Carlos Rubira Infante (1921 - 2018) was an Ecuadorian musician and composer who stood out for making known the traditional rhythms of the South American nation, especially the corridor and the parade.
Throughout his career, he received distinctions for his cultural work and the contributions he generated through it. The most recent, his entry into the Latin American Composers Hall of Fame, could not be withdrawn by Rubira Infante himself, who had passed away by the time the ceremony was held.
Carlos Rubira Infante
From the age of 15 he was immersed in artistic life, in which he quickly stood out. He made friends with other musicians such as Gonzalo Vera Santos. Similarly, Rubira Infante supported young artists such as Julio Jaramillo and Olimpo Cárdenas at some point.
Despite being from Guayaquil, he spread the love and uniform knowledge of the Ecuadorian territory in his compositions. Thus he left behind any hint of regionalism that might be in his work.
He wrote more than 400 songs during his career as a musician. In them he walked through different genres, always highlighting the traditional ones from Ecuador. He also served as a teacher to promote this taste among new talents.
Biography
Early years
Carlos Aurelio Rubira Infante was born on September 16, 1921, in the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador. The musician and composer was the son of Don Obdulio Rubira together with Mrs. Amarilis Infante.
He received the first letters at the school of the Guayas Philanthropic Society, from there he went to the Society of Lovers of Progress, although he could not finish his secondary studies to become a bachelor because the death of his father forced him to work to collaborate with the support of the family home.
Since then, he had to accept the most diverse occupations. Rubira Infante worked as a worker, iceman, fireman, salesman and many other trades. Also, for 36 years, he was an employee of the Guayaquil National Post Office, from where he retired as a postman.
Musical beginnings
At the age of 15, without having received formal studies in the field, Rubira Infante ventured into the world of music together with her cousin Pepe Dresner. Guitar in hand and playing Mexican rhythms, they earned the nickname “Los Mariachis”.
First, they both sang at family gatherings and later, after the death of Rubira Infante's father, they began to sing to earn money. That was not to the liking of young Carlos's mother, who one night saw fit to let him sleep on the street.
Reconciliation came from the hand of the first song written by Carlos Rubira Infante. He named this composition "Forgive me, Mother."
Race
Carlos Rubira Infante began to make a name for himself on the music scene by appearing on a program called “La hora Agricultura”. Then he formed a duet with Gonzalo Vera. He also joined Olimpo Cárdenas in Los Porteños and is said to have been the teacher of the Jaramillo Laurido.
He was a music teacher at the Nicasio Safadi Hall School. Rubira Infante also chaired the Association of Artists of Guayas and was vice president of the Society of Authors and Composers of Ecuador.
He made compositions in the most diverse musical genres, but always carried the traditions of his beloved Ecuador high.
Death
Antonio Rubira Infante died on September 14, 2018 in Guayaquil, the same city that saw him born 96 years earlier. The Ecuadorian musician had been hospitalized for more than a month in the hospital of the Ecuadorian Social Security Institute.
A burning chapel was held in the Municipality of Guayaquil in honor of the artist and personalities such as the president of Ecuador, Lenin Moreno, lamented the death of the musician who with his work contributed so much to the culture of the country.
Together with his wife, Fanny Gómez Espinoza had five children: Alba, Juan, Gilda, Pedro and Carlos. Fanny died three years before the musician, in March 2015.
Musical style
Carlos Rubira Infante stood out in multiple musical genres. However, he dedicated himself especially to making known the traditional rhythms of Ecuador such as the corridor and the parade.
Despite this, Rubira Infante composed and performed songs in other styles such as the waltz, albazos, typical airs and more.
He wrote equally to all Ecuadorian provinces, since Rubira Infante did not stop at regionalisms that limited him to his native Guayaquil. That made his work uniformly recognized in Ecuadorian territory.
He composed more than 400 musical themes and among them were great hits that became classics of Ecuador.
Awards and honors
- 1950 - First Prize Improvisation, Chile.
- 1978 - Folklorist of America, Bogotá, Colombia.
- 1988 - Tribute in "Fiesta del Pasillo" on Radio Tarqui in Quito.
- 2000 - Dr. Vicente Rocafuerte Musical Merit Award, by the National Congress of Ecuador.
- 2008 - Eugenio Espejo National Award, by the National Government of Ecuador.
- 2009 - The State University of Guayaquil awarded him the Doctorate Honoris Causa.
- 2014 - The festival El Alma, full of music, was created. The Carlos Rubira Infante award will be received by the winner.
- 2018 - He was inducted into the Hall of Fame for Latin Composers in Miami, United States.
The Municipal Theater of the city of Santa Elena also has his name. Rubira Infante himself stated in 2003 that he had a large number of medals, more than 700 diplomas and many other honors.
songs
Carlos Rubira Infante, was a composer of more than 400 songs during his career, among the most successful are:
- Guayaquileño warrior wood.
- Guayaquil portico of gold.
- Ambato land of flowers.
- Wife.
- In the distance.
- Nice miracle.
- The best of my land.
- The Messenger Condor.
- My little beach.
- My first love.
- I want to see you mother.
- Stay calm.
- Then.
- Love story.
- To the ear.
- Keep calm love.
- Since you left.
- In the distance.
- Why (corridors).
- The postman.
- Pretty girl.
- Come meet El Oro (parade).
- The christening (albazo).
- Piece of bandit (typical air).
References
- En.wikipedia.org. (2018). Carlos Rubira Infante. Available at: en.wikipedia.org.
- Avilés Pino, E. (2018). Rubira Infante Carlos - Historical Characters - Encyclopedia Del Ecuador. Encyclopedia Of Ecuador. Available at: encyclopediadelecuador.com.
- Roiz, J. (2018). Gloria Trevi & Chucho Valdes Among 2018 Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame Honorees. Billboard. Available at: billboard.com.
- García, F. (2018). Carlos Aurelio Rubira Infante was born to sing to Ecuador. Trade. Available at: elcomercio.com.
- Trade. (2018). The Ecuadorian composer Carlos Rubira Infante passed away. Available at: elcomercio.com.
- Cortés, C. (2018). At 60 years of 'Guayaquileño madera de guerrero' - DEC. 15, 2003 - Music - Historical - THE UNIVERSE. Eluniverso.com. Available at: eluniverso.com.
- The universe. (2018). Carlos Rubira Infante's family will receive the singer-songwriter's award in Miami. Available ateluniverso.com.