Juan Reynoso Portillo
Encyclopedia
Juan Reynoso Portillo was a Mexican
fiddler
who played in Mexico's Tierra Caliente
style. First recorded in the 1940s, his popularity was limited exclusively to Mexico until the mid-1990s, when his popularity in the United States
grew, playing several times in the US at Centrums Festival of American Fiddle Tunes in Port Townsend, Washington
.
, Guerrero
, on June 24, 1912. Since he was born during the Mexican Revolution
, he did not attend school. When he was young he played at local parties and gatherings. In the 1940s he worked for about a year at a radio
station in Mexico City
, but then he returned to the country.
It wasn't until the 1990s that he became well known in the U.S. In 1996 he taught and played at the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes for the first time. He continued to play every year at Fiddle Tunes for eight years. Here he taught the traditional sons, gusto
s, pasodoble
s and waltzes he had learned by ear in his homeland of the Tierra Caliente. In 1997 he was awarded Mexico's National Prize of Arts and Sciences.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
fiddler
Fiddler
A fiddler is a person who plays a fiddle or violin.Fiddler may also refer to:*Fabrangen Fiddlers, an American musical group founded in 1971*Tupolev Tu-28 "Fiddler", a fighter aircraft*Fiddler , a DC Comics villain...
who played in Mexico's Tierra Caliente
Tierra Caliente (music)
Son calentano is a style of Mexican fiddle music made famous by Juan Reynoso, originating from the Tierra Caliente region of Mexico....
style. First recorded in the 1940s, his popularity was limited exclusively to Mexico until the mid-1990s, when his popularity in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
grew, playing several times in the US at Centrums Festival of American Fiddle Tunes in Port Townsend, Washington
Port Townsend, Washington
Port Townsend is a city in Jefferson County, Washington, United States, approximately north-northwest of Seattle . The population was 9,113 at the 2010 census an increase of 9.3% over the 2000 census. It is the county seat and only incorporated city of Jefferson County...
.
Life
Juan Reynoso Portillo was born in the village of Ancón de Santo Domingo in the municipality of Coyuca de CatalánCoyuca de Catalán
Coyuca de Catalán is a city and seat of the municipality of Coyuca de Catalán, in the state of Guerrero, south-western Mexico....
, Guerrero
Guerrero
Guerrero officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Guerrero is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 81 municipalities and its capital city is Chilpancingo....
, on June 24, 1912. Since he was born during the Mexican Revolution
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
, he did not attend school. When he was young he played at local parties and gatherings. In the 1940s he worked for about a year at a radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
station in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, but then he returned to the country.
It wasn't until the 1990s that he became well known in the U.S. In 1996 he taught and played at the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes for the first time. He continued to play every year at Fiddle Tunes for eight years. Here he taught the traditional sons, gusto
Gusto
Gusto may mean:*Enthusiasm or energy*two fictional characters in the film CB4*a fictional character in Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears*Gusto!, an album by the punk rock group Guttermouth*Gusto Records, a record label...
s, pasodoble
Pasodoble
Pasodoble is a typical dance from Spain march-like musical style as well as the corresponding dance style danced by a couple. It is the type of music typically played in bullfights during the bullfighters' entrance to the ring or during the passes just before the kill...
s and waltzes he had learned by ear in his homeland of the Tierra Caliente. In 1997 he was awarded Mexico's National Prize of Arts and Sciences.
Recordings
Juan Reynoso has four recordings by Swing Cat Enterprises and one by Arhoolie Productions.Resources
- Dos Traditiones Magazine- Sept., 2004 Director Lindajoy Fenley, Editor Erika Tamayo and April 1998 Editor Linajoy Fenley