Parang legend Henry Pereira dies

The National Parang Association offers its condolences to the wife, family, and members of the band, Los Reyes (previously Los Muchachos del Agua), on the death of parang stalwart and legend Henry Pereira.

Pereira died on September 25 after a long illness. He was 76. He was buried on September 29, after a service at St Anthony’s RC Church in Tabaquite.

Pereira was fondly known as the Spanish teacher from Tabaquite. He started his teaching career at Rio Claro Government Secondary School and later, he taught at the only secondary school in the area, Tabaquite Composite, a media release said.

As a parrandero, he was a guitarist and lead singer of both Los Muchachos del Agua and Los Reyes.

His parang career began with Los Muchachos del Agua in 1973, when he started as guitarist for the band. But his voice took prominence when on one occasion, the original lead singer did not show up and he was asked to do the solo. His performance won him a prize for best lead singer.

He went on to win this title numerous times and recorded well-known parang songs such as Parranda Fina, En El Corazon del Hombre, Andamos Buscando, Soca Sereno and Canta Noel.

Pereira was one of the country's top composers of parang music a skill he passed on to many young parranderos, the release said.

President of the National Parang Association Alicia Jaggasar expressed sadness on his passing.

“Mr Pereira will be missed. Many parang bands play his music and his contribution to the artform would live in the hearts of all parranderos and parang lovers forever,” she said.