Domingo Cruz "Cocolia"
| Domingo Cruz ("Cocolía") | |
|---|---|
_statue_in_Ponce,_PR.jpg) Domingo Cruz ('Cocolía'), Director of the Ponce Municipal Band |
|
| Born | 3 July 1864 Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Died | 20 October 1934 Alicante, Spain |
| Nationality | Puerto Rican |
| Occupation | Band director, Musician |
Domingo Cruz ("Cocolía") was a late 19th-century Puerto Rican musician, and director of the Ponce Firefighters’ Band (now the Ponce Municipal Band).[1][2]
Professional career
Cocolía (Spanish for little crab) played the saxhorn with “La Lira Ponceña” orchestra (by 1919 also known as the Ponce Symphony Orchestra[4]) under the baton of Ponce’s renowned composer Juan Morel Campos. Famous for his danceable tunes, Cocolía was also a music teacher and director of the Firefighters’ Band, the Banda Municipal de Ponce. Upon the death of Juan Morel Campos, Cruz became the director of the Ponce Municipal Band.[5] He directed it from 1896 until 1916.[6]
Legacy
The city of Ponce recognized his work with a statue. Cocolia's statue stood for many years in front of the downtown Ponce fire station next to Teatro La Perla.[8] It currently (2012) stands at Plaza Las Delicias.
Cocolia is also recognized at the Park for the Illustrious Ponce Citizens.[9]
In Ponce, there is also a park named after him at the intersection of Intendente Ramirez, Mayor, and Tricoche streets.[10]
References
- ^ Ponceños Ilustres. Municipality of Ponce.
- ^ In memory of tropical music great, “Cocolía” Juan A. Hernandez. Puerto Rico Daily Sun. 26 February 2010.
- ^ Ponceños Ilustres. Municipality of Ponce.
- ^ Luis Fortuño Janeiro. "Album Historico de Ponce (1692-1963)". Page 405. Imprenta Fortuño. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 1963.
- ^ Las Retretas. Municipality of Ponce.
- ^ Don Domingo Cruz (Cocolia). Museo del Paruqe de Bombas de Ponce. Ponce, Puerto Rico. March 2, 2011.
- ^ Frommer's Walking Tours
- ^ In memory of tropical music great, “Cocolía” Puerto Rico Daily Sun. February 26, 2010. By Juan A. Hernandez
- ^ Music. Travel Ponce. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
- ^ Luis Fortuño Janeiro. "Album Historico de Ponce (1692-1963)". 1963. Pages 97-98. Imprenta Fortuño. Ponce, Puerto Rico.
