| Ricardo Aguirre | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Also known as | El Monumental |
| Born | May 9, 1939 Maracaibo, Venezuela |
| Died | November 8, 1969 (aged 30) Maracaibo, Venezuela |
| Genres | Gaita Zuliana |
| Occupations | Musician, singer, composer, director |
| Years active | 1958–1969 |
| Associated acts | Cardenales del Éxito Saladillo |
Ricardo José Aguirre González, (Maracaibo, May 9, 1939 and died in the same city, November 8, 1969), was a Venezuelan folk musician and Gaita Zuliana singer and composer. He was known as the Monumental de la Gaita (Gaita Monumental).
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Graduated as teacher at the age of 19, began in Bachaquero during two years in the Rafael Urdaneta school, when he returns to Maracaibo works in the Monseñor Francisco A. Granadillo de Monteclaro school, where he composed the music for the anthem of that school (with lyrics of Jorge Samper). At the same time he becomes a radio announcer for La voz de la Fé Broadcasting. In the gaitero atmosphere, began for being director of the gaita group Los Sabrosos, (with this group he act occasionally), and with Santa Canoíta.
In 1962 enters with his brothers Rixio, Renato and Alves to the Gaita group Cardenales, shortly after the division of the group, where he proposed to add the word del Éxito (of Success) to the name Cardenales. He recorded the first gaitas in 1963: Golpe Tradicional of Rixio Aguirre, Gaita, Gaita of Pedro Colina and Gaitas Tradicionales of Luis Ferrer and Rixio Aguirre. With this group he has many successful songs, like: La Parrandera, La Bullanguera, Vieja y Famosa, Madre, Los Piropos, Mi Danza, La Gaita del 65, Reina Morena, Mi Chinata, Imploración and La Boda del cachicamo.
In 1967, as a result of differences between the members of Cardenales del Éxito, Ricardo Aguirre went to the gaita group Saladillo. With them he recorded: El Indolente, Ronda Antañona, La Cantarina, La Flor de la Habana (1 and 2), Dos Madres Antañonas, and La Grey Zuliana (1968). On this recording, according to Arnoldo Hernandez Oquendo, the music and the intro of the gaita belong to Ricardo Aguirre, but the lyrics to Marcial Valbuena, in addition was introduced to this song for the first time in a gaita a Bass guitar. This gaita became the anthem of the gaita zuliana.
In 1969 Aguirre was designated regional supervisor of education for the districts Mara and Páez. He returned to Cardenales del Éxito where he recorded Decreto Papal, La Vivarachera and Maracaibo Marginada. Also he was interpreter of: Poema Gaitero, Gaitoneando, Soberbia Gaitera, La Pica Pica, Gloria de un Parrandón and Remembranzas 2.
Between his compositions they emphasize: La Grey Zuliana, La Pica Pica, Gloria de un Parrandón, Poema Gaitero, El Billeterito, Maracaibo Marginada, Remembranzas 2, Dos Madres Antañonas (with Jairo Gil), among others. Authentic patrimony of Zulia, he is always present by his powerful voice. On November 4, 1983 the Governor of the Zulia, Humberto Fernandez Auvert, promulgated the decree where is officially declared the November 8 like the Gaitero day, in memory of Ricardo Aguirre's death in a car accident.