Vicente Gómez (8 July 1911 – 23 December 2001) was a Spanish guitarist and composer.

Biography

Gómez was born in Madrid, where he learned his trade in a tavern owned by his father, located in the red-light district of Madrid. He worked there until he was 25 when he visited Russia. He was involved in politics and opposed to General Franco. He visited Cuba and Mexico, and he was discovered while making a radio show in Mexico. He worked in New York and toured South America. In 1943, he became a U.S. citizen and served in the American army. In 1950 he performed in the Cary Grant film ''Crisis'' as the guitarist Cariago in an uncredited performance. In the 1950s, he signed with American

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American ...

, he composed for Hollywood films, and then he retired to compose and teach. Gómez' students included Ricky Nelson and the wife of

Omar Bradley Omar Nelson Bradley (February 12, 1893April 8, 1981) was a senior Officer (armed forces), officer of the United States Army during and after World War II, rising to the rank of General of the Army (United States), General of the Army. Bradley ...

Musical compositions

Original theme for guitar and orchestra, soundtrack of the film ''

Blood and Sand Blood is a body fluid in the circulatory system of humans and other vertebrates that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells, and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells. Blood in the c ...

'' (1941), played by the composer himself. "Verde luna" (''Green Moon''), rumba Bolero, also featured in ''Blood and Sand''. It was recorded by

Alfredo Antonini Alfredo Antonini (May 31, 1901 – November 3, 1983) was a leading Italian-American symphony conductor and composer who was active on the international concert stage as well as on the CBS radio and television networks from the 1930s through the ea ...

and his orchestra featuring Victoria Cordova and

John Serry Sr. John Serry Sr. (born John Serrapica; January 29, 1915 – September 14, 2003) was an American concert accordionist, arranger, composer, organist, and educator. He performed on the CBS Radio and Television networks and contributed to Voic ...

in 1949. and also recorded by the Italian accordionist Beppe Junior in 2003 for his album ''Liscioterapia'' (Europlay, CD 0189).

Legacy

The archives of Vicente Gomez, which document his music library collection, his original compositions, teaching career, and his days in the U.S. Army, and which include scores, photographs, sound recordings, are held at the University Library at

California State University, Northridge California State University, Northridge (CSUN or Cal State Northridge) is a public university in the Northridge neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. With a total enrollment of 38,551 students (as of Fall 2021), it has the second largest un ...

References

External links

Vicente Gómez recordings
at the

Discography of American Historical Recordings The Discography of American Historical Recordings (DAHR) is a database of master recordings made by American record companies during the 78rpm era. The DAHR provides some of these original recordings, free of charge, via audio streaming, along with ...

. {{DEFAULTSORT:Gomez, Vicente 1911 births 2001 deaths 20th-century Spanish musicians Composers for the classical guitar Decca Records artists Musicians from Madrid Spanish guitarists Spanish male guitarists 20th-century guitarists 20th-century Spanish male musicians United States Army personnel of World War II Spanish emigrants to the United States