July 14, 2022, 5:15 PM
July 14, 2022, 5:15 PM
Bolivian music is in mourning and it is that the composer and performer Edgar ‘Yayo’ Joffré passed away this Tuesday, July 12, in Geneva, Switzerland, at the age of 85. The member of the mythical group Los Jairas lived abroad for decades, but without forgetting his beloved Bolivia.
His son, Luis Joffré, confirmed to El Deber that his father’s remains will be buried in Switzerland, since two of his brothers are also buried there. “He always told us that he wanted to come to Bolivia to rest, but there are very complicated procedures to transfer his body. In addition, the remains of my deceased wife and brothers are found there, so we decided that he be buried in that country, ”he reported.
On Tuesday, July 19, the day he will be buried in Geneva, a mass will be held in the Metropolitan Cathedral of the city of La Paz. “We want your musician friends to be able to perform some songs at mass,” said Luis Joffré.
The singer’s son commented that for now no one can go to Switzerland because of the visa issue which is very complicated to process, which is why they will pay tribute in the country.
hard blow to the family
The son of the Los Jairas musician confessed that the news was a severe blow to the family who did not believe what had happened. “We post the news on networks because we know that my dad had many friends and people who followed him; yesterday was very hard, today we are a little calmer”, said Joffré.
Without a doubt, he will not only leave a great legacy to his children, but to Bolivia as a whole for a remarkable musical career. in which he stood out as a composer, performer and manager of the famous Peña Naira de La Paz, which in the mid-1960s was the nerve center of national folklorists and the first folk club in the country.
It was during those boom years of the Peña Naira that Matilde Casazola met and became friends with Yayo Joffré. Upon learning of her death, he said not having words to express the pain he feels for the death of his great friend. “I met him at the time of 66, I have beautiful memories of him and his spectacular voice. From here I send my thanks to Yayo for leaving us those songs that remain in my heart”, said the poetess and composer of “Back”.
Yayo Joffré was a member of Los Jairas since its creation in 1966, together with Julio Godoy (guitar), Ernesto Cavour (charango) and Gilbert Favre (quena). The missing musician was one of its main composers, in addition to playing percussion, panpipes and being the main voice.
The group, which would later integrate Alfredo Domínguez, obtained important recognition inside and outside the country. De that time are remembered themes composed by Joffré that are already classics of Bolivian folklore, such as “Forget about me” (taquirari), “I remember” (huayño), “My mother’s tears” (yaraví), among others.
“My brothers and nephews stay with my father’s inheritance and they play some musical instrument and they love music “, commented Luis Joffré when remembering his legacy.
Los Jairas in an image from 1967. Joffré is second from left to right
