Efraín Loyola
Cuban flautist from Cienfuegos, one of the oldest active flautists in the world.
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Efraín Loyola (December 18, 1916 – April 1, 2011) was a Cuban flautist from Cienfuegos. He had the distinction of being one of the oldest active flautists in the world, with a career that spanned over seven decades.
For a period, he was a captain in the Cuban militia and fought in the War against the Bandits. Loyola worked as a shoeshine boy and a baker to make a living while learning and playing flute. His earliest work included playing with the hundred-year-old Banda Municipal de Conciertos of Cienfuegos, which he started with in 1937.
Quick Facts
- Born
- December 18, 1916
- Died
- April 1, 2011
- Place of birth
- Cienfuegos, Cuba
- Occupation
- Flautist
- Years active
- Over 7 decades
- Military rank
- Captain in the Cuban militia
Facts from the source article.
Awards and merits
Loyola was given almost 150 acknowledgments and awards in his lifetime. These included: 'Worthy Member of the Writers and Artists Association of Cuba (UNEAC)', 'Distinguished Son of Cienfuegos City', 'The Jagua Award', and the order of Jesús Menéndez, granted by the Cuban Workers' Organization. He was often seen in elegant suits and with a walking stick on the main streets of Cienfuegos, with his hair straightened in the 1950s style.
He was a Danzón fan and admirer of Miguelito Cuní, and was considered an authority on Cuban musical history. Loyola led his band regularly up until his death. He was buried in the local cemetery of his home town of Cienfuegos by friends, family and admirers.
Did You Know?
- Loyola played a 'Celeste' flute, named after Cuban flautist and luthier Celestino Dias Flores.
- His son, José Loyola, is the current director of the band Charanga de Oro.
- Loyola appeared on dozens of Orquesta Aragón records.
More in People from Cienfuegos
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Efraín Loyola (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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