| Domingo Cruz ("Cocolía") | |
|---|---|
Domingo Cruz ('Cocolía'), Director of the Ponce Municipal Band |
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| Born | 3 July 1864 Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Died | 20 October 1934 Alicante, Spain |
| Nationality | Puerto Rican |
| Occupation | Band director, Musician |
Domingo Cruz ("Cocolía") was a late 19th century Puerto Rican musician, and director of the Ponce Firefighters’ Band (now the Ponce Municipal Band).[1][2]
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Domingo Cruz was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico on July 3, 1864.[3] Upon the death of Juan Morel Campos, Cruz became the director of the Ponce Municipal Band.[4] He directed the Ponce Municipal Band from 1896 until 1916.[5]
Cocolía (Spanish for little crab) played the saxhorn with “La Lira Ponceña” orchestra under the baton of Ponce’s renowned composer Juan Morel Campos. Famous for his danceable tunes, Cocolía was also a music teacher and director of the Firefighters’ Band. His statue stands in front of the downtown fire station next to La Perla Theater in Ponce.[6]
He died in 1934 in the Province of Alicante, Spain.[7]
There is a statue in Ponce dedicated to Cocolia, at Plaza Las Delicias. He is also recognized at the Park for the Illustrious Ponce Citizens.