Luis Alberto del Paraná (21 June 1926 – 15 September 1974) was a Paraguayan singer and guitarist. During the fifties, sixties and early seventies, he traveled extensively around the globe with his group Los Paraguayos, popularizing Paraguayan music. He is the best-selling Paraguayan musician ever.

Family and early life

He was born on 21 June 1926 at 14:30 in Altos,

Paraguay Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay, is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the Argentina–Paraguay border, south and southwest, Brazil to the Brazil–Paraguay border, east and northeast, and Boli ...

. His birth was reported in the magistrates court on 14 August 1926 by his mother, Jacinta Mesa (not Meza). His name was Luis Osmer Meza. Luis was the fourth son of eight children, of whom one was a girl, Obdulia (Chiquita), a retired singer. Doña Jacinta, Paraná's mother died on 15 August 1965, while Luis was in

Stockholm Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...

touring in Europe; Luis's father, who was a rural teacher, died in Piripucú, Concepción in 1947. Luis attended primary school in

Ypacaraí Ypacaraí () is a town in the Central Department of Paraguay on the Lake Ypacarai. On the Paraguayan highway system, it is located between Asunción and Caacupé, near Areguá and San Bernardino. Known as the "City of Folklore" after the Ypaca ...

. At the age of 14, Luis entered the boy-scouts in "Batallón Rojas Silva " (Salesianito), under Father Ernesto Pérez Acosta's management.

Adult life and artistic career

"The fact that he was meant to be an artist was clear from the age of eighteen, when he interpreted 'Campo Grande' alongside Humberto Barúa and Digno García, a great harpist. It was there, in the old Rex theatre, that people started to feel attracted by this young, enthusiastic countryside boy." After touring through Central America, Luis Alberto del Paraná (artistic name adopted in

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

) formed a band with

Digno García Digno García (Luque, 1919 - Geraardsbergen, 4 February 1984) was a Paraguay Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay, is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the Argentina–Paraguay border, south and ...

and Agustin Barboza. This band was named "Trío Los Paraguayos" and by decree, 24 November 1953, the national government gave each one of the members 3200 dollars to disseminate Paraguayan music in Europe through an "Official Cultural Mission". His first wife was Lissette Cairoly, a French "circus princess". His second wife was Carmen González Caballero, a Spanish dancer. They had two children: Luis Manuel Meza González and Carmen Fabiola Meza González. In (1958), in

Milan Milan ( , , ; ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the List of cities in Italy, second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nea ...

, (Italy), Paraná gave Father Pérez a complete set of percussion instruments for his former Scout Battalion to use. Later on, Paraná dedicated a song to Father Pérez. This song was included in an LP issued by Philips International and was distributed world wide. When the contract expired, the band dissolved and Paraná formed the band "Los Paraguayos" with his brother Reynaldo Meza, Rubito Medina, and José de los Santos González, a harpist. They quickly recorded two LP's for Philips in the Netherlands: "Famous Latin American Songs" and "Ambassador of Romance", which had great success. This was the start of the recording of "more than 500 songs". They recorded hit after hit until Paraná died. They shared the stage with

The Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The core lineup of the band comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are widely regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatle ...

and recorded with

The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for over six decades, they are one of the most popular, influential, and enduring bands of the Album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the band pione ...

. Luis Alberto del Paraná and "Los Paraguayos" played live at

the Benny Hill show ''The Benny Hill Show'' is a British comedy television show starring Benny Hill that aired on the BBC and ITV between 15 January 1955 and 1 May 1989. The show consisted mainly of sketch comedy, sketches typified by slapstick, mime, parody, and ...

"Season 1 Episode 3" (1970) Luis Alberto del Paraná and "Los Paraguayos" sold more than 30 000 000 records, more than 650 000 tape cassettes, and traveled more than 1 000 000 kilometers during their tours.Plaque at trophy presented to them by Philips, in the exhibition at "El Cabildo" museum, Asunción, Paraguay.

Death and burial

He died on 15 September 1974, aged 48, in London, England. He was at the first floor of the Pembridge Court Hotel, in room eight when he suffered from a brain stroke. His casket was transported to

Asunción Asunción (, ) is the capital and the largest city of Paraguay. The city stands on the eastern bank of the Paraguay River, almost at the confluence of this river with the Pilcomayo River. The Paraguay River and the Bay of Asunción in the north ...

, where it was carried off the plane by many dignitaries, including the President. It was a huge event rarely seen by the nation. The people spontaneously packed the streets to say goodbye to their idol. This event was named "The Chain of Pain" and almost all of the radio stations in Paraguay and many around the world tuned in to transmit every minute of the episode until his burial in "

La Recoleta Cemetery La Recoleta Cemetery () is a cemetery located in the Recoleta, Buenos Aires, Recoleta Barrios and Communes of Buenos Aires, neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It contains the graves of notable people, including Eva Perón, President of Ar ...

", at the capital

Discography

* Paraguayan Song Nº 1 * Paraguayan Song Nº 2 * Bajo el Cielo del Paraguay * Famous Latin American Songs * South American Minstrels * Trovador Tropical * Trovador Tropical Nº 2 * Tropical Trip * Ambassadors of Romance * Historia de un Amor * Buenas noches mi amor * En escena * Para mí, Para tí, Paraná * Sentimentally yours * Canciones de las Américas * La Burrerita de Ypacarai * În România I * În România II * În România III * În România IV * În România V * Mi Guitarra y mi Voz * Felicidades * Amici, Amici * All Star Festival - UNICEF * Acuarela Paraguaya * Por todo el mundo... * Paraguayos in Tokio * Popular Favourites * Music Minstrels Please * San Remo 1966 * Fiesta Asuncena * En Buenos Aires * Con los Violines de Lima * World Hits * Live in Concert * Siempre el mejor * Espléndido * In London * Papillón * Epopeya Nacional * Éxtasis Tropìcal * Latin American Dance Party * Live in Concert... Berlín * Canciones Tropicales * Adiós Mariquita Linda * Quizás, quizás, quizás

In popular culture

His recordings "Hace un Año" and "Malagueña" were used in the film '' Born on the Fourth of July'' (1989).
''Paraná Awards'' are the most prominent awards for Paraguayan radio and television.

References

International Jose Guillermo Carrillo Foundation
* Perfil de un Triunfador. De Bernardo Garcete Saldivar * Paraná, Inmortal. De Bernardo Garcete Saldivar {{DEFAULTSORT:Parana, Luis Alberto Del 1926 births 1974 deaths 20th-century Paraguayan male singers Paraguayan guitarists Paraguayan songwriters People from Cordillera Department 20th-century guitarists