First Woman to Establish a Music and Arts School on Guam. Carmen “Meling” Romualdez Dela Cruz (1910-1995), a life long musician, is the first woman to open a school for the arts on Guam. She is the daughter of Beatriz Buz and former Philippine Supreme Court Justice Norberto Romualdez.
Carmen Romualdez Dela Cruz Read Post »
Maria Yatar McDonald (1955 – ) is a multi-talented musician, traditional tattoo and visual artist influenced by a wide range of artists beginning with her parents. McDonald was born in 1955 in the village of Pali, Sumai before spending nearly two decades living in the village of Sånta Rita-Sumai, and then in Hågat. She graduated from George Washington High School in 1973 and received a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Guam in 1997.
Maria Yatar McDonald Read Post »
Talo’fo’fo boy. The musician “JD Crutch” was a man who was both artist and outlaw, in a manner of speaking. In order to break new ground, an artist has to defy existing laws that govern what is acceptable for the time.
Joseph “JD Crutch” Duenas Read Post »
The Compadres was a musical band that formed in the early 1960s as the Continentals. The group, at certain points in time, was also known as the Jass Society (1970-1973) and Tropic Voice (1979-1980).
Roberto Fracassini of Florence, Italy, began to play music around the age of six years old. He became an accomplished piano, flute, and alto, tenor and soprano saxophone player.
Roberto Fracassini Read Post »
Born in Devonshire, England, Patricia Williams Rivera, better known as Patti Lane, was drawn to music during her early childhood days when she would listen to records with friends. They would sit in silence and listen to albums in their entirety, after which they would discuss the music and try to imitate the artists they had grown to admire.
Patrick Palomo’s interest in music developed at an early age when he would follow his father, the well-known musician Joaquin “Ding” Palomo, to band practice. Patrick Palomo had the opportunity to see his father play alongside some of Guam’s most noted musicians during these practices at the home of Forrest Harris, a noted guitarist on Guam.
Mr. Smooth Norbert Tydingco is best known for playing the smoothest chord progressions in the local jazz arena earning for himself the nickname “Mr. Smooth.” Tydingco’s love of music began
Louie Gombar is an accomplished musician on Guam known for his playing of the vibes (vibraharp). Gombar started out as a musician at the young age of twelve using bottles filled with water and playing them as if they were the vibes. Soon after, Gombar began to get exposure to Guam’s music scene.
Jose Naputi Gumabon, Sr. (1904 – 1968) was musically and artistically gifted. He formed a stringed orchestra with his sons and close friends to play at parties, weddings, christenings, and other functions. Although Gumabon and his musician sons have since passed away, their memories live on through their children, relatives and fellow musicians.
