruego y Camino.
In 1997 the national congress granted him the National Award of Music in rubrie of Popular Music, for his piece of work “Mi patria soñada”, that has verses by Carlos Miguel Gimenez.
In 1998, in the opportunity of turning 85 years old and 70 years old of worshipping music, he presented a discographyc work with the orchestras of the pieces of work and the instrumental accompaniment of the Master Oscar Cardozo Ocampo (distinguished musical regulator resident in Argentina, son of the great Paraguayan composer and creator Mauricio Cardozo Ocampo), receiving the unanimous acknowledgment of his fellow countrymen.
He wrote approximately 80 compositions among the outstanding ones: “Alma vibrante”, “Flor de Pilar”, “Mi patria soñada”, “Sobre el Corazón de mi guitarra”, “Muchachita campesina” and “Mis joyas de Buenos Aires” (with verses of the poet Carlos Miguel Gimenez), “Dulce tierra mía”, “Serenata”, “Viva la vida, viva el amor” and “Muchacha dorada” (over texts by Augusto Roa Bastos), “Oimeva che roga”, “Oñomdiovemi” and “Reservista purahei” (with Félix Fernández), Fromm his own production, in lyrics and music, “Emociones de mi tierra” and “Ruego y camino”, “sombras de ausencia” (with Enrique Ganoso), “Voz del viejo río” (with Aníbal Romero).