Luis Alcaraz

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Luis Alcaraz Torrás (born December 5, 1910 in Mexico City , † June 1, 1963 in Matehuala ) was a Mexican composer, pianist and singer.

Life

Alcaraz was the son of the composer Luis Arcaraz y Chopitea , who became known for zarzuelas, operettas and, in old age, also church music. He first studied mechanical engineering, completed pilot training and worked as a radio salesman. In 1932 he presented his first musical revue, Bluff Mata Hari , at the Teatro Iris , followed by other revues such as Juguete de Amor , which alternated with those of Agustín Lara and Gonzalo Curiel .

In 1938 he founded his first orchestra, a big band in the style of Glenn Miller and Harry James . With soloists such as Mario Patrón , Chucho Zarzosa , Tino Contreras , Leo Acosta , Héctor Hallal "El Árabe" and Juan García Esquivel , he toured the USA with his big band. In the 1950s he founded an orchestra with American musicians, with which he recorded four LPs. At the 1956 Jazz Festival in Los Angeles, he performed alternately with Dave Brubeck and Louis Armstrong . In 1959 he settled in Monterrey and founded the night club Cita con Arcaraz , in which he performed himself. In 1961 he returned to Mexico City and joined the Social Club there in 1962 with great success. In the same year he recorded an album with choir and orchestras in the style of Ray Conniff . On June 1, 1963, he was killed in a car accident.

Alcaraz was a very successful and prolific composer. He wrote music for more than twenty films and composed over two hundred songs, including Bonita , Distancia , Viajera , As de corazones rojos , Sortilegio , Prisionero del mar and Quinto patio . He often worked with composers such as Emilio Tuero ( Sombras ), José Antonio Zorrilla Monís ( Bonita ), Ernesto Cortázar ( Prisionero del Mar ) and above all Mario Molina Montes ( Sombra Verde , Viajera , Quinto Patio ). Among the interpreters of his songs were Juan Arvizu , Pedro Vargas , Antonio Badú , Chucho Martínez Gil , Jorge and Fernando Fernández and Germán Valdés (Tin Tán). For Quinto Patio he was awarded the Premio Esparza Oteo , with three songs he won gold records: Quinto Patio , Viajera and Bonita . The Sociedad de Autores y Compositores de México honored him in 2011 with the posthumous Juventino Rosas award .

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personal data
SURNAME Alcaraz, Luis
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Alcaraz Torrás, Luis
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Mexican composer, pianist and singer
DATE OF BIRTH December 5, 1910
PLACE OF BIRTH Mexico city
DATE OF DEATH June 1, 1963
Place of death Matehuala