Francisco "Paco" Pérez Muñoz (1916–1951) was a singer, composer, and guitarist from

Guatemala Guatemala, officially the Republic of Guatemala, is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico, to the northeast by Belize, to the east by Honduras, and to the southeast by El Salvador. It is hydrologically b ...

Biography

Pérez was born on April 25, 1916, in

Huehuetenango, Guatemala Huehuetenango () is a city and municipality in the highlands of western Guatemala. It is also the capital of the department of Huehuetenango. The city is situated from Guatemala City, and is the last departmental capital on the Pan-American Hig ...

to José Pérez and Luz Muñoz. At the age of 6, he acted in the municipal theater. In 1927, he moved with his family to

Quetzaltenango Quetzaltenango (, also known by its Maya name Xelajú or Xela ) is a municipality and namesake department in western Guatemala. The city is located in a mountain valley at an elevation of above sea level at its lowest part. It may reach above ...

, where he took on various roles as a singer and orator. Pérez made his grand debut in 1935 in the municipal theater of Quetzaltenango, accompanied by Juan Sandoval on piano. Later he formed the ''Trío Quetzaltecos'' with Manolo Rosales and José Alvarez. When Quetzaltenango radio station TGQ launched in 1937, he aired a series of concerts. Pérez achieved fame for his

waltz The waltz ( , meaning "to roll or revolve") is a ballroom dance, ballroom and folk dance, in triple (3/4 time, time), performed primarily in closed position. Along with the ländler and allemande, the waltz was sometimes referred to by the ...

'' Luna de Xelajú'' (1944), which has become part of the Guatemalan cultural identity. The song figures in the repertory of most singers, choirs, marimba players and musical groups in

. Pérez died on October 27, 1951, in a

plane crash An aviation accident is an event during aircraft operation that results serious injury, death, or significant destruction. An aviation incident is any operating event that compromises safety but does not escalate into an aviation accident. Pre ...

El Petén EL, El or el may refer to: Arts and entertainment Fictional entities * El, a character from the manga series ''Shugo Chara!'' by Peach-Pit * Eleven (''Stranger Things'') (El), a fictional character in the TV series ''Stranger Things'' * El, fami ...

, along with his pianist, Mario Lara Montealegre, and other musicians. He was 34 years old.

Works

* '' Luna de Xelajú'' * ''Tzanjuyú'' * ''Azabia'' * ''Nenita'' * ''Arrepentimiento'' * ''Patoja linda'' * ''Madrecita'' * ''Chichicastenango (guaracha)''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Perez, Paco Guatemalan composers Male composers People from Huehuetenango Department Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in Guatemala 1916 births 1951 deaths Guatemalan male singers 20th-century composers 20th-century male singers Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1951