Luis Laguna

Luis Laguna (b. Guacara, Carabobo, May, 1st, 1926 - d. Maracay, Aragua state, August 1st, 1984). A Venezuelan composer, guitarist and folklorist, with a style rich in harmonies. Laguna in his early years moved to Maracay where lived until his last days. Laguna a self taught, learned to play guitar and soon joined to pair of friends, Pedro Nogal and Rafael Méndez and their founded "Trío Melodías", later founded a new group with more musisians and singers, named "Los Caníbales". Luis Laguna and Pedro Nogal began to gained notoriety for their compositions based on boleros, bambucos and Venezuelan merengue. His dear friend Nogal passed away in 1970 and Laguna joined to Eliezer Guzmán and founded the Venezuela 4, in this group shared with Carlos Laguna, Carlos Soto and after that joined them Lencho Amaro and Henry Martínez. With Venezuela 4, Luis Laguna got his consagration as composer and director recording several musical productions, including as acomppaniant of vocalists as Jesús Sevillano and Gerardo Suárez. The Laguna's songbook is one of the most appreciated for the venezuelan musicians and folklorists. Laguna was condecorated by the Presidence of Venezuelan Republic in 1974. Source: Encicloedia de la Música en Venezuela. Fundación Bigott