Antonio Cabán Vale,[note 1] a.k.a. "El Topo" (born November 22, 1942), is a guitarist, singer and composer of Puerto Rican folkloric themes. He is one of the founders of the "new song" movement (Spanish: nueva canción) of the early 1970s.[1] His danza Verde Luz (Green Light) became a popular symbol of national dignity, to the point that it is viewed by many as almost a second national anthem, and has been interpreted by international singers.[2]
Cabán Vale was born and raised in the town of Moca, which is located in the western part of Puerto Rico, where he received his primary and secondary education. After he graduated from high school, he moved to San Juan and in 1961, enrolled at the University of Puerto Rico. During his student years at the university, he became known as "El Topo" and he wrote poems which were published in the university's publication "Guajana". In 1966, Cabán Vale earned his bachelor's degree in Arts and Social Sciences.[3]
Musical careeredit
For two years Cabán Vale earned a living as a public school teacher. In the 1970s, he began to set his poems to music and later founded a band which he named "Taone". He was the lead singer of the band, which performed his compositions. His compositions contained simple verses and created a new style of contemporary folkloric music which became popular in Puerto Rico. His musical style includes the use of those musical instruments which are typically Puerto Rican, such as the cuatro (a Puerto Rican guitar with five double strings) and the güiro. Some of his compositions were popularized in many different versions.[3]
Among the songs which Cabán recorded are the following:
"Flor de Amapola" (Poppy Flower);
"Qué Bonita Luna" (What a Beautiful Moon);
"¿Dónde Vas, María?" (Where Are You Going, Maria?);
"Antonia" (song about Antonia Martínez killed by the police during the 1970 student protest at the University of Puerto Rico);
"Canciones de Amantes" (Lovers' Songs);
"Verde Luz" (Green Light);
"La Patria Va" (The Homeland Counts);
"Un Metro de Ternura" (A Meter of Tenderness)
Authoredit
Cabán Vale has published two books of original poems. The first, entitled Un Lugar Fuera de Tiempo (A Place from Another Time), is based on his experiences as a young man in his hometown of Moca; the second, Penultima Salida (Next-to-Last Exit), deals with his personal quest for "truth".[3]
In 2001, the 6th International Book Fair, celebrated at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, was dedicated to Antonio "El Topo" Cabán Vale.[2]
antonio, cabán, vale, note, topo, born, november, 1942, guitarist, singer, composer, puerto, rican, folkloric, themes, founders, song, movement, spanish, nueva, canción, early, 1970s, danza, verde, green, light, became, popular, symbol, national, dignity, poin. Antonio Caban Vale note 1 a k a El Topo born November 22 1942 is a guitarist singer and composer of Puerto Rican folkloric themes He is one of the founders of the new song movement Spanish nueva cancion of the early 1970s 1 His danza Verde Luz Green Light became a popular symbol of national dignity to the point that it is viewed by many as almost a second national anthem and has been interpreted by international singers 2 Antonio Caban ValeAlso known asEl TopoBorn 1942 11 22 November 22 1942 age 81 OriginMoca Puerto RicoGenresPuerto Rican folkloric themesOccupation s Composer singerInstrument s Guitar Contents 1 Early life 2 Musical career 3 Verde Luz 4 Musical Compositions 5 Author 6 See also 7 Notes 8 ReferencesEarly life editCaban Vale was born and raised in the town of Moca which is located in the western part of Puerto Rico where he received his primary and secondary education After he graduated from high school he moved to San Juan and in 1961 enrolled at the University of Puerto Rico During his student years at the university he became known as El Topo and he wrote poems which were published in the university s publication Guajana In 1966 Caban Vale earned his bachelor s degree in Arts and Social Sciences 3 Musical career editFor two years Caban Vale earned a living as a public school teacher In the 1970s he began to set his poems to music and later founded a band which he named Taone He was the lead singer of the band which performed his compositions His compositions contained simple verses and created a new style of contemporary folkloric music which became popular in Puerto Rico His musical style includes the use of those musical instruments which are typically Puerto Rican such as the cuatro a Puerto Rican guitar with five double strings and the guiro Some of his compositions were popularized in many different versions 3 Verde Luz editOne of Caban Vale s most popular compositions was of the danza genre titled Verde Luz Green Light 3 Verde Luz has been interpreted by the late Argentine singer Ginamaria Hidalgo and Puerto Rican singers Chucho Avellanet Roy Brown Lucecita Benitez Tony Croatto Lou Briel Nano Cabrera Carmen Nydia Velazquez Jose Feliciano Silverio Perez and Dagmar 2 Musical Compositions editExternal audio nbsp You may listen to Luciano Quinones piano interpretation Verde Luz here nbsp and as interpreted on YouTube by Jose FelicianoAmong the songs which Caban recorded are the following Flor de Amapola Poppy Flower Que Bonita Luna What a Beautiful Moon Donde Vas Maria Where Are You Going Maria Antonia song about Antonia Martinez killed by the police during the 1970 student protest at the University of Puerto Rico Canciones de Amantes Lovers Songs Verde Luz Green Light La Patria Va The Homeland Counts Un Metro de Ternura A Meter of Tenderness Author editCaban Vale has published two books of original poems The first entitled Un Lugar Fuera de Tiempo A Place from Another Time is based on his experiences as a young man in his hometown of Moca the second Penultima Salida Next to Last Exit deals with his personal quest for truth 3 In 2001 the 6th International Book Fair celebrated at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan was dedicated to Antonio El Topo Caban Vale 2 See also edit nbsp Puerto Rico portal nbsp Biography portal nbsp Music portalList of Puerto Ricans Puerto Rican SongwritersNotes edit In this Spanish name the first or paternal surname is Caban and the second or maternal family name is Vale References edit Puerto Rico in the American century a history since 1898 a b c Antonio Caban Vale El Topo Fundacion Nacional para la Cultura Popular San Juan Puerto Rico in Spanish 14 April 2014 a b c d Music of Puerto Rico Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Antonio Caban Vale amp oldid 1186083554, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,