Ladislao Martinez
Encyclopedia
Ladislao Martinez a.k.a. "El Maestro Ladi" (June 27, 1898- February 1, 1979), was a master cuatro
musician. He became the first Puerto Rican to play a cuatro
solo on the radio.
, the capital city of Puerto Rico. In San Juan, Martinez and his brother recruited the famed guitarist Patricio Toribio Rijos, and together they founded the musical group Trio Ladi.
In 1922, Puerto Rican radio station WKAQ inaugurated its radio transmission in the island with a program called Industrias Nativas (Native Industries), and Martinez and his trio were participants. It was the first time in Puerto Rican history that the radio listening public was to hear a cuatro
via the airwaves. Martinez met many established musicians of the time, among them Felipe ("Don Felo") Rosario Goyco and Ernestico Leocadio Vizcarrondo. Goyco and Vizcarrondo joined Martinez and named their group Aurora. It was during this time that Martinez began to record his compositions and those written by others. He wrote over four hundred musical compositions including boleros, danzas, guarachas, waltzes, zambas and polkas.
In 1934, Martinez and the members of Aurora had two radio programs, Jíbaros de la Radio (Country Folk of the Radio) and Industrias Nativas. They rename their group Conjunto Industrias Nativas and among the singers who performed with them was Jesús Sánchez Erazo, better known as Chuíto el de Bayamón and Tito Rodriguez
who as a 13 year old joined the group in 1936. In the later part of the 1930s, Martinez renamed his group and they became known as Conjunto Típico Ladi. Among the songs which they recorded were the following; En mi Carro te Espero; Alma Boricua; Linda Serrana; Noche de Algodón and El Seis Dorado.
Martinez moved to New York City
in 1945. In New York he continued to perform with his group Conjunto Típico Ladí and recorded over a hundred and fifty songs released on the RCA, Vergne and Sol De Borinquen labels, with songs such as the bolero, Tentación de Besarte. He also had a radio program La Voz Hispana del Aire which aired in New York.
Cuatro (instrument)
The cuatro is any of several Latin American instruments of the guitar or lute family. The cuatro is smaller than a guitar. Cuatro means four in Spanish, although current instruments may have more than four strings....
musician. He became the first Puerto Rican to play a cuatro
Cuatro
Cuatro is Spanish for the number four. It may also refer to:* Cuatro , Name for two distinct Latin American instruments one from Puerto Rico and the other from Venezuela....
solo on the radio.
Early years
Martinez (birth name: Ladislao Martinez Otero) was born in the barrio Espinosa of the town of Vega Alta, Puerto Rico. He was born into a humble family of farmers. As a child, together with his brother Encarnacion, he became interested in playing the guitar. He later became interested in the cuatro, a four-stringed musical instrument related to the guitar family. His early teachers were Joaquin La Paloma Gandia and Carlos Soriano. At first Martinez, who lived with his parents, played his instrument at local parties and dances, earning anywhere from $1.50 to $2.00 (US) for each dance that he performed in.Musical career
In 1921, Martinez and his brother moved to San JuanSan Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, the capital city of Puerto Rico. In San Juan, Martinez and his brother recruited the famed guitarist Patricio Toribio Rijos, and together they founded the musical group Trio Ladi.
In 1922, Puerto Rican radio station WKAQ inaugurated its radio transmission in the island with a program called Industrias Nativas (Native Industries), and Martinez and his trio were participants. It was the first time in Puerto Rican history that the radio listening public was to hear a cuatro
Cuatro
Cuatro is Spanish for the number four. It may also refer to:* Cuatro , Name for two distinct Latin American instruments one from Puerto Rico and the other from Venezuela....
via the airwaves. Martinez met many established musicians of the time, among them Felipe ("Don Felo") Rosario Goyco and Ernestico Leocadio Vizcarrondo. Goyco and Vizcarrondo joined Martinez and named their group Aurora. It was during this time that Martinez began to record his compositions and those written by others. He wrote over four hundred musical compositions including boleros, danzas, guarachas, waltzes, zambas and polkas.
In 1934, Martinez and the members of Aurora had two radio programs, Jíbaros de la Radio (Country Folk of the Radio) and Industrias Nativas. They rename their group Conjunto Industrias Nativas and among the singers who performed with them was Jesús Sánchez Erazo, better known as Chuíto el de Bayamón and Tito Rodriguez
Tito Rodriguez
Tito Rodríguez was a popular 1950s and 1960s Puerto Rican singer and bandleader. He is known by many fans as "El Inolvidable" , a moniker based on his most popular interpretation, a song written by composer Julio Gutierrez.-Early years:Rodríguez , born in Santurce, Puerto Rico,...
who as a 13 year old joined the group in 1936. In the later part of the 1930s, Martinez renamed his group and they became known as Conjunto Típico Ladi. Among the songs which they recorded were the following; En mi Carro te Espero; Alma Boricua; Linda Serrana; Noche de Algodón and El Seis Dorado.
New York City
Martinez moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1945. In New York he continued to perform with his group Conjunto Típico Ladí and recorded over a hundred and fifty songs released on the RCA, Vergne and Sol De Borinquen labels, with songs such as the bolero, Tentación de Besarte. He also had a radio program La Voz Hispana del Aire which aired in New York.