Ricardo José Aguirre González, (May 9, 1939 – November 8, 1969), was a Venezuelan folk musician and

Gaita Zuliana Gaita zuliana (often simply called "gaita") is a style of Venezuelan folk music (and dance) from Maracaibo, Zulia State. According to Joan Coromines, it may come from the word "''gaits''," the Gothic word for "goat", which is the skin generally us ...

singer and composer. He is known as "El Monumental de la Gaita" (The Monumental Artist of the Gaita genre) and "El Padre de la Gaita" (The Father of the Gaita genre). He composed the popular song, " La grey zuliana".

Biography

Early life

Ricardo Aguirre was born on May 9, 1939, to Luisángel Aguirre and Ida Cira González. He began his elementary education at a small private school before continuing his education at two different public schools. His secondary education was interrupted by the political turmoil caused by the mounting popular pressure against the dictatorship of

Marcos Pérez Jiménez Marcos Evangelista Pérez Jiménez (25 April 1914 – 20 September 2001) was a Venezuelan military and general officer of the Army of Venezuela and the dictator of Venezuela from 1950 to 1958, ruling as member of the military junta from 195 ...

. After the dictatorship ended in 1958, Aguirre moved to the town of Rubio in the border state of Táchira where he attended Gervasio Rubio High School. After obtaining a teaching degree at age 19, he began teaching at the Monseñor Francisco A. Granadillo School while serving as an announcer for the radio station La Voz de la Fe.

Musical career

While studying to become a teacher, he learned to play guitar, piano, and other instruments, and began composing

Gaita zuliana Gaita zuliana (often simply called "gaita") is a style of Venezuelan folk music (and dance) from Maracaibo, Zulia State. According to Joan Coromines, it may come from the word "''gaits''," the Gothic word for "goat", which is the skin generally us ...

songs. During this time, he was a member of different musical groups and performed in musicals and theatrical plays. He began his musical career as the director of the

groups Los Sabrosos and Santa Canoíta. In 1962, he joined Los Cardenales along with his three brothers: Alves, Rixio and Renato. After a division within the group, Aguirre proposed an addition to the group's name and the suggestion was accepted, consequently naming the group Los Cardenales del Éxito (the name the group still uses today). In 1967, due to differences among members, Aguirre left and joined the group Saladillo, where he composed the song, "La grey zuliana". Aguirre stayed and recorded with the group for two years before returning to Los Cardenales del Éxito to record another album.

Death

Aguirre's musical career ended abruptly on November 8, 1969, when he was killed in a vehicular accident in Maracaibo. On November 4, 1978, the then-Governor of

Zulia State Zulia State ( es, Estado Zulia, ; Wayuu language, Wayuu: ''Mma’ipakat Suuria'') is one of the States of Venezuela, 23 states of Venezuela. The state capital is Maracaibo. As of the 2011 census, it has a population of 3,704,404, the largest popu ...

, Humberto Fernández Auvert, issued a decree officially declaring November 8, "El Día de los Gaiteros" in Aguirre's memory. He had four children who later formed the group Dinastía Aguirre.

Origin of his artistic name

Aguirre's friend, Octavio Urdaneta, once called Aguirre, "El Monumental" without giving the idea much thought. However, Aguirre's powerful voice, simple personality, and elegant demeanor justified the moniker, and he has been fondly remembered and revered as, "El Monumental" ever since.

References