Gladys de la Lastra | |
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![]() Gladys de la Lastra | |
Born | 6 March 1932 Penonomé |
Died | 28 September 2005 Panama City |
Occupation | Musician |
Gladys de la Lastra ( Penonomé, 6 March 1932 – Panama City, 28 September 2005) was a drummer, composer and musician from Panama. [1]
De la Lastra was born on March 6, 1932 in Penonomé. She studied at the Simeón Conte School and then studied at the National Institute of Panama for her secondary schooling. [2] [3] She went on to study at the National Institute of Music. [4] After graduating, de la Lastra taught music at the State of Israel and Old Panama School. [2] [3]
De la Lastra's first composition was "La Princesa del Zaratí", which was composed in a bolero-style for the centenary of Coclé, when she was 17 years old. [4] This song highlighted national values. [2] [3] De la Lastra believed that her musical ability was a gift from god. [5] Religious and nationalist themes were found throughout her work and she was a member of the Trade Union of Art Workers of Panama (SITAP). [2] [3]
De la Lastra died on September 28, 2005 and was hailed as a national hero. [4] Her coffin was pulled by white horses through the streets of Penonomé, which were lined with people. [6]
Little Panama, I love you beautiful country Little piece of land that God gave me
My Panamanian blood is a warming fire That ignites joy to the heart where I go.
Panama Chiquita (translation)
De la Lastra is famous for her guitar-playing [7] and drumming. She wrote many songs throughout a long career, some of which include:
De la Lastra composed over 200 songs during her career, [8] as well as anthems for the University of Panama and for the Centenary of the Republic of Panama. [2]
1949 – Medal of Honour awarded by the Municipal Council of Penonomé [4]
1960 – Coclé's Favourite Daughter [3]
1961 – Anayansi Award for Publicity Interamericana for the composition Panama Soberana [3]
1981 – Commander of the Order Belisario Porras [3]
1981 – First Prize at the Festival of the Mediterranean and Latin American Tourist Song, held in Estoril (Portugal), the 'Golden Caravel' trophy for the song The Drummer I Have [3]
1996 – Intellectual Woman of the Year selected by the Circle of Intellectual Women of Panama (CIMIP) [2]
2005 – Order of Vasco Núñez de Balboa [3]
The Gladys de la Lastra Festival has been held annually since 2013 in Penonomé and is dedicated to the work of the singer. [4] After her death, the mayor Agustín Méndez, hoped to erect a statue and name a street after her. [9] Every November 3rd, schools across Panama sing her song La Angoustoura. [10]