The folklore of Lanzarote and the entire Canary Islands is in mourning this Tuesday. Pedro Luzardo Perera, known to all as "Perico," one of the most authentic and beloved voices of our land's musical heritage, has left us. Born in the town of San Bartolomé, "the cradle of Lanzarote folklore," Pedro grew up listening to the echo of the folías, isas, seguidillas, malagueñas, and the "Sorondongo," which he would soon turn into an essential part of his life and the collective memory of the people.
From a very young age, he was part of the dance corps of the beloved and always remembered Ajei Folk Group, under the direction of Mr. José María Gil, where he absorbed the rigor and elegance of traditional choreography. After the disappearance of Ajei in the 60s, his path led him to what would be his great artistic family: the Los Campesinos Folk Group, then presided over by the master Juan Brito Martín. There, Pedro joined the instrumental ensemble, standing out especially for his mastery of the mandolin, an instrument that he knew how to caress with an agility and feeling difficult to match.
But if something turned him into a legend, it was his voice: simple, natural, without artifice. The same voice that gave life to countless traditional pieces, but which reached its maximum expression with the 'Sorondongo', an interpretation that Pedro made his own and that, for many, no one has been able to match. That characteristic timbre, that unique way of feeling the music, made him a benchmark and a symbol of authenticity within Canarian folklore.
Throughout his life, Pedro Luzardo was distinguished for his dedication and commitment to popular culture. In 2021 he received the "Premio Ajei", awarded by the San Bartolomé City Council, in recognition of a lifetime dedicated to keeping the flame of island folklore alive. A few years earlier, in 2016, he was honored by his own group, Los Campesinos, in an emotional show entitled precisely 'Sorondongo', held at the Municipal Theater of San Bartolomé. That night, the theater was filled with family, colleagues, friends and neighbors, all gathered to celebrate his legacy in life. As could not be otherwise, he was the one who put the finishing touch, giving the public his last interpretation of the 'Sorondongo', leaving an indelible mark in the hearts of those who listened to him.
Pedro Luzardo Perera (Perico) was much more than a musician or a folklorist. He was the guardian of a tradition, the transmitter of a cultural heritage that is still alive today thanks, in large part, to his work. He knew how to take the name of Lanzarote and the Canary Islands to the highest point of popular culture, always with humility, dedication, and a deep love for his roots.
This Wednesday at 12 noon, the funeral will take place from the San Bartolomé funeral home to the town's church, and then he will be transferred to the San Bartolomé cemetery. Without a doubt, he will be bid farewell as he deserves: surrounded by the affection of his people and with the respect of all those who value and love our folklore.
Today a voice is silenced, but a legend is born. Pedro Luzardo Perera (Perico), will continue singing in every 'Sorondongo', in every mandolin chord, in every dance that evokes our roots. Rest in Peace.
