He arrived at Radio Lanzarote 44 years ago by chance, through Karina, and also through his "curiosity", "enthusiasm" and "daring". And what he didn't know then, when he went to collect the prize he won in a radio raffle, is that he was entering this house to stay, not only for more than four decades, but forever. Because although Francisco José Navarro has decided to take a well-deserved retirement from this Friday, he will always remain linked to this radio that he has helped to build.
For this reason, his colleagues have offered him a tribute on this day, which has been joined by some of the most prominent figures in the cultural life of this island, its folklore and its tradition, to which he has dedicated his entire professional career.
Gone is that day, still in the times of Juan Perdomo at the head of Radio Lanzarote, when Francisco José Navarro went to the station to collect "a box with monchitos and Pepsi bottles". He himself told a colleague this week, recalling those times. "Agustín Acosta was doing a program called Pepsi Boom, with a list of singers at that time, such as Karina, Juan Pardo, Manolo Escobar... Then you would call by phone or send a postcard from Lanzarote with your vote".
A vote for Karina and the "illusion" of "seeing the radio from the inside"
He, in his case, voted for Karina, who was the most supported by the listeners. And there he entered a raffle that he ended up winning. "I came to pick up my prize with all my enthusiasm, because I had never been to a radio station and I wanted to see what it was like inside." The next day, he was already in charge of a music program on Radio Lanzarote. "I analyzed it later, years later, and I really was daring," he confessed this week.
And it is that the day he went to collect his prize, they took him to the studio, they asked him about musical themes and he felt that he was "in his element". "Hey, would you like to come and do the program?" they asked him. And his answer was "yes". "That night I didn't even sleep. The program was at 6 in the afternoon, but an hour before I was there," he recalls. And it is that although he regularly listened to the program and "knew the theme", there he had to start learning how the radio worked, in a program that received live calls and in which he also had to take care of the control.
And since then, he was also a witness to the changes and technological evolution of radio in recent decades. "In terms of material, it was abysmal. From the Stone Age to today, to the latest in technology," he recalls, after talking about bobbins, cartridges, vinyl records, cassettes and papers where the advertising wedges that were being broadcast were noted, when computers had not yet arrived. Even telephone interviews were broadcast "putting the telephone next to the microphone", because there was still no other way to do it. "It's like when people used to come from San Bartolomé to the port walking, because they didn't have a car. It was normal. We got used to it".
"Without realizing it, 44 years"
"Time went by and without realizing it, 44 years," he told the colleague who has acted as a "hook" to be able to prepare this report. And during that time, Francisco José Navarro not only became a reference for Radio Lanzarote, but also for the island and its culture.
This led him to be named Favorite Neighbor of Lanzarote in 2007 by the Puente de Las Bolas Neighborhood Association, and also to receive the Ajey Award for Social Work in 2010, from the San Bartolomé City Council. To this is added having been the town crier of festivals such as San Marcial in 2012 and Los Dolores in 2007, in addition to others such as Valterra (1999), Mácher (2011) and Altavista (2015)
In his extensive career, in addition to not having missed an appointment with the Carnival, Francisco José Navarro has also taken to the stages of all the festivals, to present groups, choirs, murgas and groups of all kinds who this Friday have shown their affection in the tribute he has received at Radio Lanzarote. And all of them, some in person, others by telephone and others even putting live music on the program, have wanted to leave a message for him, on this day that does not mark an end, but a new stage in which, for sure, he will remain linked to this house.
José Vélez, singer:
"The joy is mine to be able to congratulate my friend Francisco José. He seems to me a wonderful professional, an extraordinary person, both he and his family, and I think that people should never retire because now is when he is absolutely better than ever with his wisdom, with his experience and I at least do not plan to retire if the public does not retire me. Until the public stops coming to see me, I will continue singing. Logically, he has to dedicate his life to his family, to his grandchildren, but I certainly believe that people who dedicate themselves like him to communication, have to never retire, because this is a bug just like singing, just like painting, that you are going to do all your life... A big kiss for you, Francisco José, for your whole family, and I wish you the best in the world".
