Hernán Gamboa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hernán Gamboa
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Hernán José Gamboa Alexis |
| Also known as | El Cuatro de Venezuela |
| Born | June 18, 1946 San Tomé, Anzoátegui, Venezuela |
| Origin | Anzoátegui, Venezuela |
| Died | January 10, 2016 (aged 69) Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Genres | Venezuelan folk music |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer, composer |
| Instruments | Cuatro |
| Years active | 1956–2016 |
| Associated acts | Serenata Guayanesa (1971–1984) |
Hernán José Gamboa Alexis (born June 18, 1946 – died January 10, 2016) was a talented musician, composer, and singer from Venezuela. He was famous for playing the cuatro, a traditional Venezuelan instrument. Hernán Gamboa was a member of the popular Venezuelan folk music group Serenata Guayanesa before starting his own successful solo career. People often called him "El Cuatro de Venezuela" because he was so good at playing the cuatro.
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Early Life and Musical Journey
Hernán Gamboa was the first of seven sons. His father, Carmito Gamboa Almeida, was also a musician and composer. Hernán grew up surrounded by music.
He learned a lot about music from his father. His father taught him to play the cuatro, which is a small, four-stringed guitar-like instrument from Venezuela. He also learned to play the guitar and other instruments.
Joining Serenata Guayanesa
In 1970, Hernán Gamboa helped create a music group called Serenata Guayanesa. He formed the group with his friends Mauricio Castro Rodríguez and the brothers Iván and César Pérez Rossi.
In the group, Hernán played the cuatro and sang tenor (a high male voice). From 1972 until he left in 1983, the group recorded 10 albums. They became very well-known in Venezuela.
Solo Career and Later Life
Even while he was still with Serenata Guayanesa, Hernán Gamboa started his own solo music career. In 1977, he signed a deal with a Venezuelan record company called PROMUS.
In August of that year, he released his first solo album. It was called "El Cuatro de Venezuela." In 1983, he decided to leave Serenata Guayanesa to focus completely on his solo music. Throughout his life, he released a total of 25 solo albums.
Later in his life, Hernán Gamboa began to have health problems. He suffered from a condition that affected his muscles. In 1992, he moved to the United States to get medical help. He lived in Miami for some time.
In 2010, he moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina. He continued to make music there until he passed away. In August 2015, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. He died a few months later, on January 10, 2016.
Awards and Nominations
Hernán Gamboa was nominated for the Latin Grammy Awards for three of his albums. The Latin Grammy Awards celebrate excellent music made in Latin America.
His nominated albums were:
- El mundo en cuatro cuerdas (1993)
- Serenatas en contrapuntos (2006)
- La Fiesta (2007)
Even though he was nominated for these important awards, he never won one.
See also
In Spanish: Hernán Gamboa para niños
