In 1992 the name of the Unexpo choral group was changed to Orfeón Universitario Rafael Montaño,
Passionate about singing from an early age, Luis Rafael Montaño Marcano worked hard to become a renowned Venezuelan musician.
He was born on August 14, 1926 in Macarapana, Sucre state, his childhood was shared between field work, games and songs with the townspeople.
During his artistic career, he praised the name of the country in different parts of the world, he gained respect and recognition as one of the most outstanding interpreters of Venezuelan folk music.
This August 21, his death was announced at the age of 94 in Ecuador, causing great nostalgia in all those who knew him.
However, Montaño has left a legacy that will resonate his name throughout history.
Family
Rafael was the youngest of four siblings resulting from the union between Rafael Montaño Vázquez and Petra Marcano de Montaño.
In 1948 he fell in love and married Gertrudis Velázquez with whom he had four children: Roberto Rafael, Renny José, Mayra Trinidad and Luis Alberto.
By the 70s his son Renny was part of the Rafael Montaño group and later accompanied him as the creator and founder of the Araya group.
As a young man he dedicated himself to tailoring with his brother Leopoldo, then he became a school teacher and managed to rise to the positions of preceptor and director of education for the old Bermúdez district.
However, the love for music was still present and he took the first steps in his career as a singer.
On April 8, 1951, on the recently inaugurated Radio Carúpano, where he worked as an announcer, he intervened interpreting folkloric themes.
By July 15, 1995, her voice was heard nationwide on the radio stations Radio Continente and Radiodifusora Nacional de Venezuela singing the song “Susana Primera” to Susana Duijm, the first Miss World that the Country had.
It wasn’t long before the renowned musician Juan Vicente Torrealba invited him to be part of his group “Los Torrealberos” and for almost three years they made numerous tours.
The success
Rafael is remembered in the multiple presentations he had on television programs such as “El Show de las Doce”, hosted by Víctor Saume and “El Show de Renny” directed by Renny Ottolina on Radio Caracas Televisión.
Also, in the 1960s he was the announcer for important commercial products in great demand among the Venezuelan population.
Montaño acted as a soloist doing the voice of Florentino together with maestro Antonio Lauro in the work Cantata Criolla composed by Antonio Estévez, and which is the inspiration for the poem “Florentino el que canta con el Diablo” written by Alberto Arvelo Torrealba.
With this piece in 1962 and 1964 Rafael together with the Orfeón of the Central University of Venezuela visited 20 North American states.
He brought Venezuelan music to countries such as Mexico, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Argentina, the United States, the Dominican Republic and Brazil.
Discography
His voice was coupled with different musical expressions such as jotas, décimas, malagueñas, poles and galerones, with an extensive discography that contains songs such as Mar y llano, Caraqueñita, Solo con las estrellas, Galerón Margariteño, La tear, among others.
At the age of 89 he made his last production; a CD composed of 13 songs.
More achievements
- He was the founder of the Guild of Folklorists of Venezuela, assuming the presidency from 1963 to 1967.
- He founded and acted as director of the Union of Radio, Television, Cinema, Theater and Related of the Capital District and Miranda.
- He accompanied Alfredo Sadel in the constitution of the Venezuelan Association of Artists of the Scene in 1957.
- It was declared a Living Cultural Heritage of the Sucre state.
Guayana city
In the 1970s, he moved to Ciudad Guayana and between 1978 and 1993 he worked as a public relations assistant, chief of staff, maintenance manager, and culture coordinator at the Antonio José de Sucre National Experimental Polytechnic University (Unexpo).
In 1992 the name of the Unexpo choral group was changed to Orfeón Universitario Rafael Montaño, as a tribute to this great exponent of national music who managed to include the cultural branch in the comprehensive training of university students.
In addition, he was councilor and director of culture of the Caroní district
friends
Various personalities of the national cultural sector have lamented his loss and recalled his outstanding performance as an exponent of Venezuelan folklore.
Arístides Gómez, accompanying teacher and soloist of four, shared the stage on many occasions with Rafael, he was also his great friend and compadre.
She describes him as a man loaded with values and an example for the generations that emerge in song.
“When I found out about his departure I felt nostalgic, but there is something that gives me peace of mind and it is the fact that he managed to see his consecration as an artist and was a person who contributed a lot to Venezuela,” says Gómez.
Evelio Lucero, historian of the Bolívar state, met and forged a valuable friendship with Montaño, whom he refers to as a great man and excellent Venezuelan who has left an important legacy.
“Tears came to me, today I felt the pain and sadness for the departure of someone who was not my blood but who I loved as a brother,” says Lucero.
* With information from the biographical document “Living example, living example”.
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