Carlos Mejía Godoy facts for kids
Carlos Mejía Godoy (born June 27, 1943) is a famous musician, composer, and singer from Nicaragua. He is known for his "new song" style, which often tells stories about people's lives and struggles.
Carlos grew up in a family that loved music, folk traditions, and culture. This helped him connect with the artistic world of Nicaragua from a young age. He was good friends with other Nicaraguan musicians like Pedro Miranda and Silvio Linarte.
Carlos and his brother, Luis Enrique, were very important in the "nueva canción" (new song) movement in Central America, starting in the 1970s. Both brothers received Nicaragua's highest cultural award, the Order of Rubén Darío.
Carlos was very active in the Sandinista Revolution. He wrote many songs that supported the fight against the dictator Anastasio Somoza Debayle. His music helped share the story of the revolution around the world. After the revolution won, he became a key promoter of culture for the new government. Later, he disagreed with the FSLN party and its leader, Daniel Ortega. He even took part in the protests in 2018.
Early Life and Music
Carlos Mejía Godoy was born in Somoto, Madriz on June 27, 1943. His father, Carlos Mejía Fajardo, was a popular musician. His mother, María Elsa Godoy, was a teacher and baker. His younger brother, Luis Enrique Mejía Godoy, is also a well-known Nicaraguan musician.
In 1954, Carlos left his hometown. He continued his studies and started university in the 1960s. During this time, he began working in radio as a host, actor, and writer. He continued working in radio into the 1970s, creating funny radio shows. This is also when he started writing his first songs.
Around this time, his song "Alforja Campesina" became popular, performed by the trio "Los Madrigales." Carlos also worked with the trio "Los Bisturices Armónicos." They researched and shared old peasant songs from Nicaragua. He wrote songs with social messages, showing his support for the Sandinista National Liberation Front and the student movement. Songs like "Yo no puedo callar" (I cannot be silent) and "Muchacha del F.S.L.N." (Girl of the F.S.L.N.) are from this period.
In the late 1960s, while working at Radio Corporación in Managua, he created a character called "Corporito." He said this character helped him discover his talent for communicating. He would sing a funny song every day, changing the words of popular tunes to talk about political or social problems.
After the big earthquake in 1972, Carlos helped start the "Taller de Sonido Popular" (Popular Sound Workshop). He also joined a group called "Gradas." As part of the "National Song Salvation Brigade," he helped save and share many traditional Nicaraguan folk songs.
Music and Achievements
Many of Carlos's songs, performed with his band Los de Palacagüina, became important for the Sandinista movement. They were seen as songs for workers and revolutionaries. He even wrote a special Mass for working people called the Misa Campesina Nicaragüense. Some of his songs in the late 1970s helped people learn about the weapons they were taking from the dictator Somoza's army during street fights.
One of his biggest successes came in 1977. His song Quincho Barrilete (Quincho, the boy of the little barrel), sung by Eduardo Gonzalez, won the sixth edition of the OTI Festival. Many Nicaraguans still remember this victory.
In 1980, Carlos Mejía Godoy and Los de Palacagüina were chosen to represent Nicaragua at the OTI Festival. Their song was La chavalita de España (The little girl from Spain). This marked Nicaragua's return to the event after two years because of the Nicaraguan Revolution. Their song was a favorite but finished in tenth place.
In November 2006, Carlos ran for vice-president with Edmundo Jarquín of the Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS) in the presidential election. They finished in fourth place.
In February 2021, Carlos Mejía Godoy spoke out against a proposed law. This law would have made songs of the old Nicaraguan National Guard part of the nation's heritage. He felt this law would unfairly affect his own musical work.
Family Life
Carlos Mejía Godoy has several children who are also musicians. His son, Camilo Mejía, is an author and anti-war activist. His other sons, Carlos Luis 'La Bujilla' Mejía and Augusto 'El Negro' Mejía, are part of the Grammy-nominated Nicaraguan band La Cuneta Son Machín.
Carlos is a strong critic of President Daniel Ortega. Because of his views, he lived in Costa Rica from 2018 to 2020. Since 2020, he has lived in Santa Rosa, California.
Mejía Godoy is married to Xochitl Jimenez.
Discography
- Albums
Some of his albums include: El Son Nuestro De Cada Día, La Nueva Milpa, Grandes Éxitos, and A Dos Puyas, No Hay Toro Valiente.
- Contributing artist
His music has been featured on several collections of songs from Nicaragua and the Nicaraguan revolution: Songs of the Nicaraguan Revolution, Vol.1-2, and Nicaraguita: Music from Nicaragua. He was also featured in The Rough Guide to the Music of Central America (2002, World Music Network). Mejía Godoy was featured on the title track from La Cuneta Son Machín's Cañambuco (2017, Round Whirled Records).
Jefferson Starship recorded one of his songs for their 2008 album Jefferson's Tree of Liberty.
See also
In Spanish: Carlos Mejía Godoy para niños
