July 4, 2022, 8:05 PM
July 4, 2022, 8:05 PM
This Monday, July 4, the singer-songwriter from Beni, José Luis ‘Pepe’ Maese Vaca, died in the city of Trinidad. member of the famous group Los Taitas and composer of emblematic songs such as Yo soy el Beni, señores and Virgen de Loreto, among others.
Maese Vaca was born in Trinidad on December 17, 1944. He studied at the Pedro Domingo Murillo Industrial School in the city of La Paz, in the 1960s, and concluded his studies in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
He was a member of the most important musical groups in Beni, including Los Trinitarios, Los Macheteros, Los Carlos, but it was with Los Taitas that he achieved greater popularity.
As a composer he has dozens of songs that are fundamental to the oriental songbook, but without a doubt, the most popular of all is I am the Beni, gentlemen.
During his artistic career he obtained different prizes and distinctions. With Los Taitas received the nomination of heritage of Beni, in addition to the gold medal at the Latin American Festival of Salta (1971) and he was named favorite son of the city of Trinidad.
In 2020, the Chamber of Senators of Bolivia recognized the singer-songwriter and composer “for his contribution to musical art and contribution to the development of Bolivian cultural identity, especially in the department of Beni.”
Maese also served as Senior Official of Culture, during the administration of Mayor Moises Shriqui, from where he promoted the recording of musical records and the printing of books by local authors, in addition to regional culture.
According to the portal JC Noticias Trinidad, The mortal remains of the musician are veiled at his home, located in the Chaparral neighborhood of the capital of Beni.
In this video the group Mamoré interprets I am the Beni, gentlemen, by Maese Vaca
