Antonio Corujo, one of Lanzarote’s most widely respected folk musicians, died yesterday at the age of 92.
Born in San Bartolomé, Antonio Corujo grew up in his father’s barber’s shop, a trade he later practiced himself in Arrecife. But it was the musical tradition of his family that he would represent most fully.
Like his father and grandfather, he was a member of San Bartolomé’s Rancho de Pascua – the folk groups that perform around Christmas and also played in the Ajei folk group and Arrecife’s Parranda de los Buches.
He was known for adapting the poems of Victor Fernández Gopar, the saltmaker from Las Breñas, to music and for playing the laps – limpet shells that are played like castanets.
His children have followed his example, teaching at music schools and creating musical instruments.
Here’s a clip of Don Antionio delighting an audience with a song.
