Flory Jagoda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Flory Jagoda
|
|
|---|---|
Jagoda in 2002
|
|
| Born |
Flora Papo
December 21, 1923 |
| Died | January 29, 2021 (aged 97) Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.
|
| Occupation | Musician, singer-songwriter |
| Spouse(s) |
Harry Jagoda
(m. 1945; died 2014) |
| Children | 4 |
| Honors |
|
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals, accordion |
| Associated acts |
|
Flory Jagoda (born Flora Papo; December 21, 1923 – January 29, 2021) was an American musician. She was born in Bosnia to a Jewish family. Flory was a talented guitarist, composer, and singer-songwriter. She was famous for her Sephardic songs, sung in Ladino (Judeo-Espanyol). She also sang Bosnian folk ballads called sevdalinka.
Contents
Early Life and Escape
Flory Jagoda was born Flora Papo on December 21, 1923. She grew up in the Bosnian towns of Vlasenica and Sarajevo. Her family followed the Sephardic traditions, and music was a big part of their lives. Her mother, Rosa Altarac, later married Michael Kabilio. They settled in Zagreb, Croatia.
In April 1941, when the Nazis invaded Yugoslavia, Flory was 16 years old. Her stepfather helped her escape on a train to Split. He gave her false identity papers and removed the Jewish star from her coat. On the train, Flory played her accordion. Other passengers and even the conductor sang along. She was never asked for her ticket.
Her parents joined her in Split a few days later. They, along with other Jews who had escaped, were moved to different islands. Flory and her parents went to the island of Korčula. They lived there until the fall of 1943.
Life in Italy and America
After Italy surrendered in 1943, Jews on Korčula traveled by fishing boats to Bari, Italy. Bari had recently been freed by the British army. While in Italy, Flory met an American soldier named Harry Jagoda. They fell in love and got married.
Flory came to the United States in 1946 as a war bride. She first went to Harry's hometown of Youngstown, Ohio. Later, they moved to Northern Virginia. Sadly, the Sephardic community in Sarajevo was greatly affected during World War II.
Musical Journey and Legacy
Flory Jagoda's music often told stories of her family and heritage. Her album Kantikas Di Mi Nona (Songs of My Grandmother) features songs her grandmother taught her. Her grandmother was also a Sephardic folksinger.
After releasing Memories of Sarajevo, Flory recorded La Nona Kanta (The Grandmother Sings). These were songs she wrote for her own grandchildren. In 2006, she released Arvoliko: The Little Tree. This was her last solo recording. The tree in Bosnia marks a mass grave of 42 members of her family. Flory said her four recordings represented four musical stages of her life.
In 2006, she also released Kantikas de amor i vida: Sephardic Duets with Ramón Tasat.
Saving the Ladino Language
Ladino, also known as Judeo-Espanyol, is the language of the Sephardic Jews. It is in danger of disappearing. However, it is having a small comeback, especially in music. Flory Jagoda was a leader in this effort to keep the language alive.
In 2002, Flory received a National Heritage Fellowship. This award from the National Endowment for the Arts recognized her work. It honored her efforts to pass on the tradition of Sephardic songs sung in Ladino.
Honors and Tributes
In 2002, a documentary film about Flory's life was made by Ankica Petrovic. In 2013, a special concert celebrated Flory's 90th birthday. It was held at the Library of Congress. More than twenty of her students, friends, and family members joined her on stage.
This concert was filmed for a documentary called Flory's Flame. It included parts of the concert and interviews with Flory and her family. Many musicians around the world sing her music. Her apprentice, Susan Gaeta, and her student, Aviva Chernick, are especially known for this.
In 2019, a children's book called The Key from Spain by Debbie Levy was released. It tells the story of Flory Jagoda's life and music.
Flory and her husband, Harry Jagoda, had four children. Later in her life, Flory developed dementia and could no longer sing. Flory Jagoda passed away at age 97 on January 29, 2021.
Discography
Albums
- Kantikas Di Mi Nona (Songs of My Grandmother) (1988)
- Memories of Sarajevo
- La Nona Kanta (1992)
- Arvoliko (2006)
- Kantikas de amor i vida: Sephardic Duets (2006) Duets with Ramón Tasat
Video
- Petrovic, Ankica; Livingstone, Mischa (2002). The Key From Spain: The Songs and Stories of Flory Jagoda. (documentary)
- Fissel, Curt; Friedland, Ellen (2014). Flory's Flame. JEMGLO. (documentary)
See also
In Spanish: Flory Jagoda para niños
- Judaeo-Spanish
- Sephardic Jews
- "Ocho Kandelikas"
