Paul Nabor (26 January 1928 – 22 October 2014), born Alfonso Palacio, was a

Garifuna The Garifuna people ( or ; pl. Garínagu in Garifuna) are a people of mixed free African and indigenous American ancestry that originated in the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent and speak Garifuna, an Arawakan language, and Vincentian ...

singer and musician from Punta Gorda,

Belize Belize (; bzj, Bileez) is a Caribbean and Central American country on the northeastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a wate ...

. He is often credited with popularizing

paranda Paranda is a town with a municipal council in the Osmanabad district of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the headquarters town for the Paranda Tehsil. History The city is located around an ancient Paranda Fort and is also an area of m ...

, a style of traditional

Garifuna music Garifuna music is an ethnic music and dance with African, Arawak, and Kalinago elements, originating with the Afro-Indigenous Garifuna people from Central America and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. In 2001, Garifuna music, dance, and language ...

, and is considered to have been one of the most talented musicians of the genre.

Early life

Nabor was born as Alfonso Palacio on 26 January 1928. Although official sources list his place of birth as

Stann Creek Town Dangriga, formerly known as Stann Creek Town, is a town in southern Belize, located on the Caribbean coast at the mouth of the North Stann Creek River. It is the capital of Belize's Stann Creek District. Dangriga is served by the Dangriga Air ...

(now Dangriga), Nabor told ''

Amandala ''Amandala'' is a Belizean tabloid newspaper. Published twice weekly, it is Belize's largest newspaper. ''Amandala'' was established in 1969 as the print organ of the now-defunct United Black Association for Development (UBAD), but has been polit ...

'' in 2009 that he had been born in Punta Gorda, where he was a lifelong resident. Nabor began singing professionally at 18.Ramos, Adele
"Legendary Garifuna parandero, Paul Nabor, passes at 86"
''

'', 24 October 2014; accessed 22 May 2015.

Career

In Belize, Nabor's best known song was "Naguya Nei," which he wrote in memory of his deceased sister. Fluent in

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...

and

, Nabor was a popular entertainer throughout Central America. Nabor performed on Andy Palacio's final album, ''Wátina'', released in 2007. Nabor's music is also included on the showcase album ''

Paranda Paranda is a town with a municipal council in the Osmanabad district of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the headquarters town for the Paranda Tehsil. History The city is located around an ancient Paranda Fort and is also an area of m ...

'' on Stonetree Records. He retired from performing full-time in 2009, but played occasionally until 2013.

Honours

On a 2004 visit to

Tegucigalpa, Honduras Tegucigalpa (, , ), formally Tegucigalpa, Municipality of the Central District ( es, Tegucigalpa, Municipio del Distrito Central or ''Tegucigalpa, M.D.C.''), and colloquially referred to as ''Tegus'' or ''Teguz'', is the capital and largest city ...

, he was declared a distinguished guest of the city. Nabor was visiting Tegucigalpa for the Honduran release of ''Garifuna Soul'', an album by fellow paranda musician,

Aurelio Martínez Aurelio Martínez, professionally known as Aurelio, is a Honduran musician and politician. He is a singer, percussionist, and guitarist known for his Garifuna music and is considered a Cultural Ambassador of the Garifuna people. According to the ...

Death

On 22 October 2014, Nabor died at Punta Gorda Hospital, following a stroke the week before. He is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Punta Gorda.

References

1928 births 2014 deaths People from Punta Gorda Belizean musicians Garifuna people Belizean composers Male composers Deaths from cerebrovascular disease Disease-related deaths in Belize {{composer-stub