| Luis Alfonzo Larrain | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Magician of the dancing Music |
| Born | July 22, 1911 La Victoria, Aragua state, Venezuela |
| Died | July 4, 1996 (aged 84) Caracas, Venezuela |
| Genres | Venezuelan popular music, Caribbean music |
| Occupations | musician, composer, director, producer |
| Associated acts | Luis Alfonzo Larrain Orchestra |
Luis Alfonzo Larrain (22 July 1911 – 4 July 1996), was a Venezuelan composer, music director and producer, better known as the Magician of the dancing Music.
Luis Alfonzo Larrain was born in the city of La Victoria, Aragua state, Venezuela, son of Ana Larrain Martínez and Alejandro Alfonzo Pérez. In 1918, his family moved to Caracas, living in the parish of La Pastora. From very young, Luis feels attracted by music, being his first influences the band directed by Carlo Bonet and Ana Martinez. His mother teach him to sing and play cuatro. At the age of nine, Luis starts to compose, being stimulated by Spanish singer Pilar Arcos. In 1925, Luis forms a small orchestra, next to Raúl Briceño, Rafael Uzcategui and Eduardo Serrano.
In 1927, founded the Flava Orchestra. Soon gets inside it musicians: Federico Ayesta (Trumpet), Heber Hernández (Violin), Luis Eladio Guevara (Saxophone) and Antonio Lauro (Guitar). In 1930, Luis starts to work in the Broadcasting Caracas (nowadays Radio Caracas Radio), next to manager William Henry Phelps, and personalities like, Cecilia Martínez, Margot Antillano, Conchita Ascanio, Edgar J. Anzola, Francisco Fossa and Ricardo Espina. For this date directs the musical groupings: Staff Acrobats, The Sons of Night and Luis Alfonzo Larrain's melodic quartet, in which participates Graciela Naranjo, Fidel Peters, Ofelia Ramón and Enrique Alvarenga. In 1937, forms the Luis Alfonzo Larrain's Great Orchestra, that worth to him the title of Magician of the dancing Music.
Larrain was pupil of Vicente Emilio Sojo and carry out arrangements for popular merengues, that worth the aristocratic status that permitted his internationalization and refinement. In his marriage with Elisa Soteldo, singer of the orchestra, they had a daughter Keyla Ermecheo, celebrated professional of the Classical Dance and who stand out in the world of the worldwide Ballet.
In the 1930s and 1940s, singers like: Ada Alba, Carmen Chirinos, Flor Díaz, Trino Finol, Luisín Landáez, Marco Tulio Maristani, Kiko Mendive, Manolo Monterrey, Graciela Naranjo, Juanito Renot, Rafa Robles, Elio Rubio, Leo Rodríguez, Hilda Salazar, Mario Suárez, Callos Torres, Orlando Vallejo, and Maurice Chevalier, acted along with the Larrain's Orchestra. Also international artists like Carlos Gardel, Tito Guizar, Pedro Vargas, Miguelito Valdez, Teo Camargo, Jorge Negrete, Pedro Infante and Nat King Cole. Next to his musical activity, worked writing in different publications and newspapers about art, history, musical Topics and humor.
In 1939 stand out in cinematography, developing the musical production for the movie Carambola with argument of Fini Veracoechea, written by Rafael Brunicardi and script of Sara Cabrera, also founded the Estudios Larrain (Larrain Studios) for the recording and production of music albums. This company was administered by his wife Eduvigis Bravo, with the help of their children Mario, Luis Alfredo, Mariela and Gustavo, until it culminated its activities in 1987. On 24 May 1955 Luis Alfonzo Larrain founded "SACVEN", Society of Authors and Composers from Venezuela, important institution, for its social projection, in benefit of the economical security of all the Venezuelan colleagues, also edited the project of the law of authors and composers, that was approved at the Venezuelan National Congress.
Luis Alfonzo Larrain died on 4 July 1996, in Caracas.
Some of his works: “Quisiera”, “Vente pa’ca”, “Amandanos”, “Dulce y Picante”, “El Morrocoy”, “El pon pon”, “Se que me Quieres”, “Rosendo”, “Oye mi Cancion”, “La Pelota”.