Benito Cabrera, timple soloist, folklorist and commissioner of the Casa del Timple:
"Francisco José is a mainstay and we must be next to the mainstays and we must be next to the good people and for me it is a pleasure and an honor to be able to be in this little while. This is a fictitious farewell because this man is never going to retire. He is a fundamental character to understand the culture of Lanzarote. He has been a spokesman and spokesperson for the small and great culture of the island. And all of us who make culture of Lanzarote and other islands owe him a lot, because he is always aware, he has tremendous generosity... I say that he contributes his intellectual sponsorship, because he is always there, he always lends us a hand, not only through Radio Lanzarote, but also through La Voz, the fantastic chronicles and much of the island's activity remains in the memory thanks to Francisco José. That we love him very much, and also I have told him at some point, that you talk to everyone and everyone loves Francisco José, everyone speaks well of him and everyone has a kind word to recognize the great work and that he is a very beloved character and I personally consider him a friend and I hope for many years. Thank you very much for such a beautiful and fruitful life".
Manuel Hernández, former president of the murgas of Lanzarote:
"Francisco José has been the flagship practically of the carnival, the carnival without Francisco José from the murga group will be remembered and I think that he will continue to be what he is in the contests and we will have him there for a long time".
Orlando Suárez, president of the Sociedad Democracia:
"On the one hand, to thank him from the Board of Directors of the Sociedad Democracia and all the members, for the altruistic and disinterested work he has done with the Sociedad, disseminating the events in his chronicles, in his telephone interventions, helping us to disseminate the activities and above all to keep alive a certain type of musical performances of different order, which enrich all of us. I would say to Francisco José: manage your time now and enjoy life, continuing with what you like and we will all thank you again".
Carmen Arrocha, president of Afol:
"Congratulations to Francisco José and thank you from the association and in my own name not only the radio, but also being so supportive with all the NGOs and all the non-governmental institutions that are always at the foot of the canyon to achieve things. A very strong hug for him".
Mari Carmen Santacruz, president of the Neighborhood Association of Altavista:
"I simply tell him that he is never going to retire, that he is going to continue of course through the microphones sharing all that free time that he is going to enjoy and well, Francisco José and I have a friendship of more than 40 years, he has presented me on countless occasions when I sang through all the towns and neighborhoods of our Lanzarote. In addition, as president of the neighborhood association he has been our town crier and we have also named him our town crier and honorary member of our association and I above all the best memories I have of Francisco José is when we were together in the dressing rooms, talking about the next performance, about what we are doing, and in recent years Francisco José, a million thanks, partner, friend, artist, because he is also an artist within his own and that the world of music on the island without Francisco Jose would not have been the same and that many of us artists would have been left by the wayside if it had not been for his support and his work".
Juana Saavedra, member of the neighborhood association of Mácher:
"Francisco José for us has been a friend, he has taught us a lot, not only in culture, but also manners, and every time the Mácher festivals arrive I call him to give me opinions, to tell me what that number would be like. He advises me a lot in all my acts, in all my outings and for me he is not the announcer, he is the friend, the one who teaches me, the one who teaches us all, the one who is always with us, the one we need and he is there. From San Bartolomé also, every time I have needed him. And that is why we have to thank him and I know that Francisco José is going to continue with us and that he is not going to abandon us until he is old with a cane, we will see him in Mácher or in any act that is requested of him and that he gives me advice, because I need it. From here a big kiss to Francisco José on behalf of all the people of Mácher and all your friends".
Edmundo de la Hoz, president of the Society of Culture, Recreation and Sports Torrelavega:
"For me Francisco José has been a great person in what is popular music that has been the representative and man of all the conejeros and for me, being his friend has been to magnify myself as a person, because he knows the paths that must be walked and for me that is very important in Lanzarote and at this time".
