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GONZALO GODOY

Luis Gonzalo Godoy,

He was born in Sicalpa, Colta, province of Chimborazo, Ecuador, May 15, 1931. Accordionist, organist, chapel master, composer. He belongs to the fourth generation of a famous family of musicians and composers from the Chimborazo province, the Godoys and the Pulgars. A self-taught and precocious musician, he played the harmonium since he was five years old.

He began as a chapel master of the church of Santa Rosa in the city of Riobamba, periodically replacing his grandfather Agustín Godoy Velarde. In Guayaquil, in 1944, he was a chapel master of La Victoria church and a pianist for several radio programs Cenit and Ortiz of Guayaquil. In 1946 he traveled to Colombia where he was a pianist for Radio Pacífico of Cali and several night clubs. In 1949 he returned to Riobamba and in 1950 he held the position of official chapel master of Santa Rosa. He performed as a pianist on several radio programs. Since 1952, as an accordionist, he was a member of the group Los Tíficos Andinos, Los Condorazos, and Los Ángeles del Infierno Orchestra. In 1954, Gonzalo Godoy organized and directed the Youth Ensemble. In 1955, he returned to Guayaquil and joined the musical accompaniment of the Aguayo Huayamabe Duo, and the Castro Brothers Ensemble (Pepe, Juan and Gonzalo Castro Rodríguez). From that year until the seventies, he accompanied the artists of the time in multiple recordings. For instance: Lucho Silva, the Montecel Brothers, the Vera Brothers and other popular musicians. Gonzalo Godoy also frequented the famous “Lagartera”, a place where musicians were hired for serenades.

Since 1957, he worked in Guayaquil with the harpist Gonzalo Castro and the guitarist Pedro Chinga in various programs on Radio Cristal and other stations, and in presentations for tourists on the Grace Line cruises.

From 1956 to 1982, he was a member of the dance orchestras: Falconí Jr. (director Alfonso Falconí), López Brothers (director Nelson López), Tropical Boys (director Leonidas Carrasco), Los 5 Latinos (director Jorge “Peluquín” Jara). He also played with Lucho Negrete, Marianao (Alfonso “Chinchorrín” Romo), and Los Corraleros del Valle (director Douglas Gualpa).

At the beginning of the sixties, he participated as an accordionist in the film Riobamba a Colores (Riobamba in Colors). For seven years (1975-1982), he was the accompanying organist for Gonzalo Freire's Costeñas Dance Company (Folk Costa) of the University of Guayaquil. In the seventies he was a member of the musical group that accompanied the artists who appeared on the television program Puerta a la Fama, on Telecentro -channel 10, in Guayaquil.

In 1982 he settled in Riobamba and held the position of chapel master of the San Antonio church. In 1992, he and his family settled in Quito, where he currently lives. Until 2019, he worked in music and on Sundays he played the 10:30 a.m. mass at the Temple of the Company of Jesus, and the rest of the days at the Church of Santo Domingo. He participated in the film If I die first, a documentary about Julio Jaramillo (2017), produced by Rodolfo Muñoz.

