Ñico Lora Explained

Francisco Antonio Lora Cabrera (1881 in Maizal, Santiago^[1] – 1971 in Bisonó (Navarrete)^[2]) popularly known as Ñico Lora was a folk musician from the Dominican Republic. He is considered one of the fathers of merengue.^[3]

Early life

His grandfather, Félix Lunnaux, was a soldier that came with Charles Leclerc’s expedition in 1802.^[4] Was great-uncle of Francisco Antonio Lora Ramirez.

When he was a child, he learned how to play the button accordion.

Career

Though he was not educated in music theory, he reached a high level of success for his endeavors. His most important songs were San Antonio, Tingo Talango, Eres La Mujer Más Bella, Pedrito Chávez and San Francisco. These songs still stand in time as an essential part of the musical roots of the Dominican people.

He was a great supplier of anonymous melodies that are kept like a cultural good of the Dominican nation.^[5]

Death and legacy

Ñico Lora died on April 9, 1971 in the town of Bisonó (Navarrete), where there is a plaza called "La Plaza de la Cultura Ñico Lora" which was built in 1997 to honor his achievements and contributions to Dominican music.^[6] A statue in his memory was raised in Santiago in 2007.^[1]

Further reading

• "Los cien músicos del siglo", (published in 2000 by "Cañabrava", in Santo Domingo and written by "Antonio Gómez Sotolongo") in Spanish.
• Biografia de Ñico Lora

Notes and References

1. Book: Sydney Hutchinson. Merengue Tipico in Transnational Dominican Communities: Gender, Geography, Migration and Memory in a Traditional Music. 12 May 2013. 2008. ProQuest. 978-0-549-81936-3. 232–.
2. Book: Enciclopedia Dominicana. 12 May 2013. 1978. Enciclopédia Dominicana.
3. Book: Darío Tejeda. Rafael Emilio Yunén. El Merengue en la Cultura Dominicana y Del Caribe: Memorias Del Primer Congreso Internacional "Música, Identidad y Cultura en el Caribe". 12 May 2013. 2006. Centro León. 978-9945-8519-7-7. 70. - El padre del merengue no sería Juan Bautista Alfonseca, sino Ñico Lora
4. News: Edwin Rafael. Espinal Hernández. Los descendientes de la flota de Leclerc. Cápsulas Genealógicas. Instituto Dominicano de Genealogía. 3 December 2005. 26 December 2014.
5. http://desdesantiago.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/celebridades-de-santiago/ Celebridades de Santiago
6. Book: Sarah Cameron. Caribbean Islands Handbook 2000: with the Bahamas. 12 May 2013. 1 November 1999. Footprint Handbooks. 978-0-8442-4629-1.