The National Parang Association of T&T has offered its condolences to the wife, family, and members of the band Los Reyes previously Los Muchachos del Agua, following the passing of parang legend Henry Pereira.
Pereira passed away on September 25 following a long illness. He was 76.
He was buried on September 29, with a service held at St Anthony’s RC Church in Tabaquite.
According to the National Parang Association of T&T, Pereira was fondly known as the Spanish teacher from Tabaquite. He started his teaching career at Rio Claro Government Secondary School and later, he taught at the only secondary school in the area, Tabaquite Composite.
As a parrandero, he was a guitarist and lead singer of both Los Muchachos del Agua and Los Reyes.
His parang career began with Los Muchachos del Agua in 1973 when he started as guitarist for the band. But his voice took prominence when, on one occasion the original lead singer did not show up
and he was asked to do the solo. His performance won him the prize for Best Lead Singer.
He went on to win this title numerous times and has recorded well-known parang songs such as Parranda Fina, En El Corazon del Hombre, Andamos Buscando, Soca Sereno and Canta Noel.
Pereira was one of the country's top composers of Parang music a skill which he passed on to many young parranderos.
President of the National Parang Association, Alicia Jaggasar expressed sadness on the passing of the parang icon.
“Mr Pereira will be missed. Many parang bands play his music and his contribution to the artform would live in the hearts of all parranderos and parang lovers forever,” she said.