Linea de Tiempo

1931. He was born in Sicalpa, Colta, Chimborazo province – Ecuador on May 15.
1944. May to November, he travels and resides in Guayaquil. He temporarily works as chapel master at the La Victoria temple and on radio programs Cenit y Ortiz of Guayaquil. He witnesses the May 28 Revolution.
1946. He travels to Colombia, and he is a pianist for Radio Pacífico in Cali.
1947. Lives in Ambato, goes through the Socabón War, August 23.
1948-1949. He travels again to Colombia and witnesses the Bogotazo, April 9, 1948. He works in several nightclubs and radio stations. He returns to Riobamba before Christmas.
1950. His grandfather Agustín Godoy dies (born in San Andrés, in 1866- deceased in Riobamba, 9-30-1950) He assumes the position of official chapel master of the Santa Rosa of Riobamba temple. He is a pianist for several radio programs: La Voz de Riobamba, Mundial and Roxi.
1952. He joins the dance orchestra Los Ángeles del Infierno and popular music groups: Los Tíficos Andinos and Los Condorazos.
1954. He marries Rosa Aguirre in Riobamba on March 4. He organizes and directs the Gonzalo Godoy Ensemble. His firstborn, Mario, is born on December 11.
1955. In August, he joins the Aguayo Huayamabe duo as an accordionist in Guayaquil; recording Néstor Aguayo's waltz: “Di que me quieres” (Say that you love me) for Cóndor records. He is also a member of the Castro Brothers Ensemble (Juan, Pepe, Segundo Castro – harp, violin, guitar and accordion).
1956 – 1970. He is the accordionist for the Guayaquil record labels: Orión, Ónix, Cóndor and Aguilar - Fénix. Rondador and CAIFE of Quito; Corsa of Ambato; Aravec and Puruhá of Riobamba.
1956 – 1982. In Guayaquil, he joined several dance orchestras: Falconí Jr., López Brothers, Tropical Boys, Los 5 Latinos, Marianao, Los Corraleros del Valle. He was the accordionist and musical accompaniment of artists who performed live on programming from stations: CRE, Ortiz, Atalaya, Cenit, Cóndor, América, El Mundo, Cristal, etc.
1957. With the harpist Gonzalo Castro, the guitarist Pedro Chinga and other musicians, he works on shows for tourists on the Grace Line cruise ships.
1960. With the artistic company of the Ernesto Albán Theater and Entertainment Company, he goes on a national tour accompanying the Aguayo Huayamabe duo. He participates as an accordionist in the film Riobamba in Colors, directed by: Agustín Cuesta Ordóñez.
1961. In May, he separates from the Aguayo Huayambe duo. In July 20, Colombian Independence Day, with his ensemble he performs at the Caracol radio station in Bogotá.
1962. With his ensemble he traveles to Colombia again participating in the Ibagué Folklore Fair, the San Pedro festival, and alternating with Gustavo “el loko” Quintero's Los Teen Agers ensemble.
1964. Travels to Peru accompanying Los Estudiantes del Ritmo Orchestra of Riobamba.
1965. Travels to Mexico, stays several months.
1975-1982.- He is the organist of the Costeña Dance Company of Gonzalo Freire of the University of Guayaquil. 1978 - 1981. He is a member of the musical ensemble of the Sunday television program Puerta a la Fama (Telecentro Channel 10).
1980. August 2, Luis Gonzalo Godoy, Mario founded Producciones Fonográficos Aravec
1982. He travels to Chile, accompanying Gonzalo Freire's Costeña Dance Company of the University of Guayaquil. He lives in Riobamba and holds the position of chapel master of the San Antonio temple.
1983. With the Ayala Coronado Duo, he records an LP album, called Los Reyes del Yaravi.
1984. He recordes the Chimborazo Mass by Mario Godoy Aguirre.
1985. On January 30, in La Carolina Park in Quito, he delivers to Pope John Paul II the Chimborazo Mass of his son Mario. In France, in the join ceremony between the city of Saint-Amand-Montrond and Riobamba, he participated as artistic delegate.
1992. He settles in Quito.
1994. The Government of Ecuador grants him a lifetime pension for his contribution to culture.
1998. In New York City, he receives a tribute from the Ecuadorian community residing in New York.
2007. He records a compact disc. accompanying Fresia Saavedra and Pepe Jaramillo.
2008. On August 10, he performs at the FEDEE Festival in the Azteca Garden of the OAS, Washington DC. He records as a soloist (accordion) the compact disc Tatuaje Musical Ecuatoriano.
2015. On July 7, in homage to Pope Francis, in the temple of San Francisco in Quito, he accompanies Paulina Tamayo and Jesús Fichamba with his accordion, performing compositions by his sons Mario and Antonio Godoy Aguirre.
2017. He participates in the film Si yo muero primero, documentary about Julio Jaramillo, producer: Rodolfo Muñoz.
2018.
- On April 21, he participates in the program: Ecuadorian roses for Morena del Tepeyac, Basilica of Guadalupe, Mexico
- December 3, at the inauguration of Museo Escuela del Pasillo, Lenín Moreno Garcés, then President of the Republic of Ecuador, grants him an award for Cultural Merit (the highest Cultural Award by the government).
2019. Gonzalo Godoy and his son Mario debut in the Sunday’s live musical programming, on February 24, for the Museo Escuela del Pasillo, Quito.
2023.
- On April 19, at the Teatro Nacional Sucre, Fundación Teatro Nacional Sucre and the Pasillo Ecuatoriano Foundation pay tribute to Gonzalo Godoy; and several of his compositions are performed.
- On October 24th, at the León Theater in the city of Riobamba, the book GOZALO GODOY, su legado. Historia de un músico popular ecuatoriano is launched. Mario Godoy Aguirre, editor. Quito, Fundación Pasillo Ecuatoriano, Intempo, Gráficas Argenis.

