| Luis Alberto del Paraná | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Luis Osmer Meza |
| Born | 21 June 1926 |
| Origin | Altos, Paraguay |
| Died | 15 September 1974 (aged 48) |
| Occupations | Composer, singer-songwriter, musical artist, performer, writer |
| Years active | 1942—1974 |
Luis Alberto del Paraná (1926–1974) was a Paraguayan singer and guitarist. During the fifties, sixties and early seventies, he traveled extensively around the globe with his group Los Paraguayos, popularizing Paraguayan music. He is the best-selling Paraguayan musician ever.
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He was born on 21 June 1926 in Altos, Paraguay. His mother, Jacinta Mesa (not Meza), wrote him down in the Peace Jury on 14 April of that year.
Luis was the fourth son of eight children, of whom one was a girl, Obdulia (Chiquita), retired singer. Doña Jacinta, Paraná's mother died while he was touring in Europe, (Stockholm) 15 August 1965, Luis's father, who was a rural teacher died in Piripucú, Concepcion in 1947.
Luis attended primary school in Ypacarai. At the age of 14, Luis enters the boy-scouts in "Batallón Rojas Silva " (Salesianito), under Father Ernesto Pérez Acosta's management.
"The fact that he was meant to be an artist was clear from the age of eighteen, when he interpreted 'Campo Grande' alongside Humberto Barúa and Digno García, a great harpist. It was there, in the old Rex theatre that people started to feel attracted by this young, enthusiastic countryside boy."
Toured through Center América, and after getting back, Luis Alberto del Paraná (artistic name adapted in Mexico) forms a band with Digno García and Agustin Barboza. This band was named "Los Paraguayos Threesome" and by decree, 24 November 1953 the National government gives each one of them 3200 dollars to distribute Paraguayan music in Europe in an "Official Cultural Mission".
His first wife was Lissette Cairoly, a French "circus princess". His second wife was Carmen González Caballero, a Spanish dancer. They had two children: Luis Manuel Meza González y Carmen Fabiola Meza González.
In (1958), in Milan (Italy), Parana gifts Father Pérez with a complete set of percussion instruments for his former Scout Battalion to use. Later on, Paraná dedicated a song to Father Pérez. This song was recorded in an LP at Philips International and was world-widely distributed.
As the contract expired, the band dissolved and Paraná formed the band "los Paraguayos" with his brother Reynaldo Meza, Rubito Medina, and José de los Santos González, a harpist. They quickly recorded two LP's for Phillips in the Netherlands: "Famous Latin American Songs" and "Ambassador of Romance", which had great success. This way the recording of "more than 500 songs" began. They recorded hits after hits until Paraná died.
They shared the stage with The Beatles[1] and recorded with The Rolling Stones.
Luis Alberto del Paraná and "Los Paraguayos" sold more than 20 000 000 records, more than 650 000 tape cassettes, and traveled more than 1 000 000 kilometers during tours.[2]
He died on 15 September 1974 in London, England. He was at the first floor at the Prembridge Court Hotel, in room eight when he suffered from a brain stroke.
His casket was transported to Asunción, where it was carried off the plane by many dignitaries, including the President. It was huge event rarely seen by the nation. The people spontaneously packed the streets to say goodbye to their idol.
This event was named "The Chain of Pain" and almost all of the radio stations in Paraguay and many around the world tuned in to transmit every minute of the episode until his burial in "La Recoleta Cemetery".
His recordings "Hace un Año" and "Malagueña" were used in the film Born on the Fourth of July (1989). More about his artistic career, here: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0660946/