TONY CROATTO - Una canción nómada

Tony Croatto was born in Udine, Italy and moved to Uruguay with family that immigrated there shortly after World War II. From Uruguay to Argentina. And again, after moving from Argentina to Venezuela,in his late twenties Tony Croatto moved to Puerto Rico and made it his adopted homeland ever since. He found a richness in musical traditions in Puerto Rico that, he claimed, was extremely rare elsewhere in Latin America. In the 70s he formed a group "Haciendo Punto En Otro Son" that besides playing native rhythms from Puerto Rico, would also play songs from the rest of South America to introduce Puertorrican audiences songs of strong social thematics. Thanks to them, the almost forgotten Puertorrican country music (in this case, "mountain music","musica jibara")became popularized amongsts youths bringing an alternative to those who did not like salsa.
Tony Croatto died in 2005, a few hours after a concert held in his honor had ended.
A state funeral was given in Puerto Rico attended by famous artists, actors, politicians and the public. CLICK CROATTO (I had an opportunity to meet Senor Tony Croatto)

CANCION NOMADA
by Roy Brown
" A Tony Croatto, ese primer día,
mirando el Atlántico desde la muralla
de la fortaleza de San Felipe del Morro,
San Juan Viejo, el día que llegaste.

Borracha de palabra
la canción se hace persona
la sonrisa cual la espuma
flota y danza sobre el mar (...)"