Discography

From the mid-fifties to the seventies, as an accordionist, Gonzalo Godoy fervently recorded in Guayaquil with saxophonist Lucho Silva Parra, requinto guitar players: Rosalino Quintero, Carlos Montalvo, Pepe Dresner, Bolívar Lara, Abilio Bermúdez; guitarists: Sergio Bedoya, Juan Ruiz, Wacho Murillo, Pedro Chinga; harpist Gonzalo Castro, double bassists: Carlos Silva Pareja or Ramón Alarcón. Gonzalo Godoy was also the musical accompaniment of artists of the time. He recorded about six hundred songs for the Guayaquil record labels: Orión, Ónix, Cóndor, Aguilar, for the Quito record labels: Rondador, Caife; and for the Riobamba record labels: Aravec, Puruhá, etc., two hundred of those songs with the Aguayo Huayamabe Duo. He accompanied, among others, singers like: Julio Jaramillo, Fresia Saavedra, Carlos Rubira, Pepe Jaramillo, Mélida María Jaramillo, and the duets: Aguayo Huayamabe, Mendoza Sangurima, Mendoza Suasti, López Ron Sisters, Valencia Aguayo, Ayala Coronado, and other prominent popular artists of Ecuador.

Choruses (interludes). A chorus or interlude (from lat. interludĕre, to play at times), is a musical resource, passage, or fragment that is interpreted as an introduction or between two parts or sections of the same song. Gonzalo Godoy is remembered for his creativity and ability to create beautiful choruses. His choruses are in the memory of Ecuadorians; for example, the accordion choruses of some of Julio Jaramillo's hits.

Los pasacalles: Chica linda (Pretty Girl) (Carlos Rubira); El mendigo (The Beggar) (Buenaventura Navas, Nicolás Fiallos).

Ecuadorian Waltzes: "El regreso" (The Return) (Ángel y Francisco Torres Oramas); Pasionarias (Arreglo Nicasio Safadi); "Golondrinas" (Swallows).

Pasillos: "Consuelo amargo" (Bitter Consolation) (Enrique Ortega, Nicasio Safadi); "Carmita" (Carlos Solís Morán), etc.

With Aguayo Huayamabe, the choruses of the waltzes that are remembered are: “Ilusión Perdida” (Lost Illusion) (Gilberto Plascencia); “¿Por qué Dios mío? “Why? Dear God? (Marco Vinicio Bedoya); “Di que me quieres” (Say you love me) (Néstor Aguayo); “Injusticia” (Injustice) (Néstor Aguayo, Gonzalo Godoy); “Escuchando” Listening (Victor Valencia).

Pasacalles: “Palomita Errante” (Wandering Little Dove) (Marco Vinicio Bedoya); Busco tu amor (Loking for your love) (Sergio Bedoya); El chulla riobambeño (Gerardo Arias); “Nunca te olvido” (I never forget you) (lyrics by Néstor Aguayo, traditional music); Cerrito Santana (Jorge Salinas).

Pasillo: “Lamento” (Regreat) (Gonzalo Moncayo), etc.

His works include:

Albazo:

San Andrés de mis recuerdos. (Saint Andrew of my memories) Author, composer: Gonzalo Godoy

Aires típicos:

"La romería." (The pilgrimage) Authors: Gonzalo Godoy y Sergio Bedoya
Tono mañanero. Composer: Gonzalo Godoy

Carnavales:

Carnaval de Colta. Composer: Gonzalo Godoy
Carnaval de Gonzalo Godoy. Composer: Gonzalo Godoy
Chimborazo Carnaval (Carnaval de San Andrés), Composer: Gonzalo Godoy
Entierro del Carnaval (Burial of the Carnival) (Guamoteño Carnaval), Composer: Gonzalo Godoy

Música sacra:

Misa navideña. (Christmas Mass), Composer: Gonzalo Godoy

Pasillo:

