“El Roble de la Gaita”, Nerio Enrique Ríos Pedreañez, died this Friday at 86 years old

Published at: 29/03/2024 07:04 PM

This Friday, March 29, at 86 years of age, “El Roble de la Gaita”, Nerio Enrique Ríos Pedreañez, who is well remembered for performing the popular bagpipe “La Cabra Mocha”, passed away.

Regarding this loss, the President of the Republic, Nicolás Maduro, in account of the social network X, said that “with great regret we said goodbye to the “Oak of the Gaita”, Nerio Ríos, one of the most emblematic exponents of Zuliano popular song, we will always remember him as a bulwark, he gave us art and the legacy of the melody of his piping song will remain forever”.

“I send my condolences to his family and friends, may God and La Chinita welcome him with open arms,” said the head of state.

The information was confirmed by journalist León Magno Montiel, through his X account, who said that “I deeply regret the departure of Nerio Ríos the piper oak (1938-2024) QEPD https://saborgaitero.com/nerio-rios-roble-gaitero/ via @SaborGaitero Iconic piper Soloist. Light to your soul. @leonmagnom (Today 29-3-2024)”.

Nerio Enrique Ríos Pedreañez, born in the state of Zulia, on January 25, 1938, was considered one of the most recognized exponents of Zuliano popular singing.

In 1962 he was invited to participate as a star figure in the Saladillo group, alongside Moisés Martínez, Leandro Soto and Nerio Matheus. There he began his string of hits in the bagpipe, with “Gaita Zuliana” or “La Campeona”, recorded in three voices in 1962. He stood out not only as a soloist and cuatrist but also as a musical director.

The same formula of vocal triumvirate was applied in 1964, when he recorded the classic song “La Cabra Mocha” with Moisés Martínez and Leandro Soto. Also with the performance of “Aniceto Rondón”, in 1964, he managed to rescue from oblivion a very elegant, beautiful musical form, very similar to the Cuban danzón: the contradanza.

He was at the head of the Nerio Ríos Foundation for Gaita and Folklore (FUNGANER), an institute dedicated to promoting cultural values in citizens, whose main objective is to teach classes on Zulian culture, reaffirming regional identity, through bagpipes, the tenth, dance, contradicance and Creole music played with harp, four and maracas.