Ramón Ayala

Ramón Gumercindo Cidade (born 10 March 1927), better known as Ramón Ayala, is an Argentine singer, writer, poet, and painter. He is one of the highest representatives of Litoral music and has one of the most extensive trajectories in the South American artistic world.

Biography

Ayala was born on 10 March 1927 in the village of Garupá, located 15 km south-east of the city of Posadas (capital of the province of Misiones), opposite the Paraná River, and on the border with Paraguay. He is the son of Gumercindo Cidade, born in Yapeyu, who was an Argentine consul in São Borja, Brazil. After his father's death, Ayala moved from Sao Tomé (Corrientes) to Posada at a young age.

Ayala is the eldest of five brothers: Vicente José (a violinist), Osvaldo, Juliet, and Julio Cambá. At the age of four, they moved from Sao Tomé to Posada.

Career

Ayala decided to create his own musical style, which he called "Gualambao"; it is formed by two polka rhythms chained by a permanent syncopation, giving a particular appearance. It is written in 12/8 (twelve eighths), meaning that each bar has 12 eighth notes spread out over 4 times.

Among his best-known songs is "El Mensú"—whose lyrics speak of the mensú: growers, laborers, and farmworkers—was a success in Argentina and Latin America. His song was even performed by the Argentine-Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara in 1962, during a tour of the singer by Cuba.

Throughout his career, Ayala has made presentations in various countries, including Spain, Sweden, France, Italy, Romania, Cyprus, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Lebanon, Turkey, Kuwait, Iraq, and the islands of the Persian Gulf (not specified which ones).

Style and Influence

Ayala's music and prose are strongly identified with the culture of his home province. He is one of the few folklorists who usually act with his Argentine gaucho outfit, consisting of a hat, bulb, guitar, and boots.

Note: I corrected some minor errors in the original sources, such as the birth year (1937) being incorrect according to SOURCE 1, which states he was born on March 10, 1927.