Rosita la del barrio. (Rosita from the neighborhood), Author, composer: Gonzalo Godoy

Sanjuanitos:

Amorcito mío. (My love). Author: Julio César Murillo, composer: Gonzalo Godoy.
Juraste quererme. (You promised to love me), authors: Gonzalo Godoy, Segundo Sánchez.
Morenita caprichosa. Authors: Gonzalo Godoy and Ángel Serafín Pulgar.
Seis de enero. (January sixth), Sanjuanito, composer: Gonzalo Godoy

Tonadas:

A una guambrita, composer: Gonzalo Godoy
Despedida. (Farewell), authors: Gonzalo Godoy and Ángel Serafín Pulgar
Rosita hermosa. (Beautiful Rosita), author, composer: Gonzalo Godoy
Rosita linda, tonada. (Pretty Rosita), composer: Gonzalo Godoy
Rumiñahui, tonada. composer: Gonzalo Godoy

Ecuadorian waltzes:

Corazón destrozado. (Broken Heart), author, composer: Gonzalo Godoy
Dime, dime, dime. (Tell me, tell me, tell me), authors: Mario Godoy Aguirre and Gonzalo Godoy
Injusticia. (Injustice), authors: Gonzalo Godoy and Néstor Aguayo Jarrín
Valsecito Inolvidable. (Unforgettable Waltz), composer: Gonzalo Godoy

Los Godoy Músicos

They are a family of musicians from the Chimborazo Province made up of chapel masters like: Juan Bernardo Godoy Cardoso and his son Agustín Godoy Velarde (married to Simona Carrillo Alvarado).

Grandchildren: Zoila, Esther and Zenobia Godoy Carrillo – singers; Antonio and César Godoy Carrillo – chapel masters.

Great-grandchildren: Gonzalo – accordionist, composer (son of Zenobia Godoy Carrillo); Luis Godoy León – accordionist, composer (son of Antonio Godoy Carrillo); Alfonso Godoy Noboa – accordionist (son of César Godoy Carrillo).

Great-great-grandchildren: Mario Gonzalo – composer, musical researcher; Marco Antonio – guitarist, composer; Byron Francisco “Paco” – composer, pianist, accordionist; Silvia Elizabeth Godoy Aguirre - singer (Luis Gonzalo Godoy and Rosa Aguirre’s children).

Olga and Martha Godoy Hernández – singers; Guillermo Godoy Hernández - accordionist (Luis Godoy León and Rosa Hernández’ s children).

Freddy Godoy Muñoz - tenor, guitarist (son of Vicente Godoy, grandson of Margarita Godoy Noboa, great-grandson of César Godoy Carrillo).

Patricio and Gonzalo Godoy Andrade – pianists (sons of Alfonso Godoy Noboa).

Son/Daughter of great-great grandchildren: David Godoy Brito - saxophonist (Mario Godoy Aguirre and Mercedes Brito’s son).

Álvaro – guitarist, Sorely and Gonzalo Godoy González – singers (Hugo Godoy Aguirre and Nancy González children)

Angélica María Durrell Godoy - violinist (Maricarmen Godoy Aguirre’s daughter).

Katherine (Martínez) Cifuentes Godoy – Composer, violinist (Marcelo Cifuentes and Ana Godoy Aguirre’s daughter).

Lucía Galarza Godoy – composer, cellist (Teodoro Galarza and Guadalupe Godoy Aguirre’s daughter).

Siboney Godoy Torres – violinist, composer (Francisco “Paco” Godoy and Piedad Torres’s daughter).

Ana Rosa Sforza Godoy – soprano (Silvia Elizabeth Godoy and Frank Sforza’s daughter).

Sofía Godoy Ponce – singer (Guillermo Godoy Hernández and Loli Ponce’s daughter).

Mateo Sebastián Godoy Gutiérrez - guitarist, singer, composer (Freddy Godoy Muñoz and Jenny Alexandra Gutiérrez Endara’s son).

Godoy Cardoso, Juan Bernardo.

Born in San Andrés, Chimborazo, around 1845, in the late 19th century. Organist, chapel master, Chistian doctrine teacher- Don Juan Bernardo Godoy Cardoso was chapel master and organist of the temple of San Andrés, Guano. His son Agustín succeeded him in the position of chapel master.

