What you didn’t know about Petronio Álvarez.
News Colombia.
Patricio Romano Petronio Álvarez, known as the “King of Currulao”, was a Colombian poet and composer who left an indelible mark on the music and culture of the Pacific.
Born on October 30, 1914 in Buenaventura, Álvarez traveled along the Pacific coast aboard the Pacific Railroad, where he worked as an engineer, following in his father’s footsteps.
This work allowed him to closely experience the cultural and natural wealth of the region, which became the source of inspiration for his compositions.
«An exponent of Pacific music»
Although he never studied music formally nor was he linked to a record label, Petronio is recognized as one of the greatest exponents of Pacific music.
Since childhood, under the influence of his mother, a poetess from Chocó, and his father, who was also a musician, he developed a unique ability to tell stories through verses and songs. His talent for improvisation made him an eloquent troubadour and a reference in popular music.
Among his most notable compositions is “Mi Buenaventura”, a song he composed in 1931 that has become an unofficial anthem of the port where he was born.
His work also includes bambucos, merengues, huapangos, abozaos and jungas, as well as tangos, which earned him the nickname “El Gardel del Puerto.”
Petronio Álvarez not only sang about the landscape and nature, but also about the identity and pride of the black race. In songs such as “Roberto Cuero” and “Bochinche en el cielo” he captured Afro-Colombian traditions and customs, highlighting the African influence on Pacific culture.
Petronio Álvarez died on December 10, 1966 in Cali due to bone cancer. However, his legacy lives on, and in 1997 the Petronio Álvarez Festival was created in his honor. This event, which celebrates the ethnic, cultural and musical diversity of the Pacific, is today one of the most important in Colombia and Latin America.
Before his death, Petronio wrote his last song, “Despedida”, dedicated once again to his beloved Buenaventura, thus closing a cycle of profound love for his land and his people.
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