Aldemaro Romero
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Aldemaro Romero
- Genres: Latin
Biography
Pianist and composer Aldemaro Romero is widely cited as the innovator behind his native Venezuela's onda nueva (i.e., "new wave"), which updated the traditional joropo style via rhythms inspired by bossa nova. Born in Valencia on March 12, 1928, Romero began his musical training under the supervision of his father, Rafael, a professional pianist -- by age nine, he was a fixture of Venezuelan radio, and at 13 relocated to Caracas, playing with local orchestras and moonlighting in nightclubs. After touring Cuba in 1949, Romero made his U.S. debut in New York City before returning home to found his own dance orchestra. In 1955 he signed to RCA Victor to record the smash Dinner in Caracas, which proved one of the best-selling albums in the history of the South American charts -- the first in a series of Dinner In... titles, its orchestral reinvention of traditional Venezuelan folk melodies proved an international hit as well as a creative turning point in the history of Latin American jazz.During his RCA tenure, Romero also lent his skills as an arranger and conductor to acts ranging from Dean Martin to Jerry Lee Lewis to Stan Kenton, and in 1974 he teamed with jazz guitar great Charlie Byrd to co-headline the cult favorite The New Wave. In 1969 Romero was awarded the Moscow Cinema Festival's Peace Prize of the Soviet Intellectuals for his score for the motion picture epic Simón Bolivar. A decade later he founded the Caracas Philharmonic Orchestra, additionally serving as its first conductor -- during the course of his career, he also conducted the London Symphony Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. After a lengthy digestive illness, Romero died in Caracas on September 15, 2007. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi
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Aldemaro Romero
| Aldemaro Romero | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Maestro Aldemaro Romero Al Romero |
| Born | March 12, 1928 Valencia, Venezuela |
| Died | September 15, 2007 (aged 79) Caracas, Venezuela |
| Genres | Venezuelan popular music, Jazz, Classical, New Wave |
| Occupations | musician, pianist, composer |
| Instruments | piano |
| Years active | 1937–2007 |
| Notable instruments | |
| Guitar | |
Aldemaro Romero (March 12, 1928 – September 15, 2007) was a Venezuelan pianist, composer, arranger and orchestral conductor. He was born in Valencia, Carabobo State.
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Biography
Romero was a prolific composer, creating a wide range of music, such as Caribbean, Jazz, Venezuelan waltzes, including works for orchestra, orchestra and soloist, orchestra and choir, chamber music, up to symphonic works of great dimensions. He began his musical studies with his father, Rafael Romero. In 1941 he moved to Caracas and worked as pianist in nocturnal saloons and dance orchestras. In 1949 he toured in Cuba, and then went to New York. In 1952 he returned to Caracas and established his own dance orchestra. In 1951 Romero signed contract with RCA Victor to record with a full orchestra, what was to be a very successful album in the "Dinner In..." series, featuring popular Latin American music. Under the RCA label he published his LP Dinner in Caracas, with which beat all sales records in South America until then. Afterwards, recorded numerous LP albums in different countries. In America, his ability as arranger/conductor led him to collaborate with popular orchestras and singers, such as Dean Martin, Jerry Lee Lewis, Stan Kenton, Machito and Tito Puente, among others. He also toured extensively, performing in numerous countries: Mexico, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, France, Greece, Switzerland, Sweden, Italy, Russia, Egypt and Japan.
Romero was the creator of a new form of Venezuelan music, known as "New Wave" (Onda Nueva), derived from the joropo and influenced by Brazilian Bossa Nova. He also had an important role in the field of learned music. In 1979 Romero founded the Caracas Philharmonic Orchestra, of which he was the first Conductor. He also conducted the London Symphony Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Romanian Radio/TV and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He was the father of Aldemaro Romero, Jr., who is a renowned biologist in the United States and a leader in Cave fish and Marine Mammal research and Ruby Romero de Issaev, producer and marketing director for Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida in Miami. Aldemaro Romero had three granddaughters and one grandson, Patricia Laine Romero, Jessica Romero Mayayo, Andrea Romero Mayayo y Ruben Laine Romero.
Awards
In 1969 Romero received the Peace Prize of the Soviet Intellectuals, in the Moscow Cinema Festival for his soundtrack music for the Simón Bolivar epic film. He also obtained the first prize as composer and conductor at Majorca Palms Festival, the Olympic Games Musical Festival in Greece; and in the Latin Song Festival of Mexico. For his extensive work, he received numerous recognitions in his country, being awarded with the Andrés Bello, Diego de Losada, Francisco de Miranda and the Work Merit orders, all in their first class, granted by the Venezuelan Government to political, artistic and social outstanding individuals. Then, in 2000 he obtained the National Music Prize, and in 2006 honoris causa degrees from the University of Carabobo and Lisandro Alvarado University of Barquisimeto.
Aldemaro Romero died in Caracas on September 15, 2007, at the age of 79.
See also
External links
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Mentioned in
Lo Esencial de la Musica Tropical
(2002 Album by Various Artists)
Cuba Libre [RCA International]
(2002 Album by Various Artists)
Mambos
(1955 Album by Various Artists)
Aldemaro Romero
(Latin Artist, '90s)
Fiesta
(Classical Album)
» More