Godoy Velarde, Agustín.

He was born in San Andrés, Chimborazo in1866; Riobamba. He was a chapel master and composer. He learned music from his father. He was a skilled player of the harmonium, piano, vihuela, guitar and clarinet. He began as chapel master at the Church of San Andrés, and subsequently he was chapel master at the Church of Santo Cristo, Sicalpa, Cajabamba. Later he was chapel master of the church of Santa Rosa de Riobamba. He joined and directed the San Andrés and Cajabamba bands. His sons: César Augusto and Antonio Godoy Carrillo were chapel masters of San Andrés and Sicalpa, respectively. His daughters: Zoila, Esther, and Zenobia, were singers. He passed away on September 30th, 1950.

Musical Works

Christmas carols, funeral marches, litanies and Trisagion. His song: Simonita

(Ecuadorian music - danzante /tonada).

Mi Padre Acordeonista

To Gonzalo Godoy

In the beginning was music

He came in May, 1931

To a town of lonely streets,

Near the temple of

“Our Lady of Sicalpa".

There, where the humming birds kiss the barley,

where the sheep duets with the wind,

where the breeze weaves totora reeds.

There, where the sun paints carpets in the field,

where the moon hides in the lagoon,

where the sacramental breads live in the stars.

There, where the incense smoke and eucalyptus firewood smoke commune.

His grandfather was a "Chapel Master",

his mother and aunts: "Singers of the Church",

his father, a trumpeter and band director,

his toy, the harmonium of the town temple.

From his mother’s womb

he was caressed by litanies,

"Sung Masses", Christmas carols,

the "retreta", the "albazo", by serenades,

by the flight of doves, and by the signing rain.

He was born a musician,

grew up a musician,

he became a musician,

he gifted music,

taught music,

composed music,

recorded music...

He conjugated the noun music,

forwards, as well as with setbacks

His grandfather taught him to fly

and his wings grew and grew...

its Andean trill resonates,

in condors and macaws.

And harmony came,

with the name of Rosa

and ten songs adorn

the table in his house.

With his accordion

he runs through staffs.

"thirty-second notes" and "eighth-notes",

jump at parties.

"quarter notes", "whole notes”,

are heard in the temple.

"Half notes" hide

in Mount Chimborazo,

Young people run after "sixty-fourth notes".

His accordion,

has "tongues of fire",

he also speaks the language of children.

He is a boy,

he plays with his fingers!

jump "little thumb",

whistle " Mr. pinky",

the "index finger" sings,

the "ring finger" sleeps...

I discovered his secret!

He has "two hearts"!

one lives between the fingers,

hence the magic,

style and generosity.

In every song played,

heart and soul are present,

present are the perfumes of his grandfather,

present are the secrets of Pachamama,

and the soft whimper of the Andean landscape.

Gonzalo Godoy:

weaves carpets of sounds,

molds pitchers of arpeggios,

sculpt flowers with rhythms

and melts skies of harmony.

And this way

playing...

in his musical mission,

inadvertently,

he sowed

his fruit

and transcended.

Mario Godoy Aguirre

Silver Spring, MD. 30 - XII -1999

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"retreta": Open air concert

"albazo": Here the term is being used to refer to- a serenate with a popular band.

Bibliography

Cabezas, J. C. (X-2012). Nuestra Gente: Gonzalo Godoy, el acordeón eterno de J.J. Revista Nuestro Patrimonio N. 38. Revista del Ministerio Coordinador de Patrimonio. Quito, Grupo El Comercio C. A.
Alarcón Costta, C. A. (2010). Diccionario Biográfico Ecuatoriano. Quito: FED
Varios autores. (2000). Diccionario de la Música Española e Hispanoamericana. Madrid, España: SGAE
Ortiz Arellano, C. (1989). Riobamba en el centro de la historia ecuatoriana, Riobamba: Colección Luciérnaga N. 9, Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana Benjamín Carrión Núcleo de Chimborazo.
Varios autores. (1985-86). Diccionario biográfico ecuatoriano, Tomo I, A-L. Quito: Producciones Editoriales
Anónimo. (VII-1977). Revista Estrellas N. 119, año XIV, Gonzalo Godoy, creador de inmortales estribillos.