Domingo Cruz

Domingo Cruz ("Cocolía")
Domingo Cruz ('Cocolía'), Former director of the Ponce Municipal Band
Domingo Cruz ('Cocolía'), Former director of the Ponce Municipal Band
Background information
Birth nameDomingo Cruz
Also known asCocolía
Born(1864-07-03)3 July 1864
OriginPonce, Puerto Rico
Died20 October 1934
Alicante, Spain
Genresdanza
Occupation(s)Director of the Ponce Municipal Band, musician

Domingo Cruz (3 July 1864 – 20 October 1934), a.k.a., "Cocolía", was a late 19th-century Puerto Rican musician, and director of the Ponce Firefighters' Band (now the Ponce Municipal Band).[1][2]

Early years

Domingo Cruz was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico on 3 July 1864.[3]

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]

Death

Cocolia died in 1934 in the Province of Alicante, Spain.[7]

Legacy

Main article: Domingo Cruz (Cocolía) (statue)

The city of Ponce recognized his work with a statue. For many years, Cocolia's statue stood in front of the Instituto de Musica Juan Morel Campos, which took over the space previously occupied by 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 Calle Intendente Ramirez, Calle Mayor, and Calle Tricoche streets.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ Ponceños Ilustres. Municipality of Ponce. Archived 4 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ In memory of tropical music great, “Cocolía” Juan A. Hernandez. Puerto Rico Daily Sun. 26 February 2010.
  3. ^ Ponceños Ilustres. Municipality of Ponce. Archived 4 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Luis Fortuño Janeiro. "Album Historico de Ponce (1692–1963)". Page 405. Imprenta Fortuño. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 1963.
  5. ^ Las Retretas. Municipality of Ponce. Archived 17 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Don Domingo Cruz (Cocolia). Museo del Parque de Bombas de Ponce. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 2 March 2011.
  7. ^ Frommer's Walking Tours
  8. ^ In memory of tropical music great, “Cocolía.” Juan A. Hernandez. Puerto Rico Daily Sun. 26 February 2010. Accessed 20 July 2017.
  9. ^ Music. Travel Ponce. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  10. ^ Luis Fortuño Janeiro. "Album Historico de Ponce (1692–1963)". 1963. Pages 97–98. Imprenta Fortuño. Ponce, Puerto Rico.