Lorenzo Barcelata

Lorenzo Barcelata (July 24, 1898 – July 13, 1943) was a Mexican composer and actor born in Tlalixcoyan, Veracruz. He died in Mexico City from cholera, shortly before his 45th birthday.

Barcelata came from a musically oriented family. He wrote his first song, "Arroyito", at the age of 14. He later moved to Tampico where he formed the Cuarteto Tamaulipeco with composer Ernesto Cortázar. Their fame quickly spread throughout the region and they received international fame when the Mexican government sent them on a tour of Cuba. While there, they were signed to perform a 52-week tour of the United States. After two of the members were fatally injured in an automobile accident, Barcelata returned to Mexico. He reformed the quartet as his fame continued to grow. Beginning in 1932, he entered the Mexican film industry and became a prominent film composer until his death. He also achieved fame as an actor as he played roles in several films.

His most famous song is "María Elena", (also known as "Yours is My Heart"), and was originally written for Lucia Martínez García. The song was written at the request of Ernesto Soto Reyes, Lucía's husband, who paid $10,000 pesos for the song. Shortly before registering the song, Barcelata showed it to his businessman friend Anacarsis "Carcho" Peralta, who loved it; curiously, the song appeared shortly afterwards as "María Elena", the name of one of the businessman's girlfriends. "Maria Elena" was featured in the 1936 Mexican film of the same name. A version of it was also included on the soundtrack to the 1935 American film Bordertown. It was later translated into English and performed by the Lawrence Welk orchestra. Another English version was recorded by Jimmy Dorsey. Dorsey's version topped the charts in 1941. Wayne King also recorded an English version which reached the No. 2 position during the week of June 14, runner-up only to the Dorsey version. A vocal version by Tony Pastor also reached the Top 10 during that month. "Maria Elena" has since been recorded internationally by several different musicians. In 1958, the Brazilian group Los Indios Tabajaras recorded a version that became popular throughout Latin America and later (in 1963) reached the No. 6 position in the US charts & No. 5 in the UK charts.

The popularity of "Maria Elena" in the US in the early-1940s resulted in Barcelata touring the country once again. He returned to Mexico in 1943 where he was scheduled to produce several radio programs. However, he died on July 13, before recording could begin. In total, he left behind a catalog of 214 songs, including "Por ti aprendí a querer", and "El Cascabel", among others.

A recording of "El Cascabel" was one of the pieces of music on the Voyager Golden Record. This version was a mariachi interpretation performed by Antonio Maciel y Las Aguilillas with El Mariachi México de Pepe Villa. The 12 inch album (complete with stylus, cartridge and instructions for use) which was launched into deep space aboard the Voyager space probes in the late 1970s.

Birth and Death Data: Born July 24, 1898 (Tlalixcoyan), Died June 13, 1943 (Mexico City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1928 - 1953

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, vocalist, songwriter, lyricist, arranger, leader

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 216 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BAVE-93158 10-in. Between 4/23/1936 and 5/7/1936 María Elena Juan Arvizu Male vocal solo, with violin and guitars composer  
Victor MBS-94803 10-in. before 8/24/1937 La palomita Conjunto Lorenzo Barcelata Instrumental ensemble composer, leader  
Victor MBS-94804 10-in. before 8/24/1937 Nostalgia Conjunto Musical "Esperon" ; Emilio Tuero Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor MBS-94805 10-in. before 8/24/1937 El toro coquito Conjunto Lorenzo Barcelata Instrumental ensemble composer, leader  
Victor MBS-94806 10-in. before 8/24/1937 La vaquilla colorada Conjunto Lorenzo Barcelata Instrumental ensemble composer, leader  
Victor MBS-94807 10-in. before 8/24/1937 Tú ya no soplas Conjunto Lorenzo Barcelata Instrumental ensemble composer, leader  
Victor MBS-94808 10-in. before 8/24/1937 Coplas de ponciano Maruja Gómez Female vocal solo, with guitars composer  
Victor MBS-94868 10-in. before 11/19/1937 Tú ya no soplas Orquesta Hermanos Domínguez Instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor MBS-94877 10-in. before 11/19/1937 La vereda Lorenzo Barcelata ; Trío Calaveras Male vocal solo and male vocal trio, with guitars composer, vocalist  
Victor MBS-94878 10-in. before 11/19/1937 La casita Lorenzo Barcelata ; Trío Calaveras Male vocal solo and male vocal trio, with guitars vocalist  
Victor MBS-94879 10-in. before 11/19/1937 Mi guitarra canta Lorenzo Barcelata ; Orquesta Manuel Esperón Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer, vocalist  
Victor MBS-94880 10-in. before 11/19/1937 Yo me estoy poniendo chango Lorenzo Barcelata ; Chaflán ; Orquesta Manuel Esperón ; Trío Calaveras Male vocal duet and male vocal trio, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, composer  
Victor MBS-94881 10-in. before 11/19/1937 Plegaría de mujer Lorenzo Barcelata ; Quinteto Esperón ; Trío Calaveras Male vocal solo and vocal trio, with instrumental quintet leader, composer  
Victor MBS-94882 10-in. before 11/19/1937 Agua le pido a mi Díos Lorenzo Barcelata ; Chaflán ; Trío Calaveras Male vocal duet and male vocal trio, with guitars vocalist  
Victor MBS-94883 10-in. before 11/19/1937 Jalisco nunca pierde Lorenzo Barcelata ; Trío Calaveras Male vocal solo and vocal trio, with guitars vocalist, composer  
Victor MBS-94884 10-in. before 11/19/1937 Adiós mi chaparrita Lorenzo Barcelata ; Trío Calaveras Male vocal solo and male vocal trio, with guitars vocalist, arranger  
Victor MBS-94885 10-in. before 11/19/1937 El otro venadito Lorenzo Barcelata ; Trío Calaveras Male vocal solo and male vocal trio, with guitars vocalist  
Victor MBS-94886 10-in. before 11/19/1937 Las nuevas cuatro milpas Lorenzo Barcelata ; Trío Calaveras Male vocal solo and male vocal trio, with guitars vocalist  
Victor MBS-94887 10-in. before 11/19/1937 El ranchero enamorado Lorenzo Barcelata ; Trío Calaveras Male vocal solo and male vocal trio, with guitars composer, vocalist  
Victor MBS-94888 10-in. before 11/19/1937 El ranchero enamorado Lorenzo Barcelata ; Trío Calaveras Male vocal solo and male vocal trio, with guitars composer, vocalist  
Victor MBS-94955 10-in. before 3/16/1938 Queretana Lorenzo Barcelata ; Trío Calaveras Male vocal solo and male vocal trio, with guitars vocalist  
Victor MBS-94956 10-in. before 3/16/1938 El arreo Lorenzo Barcelata ; Trío Calaveras Male vocal solo and male vocal trio, with guitars composer, vocalist  
Victor MBS-94957 10-in. before 3/16/1938 Rosa sultana Lorenzo Barcelata ; Trío Calaveras Male vocal solo and male vocal trio, with guitars composer, vocalist  
Victor MBS-94958 10-in. before 3/16/1938 Caballo coscolino Lorenzo Barcelata ; Trío Calaveras Male vocal solo and male vocal trio, with guitars vocalist  
Victor MBS-94959 10-in. before 3/16/1938 El surco Lorenzo Barcelata ; Trío Calaveras Male vocal solo and male vocal trio, with guitars composer, vocalist  
(Results 26-50 of 216 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Barcelata, Lorenzo," accessed November 21, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106695.

Barcelata, Lorenzo. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106695.

"Barcelata, Lorenzo." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 21 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106695

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