Alvaro Carrillo
By the time a car accident tragically cut his life short on 3rd April 1969, Alvaro Carrillo Alarcón had composed over 300 songs, amongst them many of the most popular compositions in recent Mexico history. His standards have been interpreted by Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, Ricky Nelson, Placido Domingo, Luis Miguel and a host of other performers in countries as diverse as Britain, the US, Greece, Italy, Holland, Spain and France.
Born in 1919 in Cacahuatepec, Carrillo spent his childhood listening to popular refrains that his stepmother recited. By the age of 16 he had begun studying in the local agricultural college. There he found time between his studies to compose his first songs, amongst them "Celia", a composition with which he often serenaded the local beauties in the villages around the college, changing the name of the song to whichever girl he was currently addressing.
In 1940 Carrillo inscribed at the National School of Agriculture in Chapingo, graduating as an agricultural engineer. He began working for the National Maize Commision whilst still composing until the trio Los Duendes recorded his song "Amor Mio". Its rapid success allowed him to leave his day job and concentrate on composing.
More successes were to follow as his songs began to travel, not just within Mexico, but around the world. One story tells of the famous Japanese composer, Yoshiro Hiroishi, arriving in Mexico and setting out to find Carrillo, who was then performing in a nightclub in Mexico City. Hiroishi walked onto the stage in traditional Japanese dress, introduced himself and proceeded to sing the Carrrillo song "Sabor a mi" with great success.
The car crash on the 3rd April 1969 put an end to his highly productive career, leaving a legacy of compositions which are still played by internationally famous singers such as Lila Downs, as well as any self respecting local troubadour and mariachi group.
By John Holman