Fidel and Raul Honor Portillo de la Luz

HAVANA, May, 7 – Floral tributes by Commander in Chief Fidel Castro, historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, and of Army General Raul Castro, President of the councils of State and Ministers, were present on Monday at the funeral rites held for prominent Cuban composer Cesar Portillo de la Luz.Relatives of the five heroes unfairly condemned in the United States and friends of the musician who died on Saturday in this capital, participated in the guard of honor to one of the most outstanding figures of world song, the National Television Newscast reported.

Also present at the Calzada and K funeral parlor of Havana’s El Vedado neighborhood, where the artist’s ashes were exposed, was the message that Raul sent Portillo de la Luz on the occasion of his 90th birthday, a text that highlights the exceptional work of the composer, singer and guitarist and his contribution to increase the nation’s prestige.

Personalities at the funeral parlor to say goodbye to the great composer agreed that his legacy will last forever.

Portillo de la Luz was one of the creators of “feeling” -a particular way to interpret boleros, strongly influenced by jazz- and stood out for his compositions of exquisite poetics, sense of harmony a

nd rich melodic lines.

Excelling among his compositions are Contigo en la distancia and Tu, mi delirio -the two of them with over 100 versions-, and others like Sabroson, Noche cubana, Realidad y fantasia, and Cancion de un festival.

Nat King Cole, Pedro Infante, Jose Jose, Pedro Vargas, Lucho Gatica, Luis Miguel, Luis Mariano, Cristina Aguilera, Placido Domingo, Caetano Veloso, Maria Bethania and the London Symphony Orchestra were among the most prominent interpreters of his pieces.

 

Source: Radio Rebelde