Folklorist Pedro Luzardo Perera (Perico) received the Ajei Award for folklore work on Thursday night, a distinction that was presented to him by the San Bartolomé City Council on the stage set up in the Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente park on the occasion of the municipality's patron saint festivities.
The event began with the performance of the La Peña Folklore Group, men and women very excited to be back on stage since the pandemic caused by Covid was declared. Despite the nerves, the members of La Peña gave themselves to the performance, giving the best they know how to do, singing and dancing, choosing the most traditional of Canarian folklore. Pieces as popular as folías, isas, malagueñas and seguidillas directed in the musical part by Toni Rodríguez and by Raúl de León in the dance corps. The public, which filled the venue, rewarded them with their applause.
Next, the mayor of San Bartolomé, Alexis Tejera, took the stage and proceeded to read the biography of Pedro Luzardo Perera, followed by a video showing part of his career, from his beginnings with folklore to the present day.
After the screening and surrounded by the applause of the public, the honoree took the stage, where he was received by the mayor and the Councilor for Festivities, Isidro Pérez. Both presented him with a commemorative gift alluding to the recognition. Pedro remained on stage and accompanied by the family of the La Peña Folklore Group, who performed the mythical piece that Perico has sung on different stages in the Canary Islands and other parts of the world.
The grand finale of such an emotional event was given by the Teguey Popular Music Group of San Bartolomé, directed by Leo García, who began his performance with airs of folias that were sung by the Lanzarote tenor, José Manuel García. Teguey continued performing a repertoire with very varied genres such as cumbia, huapango, waltz and bolero, among others, with a very lively and dedicated audience, who hummed some refrains accompanying with applause. Thus, an act that will be part of the history of San Bartolomé came to an end. Pedro Luzardo Perera, on such a special day, was accompanied by his wife María de Los Ángeles, children and grandchildren.
Biography of Pedro Luzardo Perera
Pedro Luzardo Perera, born in San Bartolomé, was part of the dance corps of the always beloved and remembered Ajei Folklore Group directed by José María Gil, who contributed so much to the folklore of Lanzarote and the Canary Islands in general.
After the disappearance of the group in the early 60s, he became part of the Los Campesinos Folklore Group, initially presided over by Juan Brito Martín, who discovered that Luzardo had great agility to play the mandolin, incorporating him into the body of players. In addition, he also participated as a soloist with a very personal and unique voice, highlighting in the famous piece of the "Sorondongo", which from that moment, and it has been more than 50 years, he sings every time Los Campesinos take the stage.
Pedro or Perico, as his colleagues really call him, is a reference to take into account, since he is always willing to lend a hand. He is a down-to-earth man, a friend of his friends and committed to the Campesina family in each of the stages he has had to live, high and low moments in which he has always been willing to lend a hand as one more.
In 2016, his family, the Los Campesinos Folklore Group, honored him in his hometown, at the San Bartolomé Municipal Theater with the show "Sorondongo".
