Pedro Flores (composer)
Encyclopedia
Pedro Flores born was one Puerto Rico
's best known composers of Ballads and Bolero
s.
. Flores' father died when he was only nine years old and therefore, he was forced to work at a young age. When he was 16 years old, he took a special course in the University of Puerto Rico
(Universidad de Puerto Rico) and received his teachers certificate. Flores taught for five years and worked for one year at a sugar mill in the island of Vieques. In 1918, he served in a clerical position in the U.S. Army. He was honorably discharged from the Army when he was 24 years old.
without any formal musical education and joined another Puerto Rican
composer, Rafael Hernández in his "Trio Borinquen". Even though Flores and Hernandez became very good friends, they also became competitors as composers. When Flores wrote "Sin Banderas", Hernandez rushed and wrote "Preciosa".
In 1930, Flores formed his own trio which he named "Trio Galon", and whose music and songs had a faster beat then the "Trio Borinquen". Flores had problems with the music publishing company and he abandoned the trio. He moved to Mexico and then lived in Cuba
for a short period of time. Flores eventually returned to New York where he reorganized his "old" trio. Some of the singers of this new trio were Myrta Silva
, Daniel Santos
and Pedro Ortiz Davila
"Davilita".
Among those who have performed his songs are: Beny More, Los Panchos
, Celia Cruz
, and Maria Luisa Landin. A 1996 television special honoring his work features versions by many Puerto Rican and international artists, such as Ednita Nazario
, Marc Anthony
, Yolandita Monge
and Shakira
.
on July 14, 1979 and is buried in Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery
located in Old San Juan
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
's best known composers of Ballads and Bolero
Bolero
Bolero is a form of slow-tempo Latin music and its associated dance and song. There are Spanish and Cuban forms which are both significant and which have separate origins.The term is also used for some art music...
s.
Early years
Flores (birth name: Pedro Juan Flores Córdova) was one of 12 children born into a poor family in the town of Naguabo, Puerto RicoNagüabo, Puerto Rico
Naguabo is a municipality in Puerto Rico located in the east coast of the island, north of Humacao; south of Río Grande and Ceiba; and east of Las Piedras. Naguabo is spread over 8 wards and Naguabo Pueblo...
. Flores' father died when he was only nine years old and therefore, he was forced to work at a young age. When he was 16 years old, he took a special course in the University of Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
(Universidad de Puerto Rico) and received his teachers certificate. Flores taught for five years and worked for one year at a sugar mill in the island of Vieques. In 1918, he served in a clerical position in the U.S. Army. He was honorably discharged from the Army when he was 24 years old.
Trio Borinquen
In 1926, Flores went to New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
without any formal musical education and joined another Puerto Rican
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
composer, Rafael Hernández in his "Trio Borinquen". Even though Flores and Hernandez became very good friends, they also became competitors as composers. When Flores wrote "Sin Banderas", Hernandez rushed and wrote "Preciosa".
In 1930, Flores formed his own trio which he named "Trio Galon", and whose music and songs had a faster beat then the "Trio Borinquen". Flores had problems with the music publishing company and he abandoned the trio. He moved to Mexico and then lived in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
for a short period of time. Flores eventually returned to New York where he reorganized his "old" trio. Some of the singers of this new trio were Myrta Silva
Myrta Silva
Myrta Silva was a Puerto Rican singer, composer and television producer. She was known affectionately as "La Gorda De Oro".-Early years:...
, Daniel Santos
Daniel Santos (singer)
Daniel Santos was a singer and composer of boleros, and an overall performer of multiple Caribbean music genres, including guaracha, plena and rumba...
and Pedro Ortiz Davila
Pedro Ortiz Davila
Pedro Ortiz Davila a.k.a. "Davilita" was a popular singer of boleros and Puerto Rican patriotic songs.-Early years:...
"Davilita".
Musical compositions
Some of the songs written by Flores were: "Amor Perdido" (Lost Love), "Bajo un Palmar" (Under the Palm Tree), "Borracho no Vale" (which may translate to "Drunk Doesn't Count" or "Doesn't Count If You're Drunk"), "Linda", "Sin Banderas" (Without a Flag), "Despedida" (Farewell) and "Perdon" (I'm Sorry).Among those who have performed his songs are: Beny More, Los Panchos
Los Panchos
Los Panchos was an internationally famous Latin pop trio known for its romantic ballads and boleros.-History:...
, Celia Cruz
Celia Cruz
Celia Cruz was a Cuban-American salsa singer, and was one of the most successful Salsa performers of the 20th century, having earned twenty-three gold albums...
, and Maria Luisa Landin. A 1996 television special honoring his work features versions by many Puerto Rican and international artists, such as Ednita Nazario
Ednita Nazario
Ednita Nazario is a Puerto Rican singer and songwriter who has achieved stardom both at home and abroad. She has been in the music business from a young age, and has released over twenty albums throughout her career....
, Marc Anthony
Marc Anthony
Marc Anthony is an American singer-songwriter, actor and producer. Anthony is the top selling tropical salsa artist of all time. The two-time Grammy and three-time Latin Grammy–winner has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. He is best known for his Latin salsa numbers and ballads...
, Yolandita Monge
Yolandita Monge
Yolandita Monge is an international singer and actress from Puerto Rico and the first Puerto Rican female singer to be nominated to the Grammy Music Awards. She is also Puerto Rico's highest selling female artist. She has been in the music business since adolescence, and has recorded over thirty...
and Shakira
Shakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
.
Later years
Pedro Flores died in San Juan, Puerto RicoSan 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...
on July 14, 1979 and is buried in Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery
Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery
Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery is a colonial-era cemetery located in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is the final resting place of many of Puerto Rico's most prominent natives and residents. Construction began in 1863 under the auspices of Ignacio Mascaro. The cemetery is located outside...
located in Old San Juan
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- List of Puerto Rican songwriters