Ricardo Aguirre

Infobox musical artist
Name = PAGENAME


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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name =
Alias = "El Monumental"
Born = birth date|1939|5|9|mf=y
Maracaibo, Venezuela
Died = death date and age|1969|11|8|1939|5|9
Maracaibo, Venezuela
Instrument =
Genre = Gaita Zuliana
Occupation = Musician, singer, composer, director
Years_active = 1958 - 1969
Label =
Associated_acts = "Cardenales del Éxito
Saladillo"
URL =

Ricardo José Aguirre González, was born in Maracaibo, May 9, 1939 and died in the same city, November 8, 1969. Teacher of primary education (Gervasio Rubio national normal school, Táchira 1959), radio announcer (1962) and musician (singer, cuatro executant, composer and director). He was dentified with his people, expressed in the protest songs, with a unique and unmistakable voice, that worth the name to him of the "Monumental" of the Gaita, baptized by the gaitero critic "Dr" "Octavio Urdaneta".

Life and career

Graduated as teacher at the age of 19, began in "Bachaquero" during two years in the "Rafael Urdaneta" school, when he returns to Maracaibo works in the "Monseñor Francisco A. Granadillo de Monteclaro" school, where he made the music of the anthem of that school with the lyrics of "Jorge Samper", at the same time he evolves like radio announcer of the "La voz de la fe" Broadcasting. In the "gaitero" atmosphere, began for being director of the gaita group "Los Sabrosos", (with this group he act occasionally), and with "Santa Canoíta".

In 1962 enters with his brothers Rixio, Renato and Alves to the Cardenales del Éxito, shortly after the division of the group, where he proposed to add the word "Éxito" (Success) to the name "Cardenales". He recorded the first gaitas in 1963: "Golpe Tradicional" of Rixio Aguirre, "Gaita, Gaita" of Pedro Colina and "Gaitas Tradicionales" of Luis Ferrer and Rixio Aguirre. With this group he has many successful songs, like: "La Parrandera, La Bullanguera, Vieja y Famosa, Madre, Los Piropos, Mi Danza, La Gaita del 65, Reina Morena, Mi Chinata, Imploración" and "La Boda del cachicamo".

In 1967, by differences between the members of Cardenales del Éxito, Ricardo Aguirre went to the gaita group Saladillo, with them he recorded: "El Indolente, Ronda Antañona, La Cantarina, La Flor de la Habana" (1 and 2), "Dos Madres Antañonas", and "La Grey Zuliana" (1968), in this, according to "Arnoldo Hernandez Oquendo", the music and the intro of the gaita belong to Ricardo Aguirre, but the lyrics to "Marcial Valbuena", in addition was introduced to this song for the first time in a gaita a Bass guitar. This gaita has been baptized like the anthem of the "gaita zuliana" by its great projection.

In 1969 is designated like regional supervisor of education for the districts "Mara" and "Páez". He returns to Cardenales del Éxito where he recorded "Decreto Papal, La Vivarachera" and "Maracaibo Marginada". Also he was interpreter of: "Poema Gaitero, Gaitoneando", "Soberbia Gaitera, La Pica Pica, Gloria de un Parrandón" and "Remembranzas 2".

Legacy and death

Between his compositions they emphasize: "La Grey Zuliana, La Pica Pica, Gloria de un Parrandón, Poema Gaitero, El Billeterito, Maracaibo Marginada, Remembranzas 2, Dos Madres Antañonas" (with Jairo Gil), among others. Authentic patrimony of Zulia, he is always present by his powerful voice. On November 4, 1983 the Governor of the Zulia State, "Humberto Fernandez Auvert", promulgated the decree where is officially declared the November 8 like day of the "Gaitero" in memory of that date when Ricardo Aguirre dies in a car accident.

See also

*Venezuela
*Gaita Zuliana
*Venezuelan music