Eladio Martínez was born in
Paraguarí
Paraguarí (; gn, Paraguari) is a city, ''distrito'' and capital of Paraguarí Department in Paraguay, located 66 km from the country's capital, Asunción. At the 2002 census it had a population of 22,154.Paraguay
Paraguay (; ), officially the Republic of Paraguay ( es, República del Paraguay, links=no; gn, Tavakuairetã Paraguái, links=si), is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to th ...
, on May 19, 1912, son of Lorenzo Martínez and Nicolasa Benítez. He belonged to a family of musicians. His father was a bandleader of a group formed entirely by his relatives in
Villarrica.
Childhood and youth
Initially learn to play the flute and later the guitar, an instrument that he used to play fluently, although his most remarkable contribution to the music was as singer and composer.
He moved to
Asuncion in 1928. His participation at a folkloric amateur competition sponsored by
Roque Centurión Miranda at the Municipal Theatre was the event that convinced the most to become a professional musician. In that occasion won the first prize representing Villarica and performing "Che la reina" by
Emiliano R. Fernández and
Félix Pérez Cardozo. It was 1930.
In 1931, he traveled to
Montevideo
Montevideo () is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Uruguay, largest city of Uruguay. According to the 2011 census, the city proper has a population of 1,319,108 (about one-third of the country's total population) in an area of . M ...
,
Uruguay
Uruguay (; ), officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay ( es, República Oriental del Uruguay), is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast; while bordering ...
, and afterward moved to
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South ...
, where he joined
Mauricio Cardozo Ocampo
Mauricio Cardozo Ocampo (May 14, 1907 – May 5, 1982) was the main reference of the so-called "golden generation" of the Paraguayan popular music and a strict studious of the Paraguayan folk music.
Biography
He was born in Ybycuí on May 14, 1 ...
in the famous duo "Martínez-Cardozo". This was the first Paraguayan band that performed at the important SODRE Hall of Montevideo, among other places.
He married Aida Ayala. His sons "Lobo" and
Jorge "Lobito" Martínez
Jorge "lobito" Martinez (May 11, 1952 in Asunción, Paraguay
Paraguay (; ), officially the Republic of Paraguay ( es, República del Paraguay, links=no; gn, Tavakuairetã Paraguái, links=si), is a landlocked country in South America. It i ...
are also popular and talented musicians.
Career
For fifteen years managed radio shows in Buenos Aires such as "Movimiento musical paraguayo" ("Paraguayan music movement") in Radio Cultura and "Polcas y Guaranias" ("Polkas and Guaranias") in Radio Rivadavia, and also some other shows in other radio stations as Belgrano, Mitre, El Mundo, Excelsior, among others.
By then used to perform as soloist, accompanied by the guitar, or in the Felix Perez Cardozo's band (whom which recorded many discs), the Gumersindo Ayala Aquino's Band or his own, "Nelly".
In 1948 was invited to the Olympic Games in
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
,
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
, sponsored by Sir
Eugen Millington-Drake, to make up for the Paraguayan absence in Olympic sports. He also invited the composer
Emigdio Ayala Báez
Emigdio Ayala Báez (August 5, 1917 – February 24, 1993) was a Paraguayan musician. He was born in Escobar, a town of the Paraguarí Department, Paraguay.
Beginnings
He started his artistic career with the master Herminio Giménez, with who, ...
(then was when they composed the Guarania "Oración a mi amada", "Prayer to my love" in English, one of the most popular loving songs in Paraguay) and the harpist Albino Quiñónez. The "Olympic Trio", as the group was named, performed with great success in special TV shows at the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
, singing to the Olympic delegations of different countries, at the Oxford University and performing to the Royal Family itself, extending his tour to many European cities.
Back to Buenos Aires had at his charge, the music for the film "El trueno entre las hojas", ("The thunder among the leaves") directed by Armando Bo with script from
.
After many years of brilliant international career, Eladio Martínez resolved to return to his land. He became a symbol in trying to rescue and promote the folkloric music at the universities during the '70. By then, because of his great popularity and his belonging to a generation of extraordinary Paraguayan musicians he received the surname of "El grande" ("The big one").
To his composer and singer skills, he added his natural gift for speech, his implacable scold to the ones who negated the great truths of the Paraguayan music related to the "golden generation" that he used to know as few, and his amazing charisma.
In 1979, accompanied by his guitar and voice, went to
where he was carrying out the World Youth Football Championship.
Briefly, before his decease, directed a popular radio show in Radio Tajy of Asuncion named "Una guitarra en la noche" ("A guitar in the night"), sweetly harmonized with comments and songs.
Eladio is the author of many famous songs such as:
* "Lucerito alba" (Little morning star)
* "Noches guaireñas" (Nights of Guaira)
* "Cayé"
* "Che trigueñami"
* "Che pykasumi"
* "A mi Corrientes porâ" (To my beautiful Corrientes)
* "Che vallemi" (My little town)
* "Nelly"
* "Oración a mi amada" (Prayer to my love)
* "Lejana flor" (Distant flower)
* "Es linda nuestra tierra" (Is beautiful our land)
* The Paraguayan zarzuela "Pacholi", with script from Manuel Frutos Pane.
He also recompiled very old "compuestos" (popular musical compositions that relates historical or satirical facts as a song) just like "El casamiento del taravé" and "Mateo Gamarra".
*Centro Cultural de la República "El Cabildo"
*Biographic Dictionary "FORJADORES DEL PARAGUAY", First Edition. January, 2000. Distribuidora Quevedo. Buenos Aires, Argentina.