Antonio Aguilar
| Antonio Aguilar | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | José Pascual Antonio Aguilar Márquez-Barraza |
| Also known as | "El Charro de México" |
| Born | May 17, 1919 Villanueva, Zacatecas, Mexico |
| Died | June 19, 2007 (aged 88) Mexico City, Mexico |
| Genres | Ranchera, corrido, banda |
| Occupations | Singer-songwriter, actor, film producer, screenwriter |
| Years active | 1952–1993 |
| Labels | Musart |
| Associated acts | Flor Silvestre, Lola Beltrán, Amalia Mendoza |
| Website | antonioaguilaroficial.com |
José Pascual Antonio Aguilar Márquez-Barraza[1] (May 17, 1919 – June 19, 2007), most commonly known as Antonio Aguilar, nicknamed "El Charro de México", was a Mexican singer-songwriter, actor, film producer, and screenwriter.
During his career, he made over 150 albums, which sold 25 million copies, and made 167 movies.[2] Aguilar was best known for singing traditional Mexican folk songs (rancheras) and ballads (corridos) as well for his participation in rural-themed films concerning the rural themes, often about the Mexican Revolution. He won the Premio ACE for Best Actor for his eponymous role in the epic film, Emiliano Zapata (1970).[3] Aguilar was also awarded with the Special Golden Ariel in 1997 for his invaluable contribution and spreading of Mexican cinema.[3]
Aguilar married Flor Silvestre, a popular singer and actress, in 1959. They had two sons, Antonio Aguilar Jr. and Pepe Aguilar, who also ventured into the film and music industries. Collectively, Aguilar's family is known as "La Dinastía Aguilar" (The Aguilar Dynasty).
Contents |
Early life [edit]
Aguilar was born in the provincial town of Villanueva in the state of Zacatecas.[1] His parents were Jesús Aguilar Aguilar,[1] a native of Tayahua, and Ángela Márquez Barraza Valle,[1] a Colombian of Ocaña.[4] Aguilar's paternal grandparents were Tomás G. Aguilar and María Guadalupe Aguilar, and his maternal grandparents were Luis Márquez Barraza and Justa Valle.[1]
He spent his early childhood in "La Casa Grande de Tayahua", an hacienda first built in 1596 in the town of Tayahua, about 35 km from Villanueva. Aguilar's ancestors acquired this property in the early 19th century.[4]
Acting career [edit]
Aguilar began his acting career in 1952 during the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. He is credited with popularising la charrería, considered to have originated in Mexico, to international audiences.[2]
Antonio Aguilar was the first Mexican performer to mix rodeos and concerts while touring his show in Latin America and the United States.[5] He made 167 movies and has been compared to American actors like Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, and Ronald Reagan.
In the 1950s, Aguilar was cast in a series of films centered on rural hero "Mauricio Rosales" in El rayo justiciero (1955), La barranca de muerte (1955), La sierra del terror (1956), La huella del chacal (1956), La pantera negra (1957), La guarida del buitre (1958), and Los muertos no hablan (1958). A total of seven low-budget ranchera films produced by Rosas Films S.A.
Aguilar gained cinematic notice when cast in Ismael Rodríguez's Tierra de hombres in 1956. Other collaborations with Rodríguez include La Cucaracha (1959) and Ánimas Trujano (1962), where he received starring roles. Amongst his best ranchera films are Yo... el aventurero (1959), Caballo prieto azabache (1968) El ojo de vidrio (1969), and Valente Quintero (1973). Aguilar appeared in American western films like 1969's The Undefeated starring John Wayne.[2] He also made a memorable starring role alongside Flor Silvestre in Triste recuerdo (1991).
For contributions to the recording industry, Antonio Aguilar Barraza was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7056 Hollywood Boulevard.[6] He was similarly honored with his handprints and star on the Paseo de las Luminarias in Mexico City for his work in movies and in the recording industry.
Musical career [edit]
Antonio Aguilar began his recording career in 1950, eventually making over 150 albums and selling more than 25 million records. He was known for his corridos with some of his best known songs, including "Gabino Barrera", "Caballo Prieto Azabache", "Albur de Amor", and "Un Puño De Tierra".[2] Antonio was also largely responsible for the renewed popularity of the tambora music in the mid-1980s, when he single-handedly resuscitated the genre with the hit "Triste Recuerdo". To this day he has been the only Hispanic artist to sell out the Madison Square Garden of New York City for six consecutive nights on 1997.[7][8]
Family [edit]
Ángela and Jesús, Antonio's parents, had six other children: José Roque, Salvador (dec.), Guadalupe (dec.), Luis Tomás (dec.), Mariano (dec.) and Josefina. Aguilar was married to actress Flor Silvestre (born Guillermina Jiménez Chagoya), and one of their children, José "Pepe" Aguilar, is among Mexico's most popular modern singers. In addition to Pepe Aguilar, he had another child with Flor Silvestre who is the eldest, Antonio Aguilar, Jr. Aguilar's grandchildren include Emiliano, Aneliz, Leonardo, and Ángela are Pepe Aguilar's children. María José and Flor Susana are Antonio Aguilar Jr's. children.[2]
Death [edit]
On June 18, 2007, Doctors announced that Antonio was no longer responding to treatment and was expected to pass away before the end of the night. On June 19, 2007, the doctor spoke out to the media that Aguilar was still alive, and his body was responding to the medication but was still in critical condition. While there, the family received visits from many famous people including Vicente Fernández.
Aguilar died on June 19, 2007 at 11:45 p.m. from pneumonia. His coffin was carried through the streets of Zacatecas, the state capital, and was honored at a memorial service attended by hundreds at a church there.
His body was then taken to the hamlet of Tayahua, about 100 kilometers (62 mi) to the south, where residents waited in the streets to bid Aguilar a final farewell before he was buried at his family's "El Soyate" ranch nearby, the government news agency Notimex reported.
Obituaries appeared in many newspapers, including Los Angeles Times (US), New York Times (US), Washington Post (US), The Guardian (UK) and The Independent (UK). News of Antonio’s death were reported in newspapers of many Spanish-speaking countries, including Guatemala (El Periodico), Honduras (La Tribuna), El Salvador (El Diario de Hoy), Nicaragua (El Nuevo Diario), Costa Rica (Diario Extra), Venezuela (Correo del Caroní), Peru (Crónica Viva), Colombia (El Tiempo), Ecuador (El Diario) and Chile (El Mercurio).
Discography [edit]
- Toma esta carta (1960s)
- Antonio Aguilar Nº9 (1960)
- Cancionero Toni Aguilar en Discos "Odeón" (1959)
- Antonio Aguilar Nº4, Nº5, Nº6, Nº7, Nº8 (1958)
References [edit]
- ^ a b c d e "Registro Civil de Villanueva: Nacimientos, matrimonios 1913-1936". familysearch.org. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
- ^ a b c d e Billboard "Mariachi Icon Antonio Aguilar Dies At 88" June 20, 2007
- ^ a b "Internet Movie Database - Awards for Antonio Aguilar". Retrieved 7 November 2011.
- ^ a b "Antonio Aguilar, Sitio Oficial". Retrieved 27 August 2011.
- ^ AP via The Guardian, "Mexican Mariachi Singer Dies at 89" June 19, 2007
- ^ "Hollywood Walk of Fame database". HWOF.com.
- ^ "Una Vida de Corrido. Antonio Aguilar". Somos (195 - special issue) (Mexico City: Editorial Televisa, published 1 May 2000). 2000. p. 104
- ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Antonio Aguilar Biography". All Music Guide. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
