Aurelio Martínez Suazo (26 September 1969 – 17 March 2025), professionally known as Aurelio, was a Honduran singer-songwriter and politician. Known for his
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 langua ...
, he was considered a cultural ambassador of the
Garifuna
The Garifuna people ( or ; pl. Garínagu in Garifuna) are a people of mixed free African and Amerindian ancestry that originated in the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent and traditionally speak Garifuna, an Arawakan language.
The Garifuna ...
people.
According to ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
'', he became the leading Garifuna performer after the death of musician
Andy Palacio
Andy Vivian Palacio (December 2, 1960 – January 19, 2008) was a Belizean punta musician and government official. He was also a leading activist for the Garifuna people and their culture.
Biography
Palacio was born and raised in the coasta ...
. His album "Laru Beya" was considered among the best albums of Latin American music, according to
Los 600 de Latinoamérica, a 2024 ranking made by Latin American music critics.
Life and career
From 2006 to 2010, Martínez served as the first
Afro-Honduran
Afro-Hondurans (), also known as Black Hondurans (), are Hondurans who have predominantly or total Sub-Saharan African ancestry. Research by Henry Louis Gates regards their population to be around 1-2%.However more accurate research sources fro ...
member of the
National Congress of Honduras
The National Congress () is the legislative branch of the government of Honduras.
Organization
The Honduran Congress is a unicameral legislature. The nominal President of the National Congress of Honduras is currently Luis Redondo. Its m ...
.
In 2021, a number of his songs were featured in the documentary about an excavation by the
German Archaeological Institute
The German Archaeological Institute (, ''DAI'') is a research institute in the field of archaeology (and other related fields). The DAI is a "federal agency" under the Federal Foreign Office, Federal Foreign Office of Germany.
Status, tasks and ...
at the coastline of Honduras accompanying an exhibition of the
Rietberg Museum
The Rietberg Museum is a museum in Zürich, Switzerland, displaying Asian, African, American and Oceanian art. It is the largest art museum focusing on non-European art and design in Switzerland, the third-largest museum in Zürich, and the large ...
.
Martínez and 12 other people died on
Roatán Island on 17 March 2025, after
Aerolínea Lanhsa Flight 018
Aerolínea Lanhsa Flight 018, a British Aerospace Jetstream, was a Honduran charter flight to carry passengers from Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport, on Roatán Island, department of Islas de la Bahía, to Golosón International Ai ...
, the plane he was travelling on, overran the runway of
Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport
Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport () is an international airport located on the island of Roatán, in the Caribbean Sea off the northern coast of Honduras. from DAFIF (effective October 2006) Roatán is in the Bay Islands Department o ...
and fell into the sea. He was 55.
Discography
Solo records
* 2017: ''Darandi'' (Real World Records / Stonetree Records
DarandiDARANDI, by AURELIO
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* 2014: ''Lándini'' (Real World Records
Real World Records is a British record label specializing in world music. It was founded in 1989 by English musician Peter Gabriel and original members of WOMAD. A majority of the works released on Real World Records feature music recorded at R ...
/ Stonetree Records)
* 2011: ''Laru Beya'' (Real World Records
Real World Records is a British record label specializing in world music. It was founded in 1989 by English musician Peter Gabriel and original members of WOMAD. A majority of the works released on Real World Records feature music recorded at R ...
/ Stonetree Records)
* 2004: ''Garifuna Soul'' (Stonetree Records)
* 1995: ''Songs of the Garifuna: Lita Ariran'' (JVC World Sounds)
Collaborations
* 2007: ''Wátina'' – Andy Palacio & The Garifuna Collective (Stonetree Records / Cumbancha)
* 1999: ''Paranda'' – Various Artists (Stonetree Records )
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Martinez, Aurelio
1969 births
2025 deaths
Deputies of the National Congress of Honduras
Honduran male singers
Garifuna people
Garifuna music
Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 2025
Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in Honduras
21st-century male singers
21st-century Honduran politicians
Musicians killed in aviation accidents or incidents