On the day of the tradition, the singer-songwriter from Santa Fe consecrated in folklore was distinguished with the highest title awarded by the University.
In an act that took place in the University Cultural Space, the UNR awarded the Title of Doctor Honoris Causa to the musician Orlando Veracruz. “You do not know the honor that you confer on me. In this oath my soul left me”, the singer-songwriter said emotionally in front of a large audience made up of family, friends, musicians and members of the university community.
The ceremony was presided over by the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Hernán Botta, godfather of the honoree, the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Arts, Alejandro Vila, and the General Director of UNR Personnel, Alejandro Barroso.
“This recognition is an act of justice with him and with the popular culture of our country. From now on, Orlando Veracruz will be part of the UNR faculty and personally it fills me with pride to be a colleague of his because he is a teacher for all Santa Fe and Argentines”, affirmed Alejandro Vila.
The dean of Humanities expressed his pride in recognizing those who give us an identity as a people: poets, artists, musicians, painters. "How little life would be worth without the field of culture and art and without a doubt Orlando Veracruz is part of the essentials," he said.
Meanwhile, the honoree's godfather Hernán Botta said: "Today the Public University dresses up as a party and it does so to recognize us in our traditions" and added: "Thank you for reinforcing, for valuing and spreading what is ours, what is from Santa Fe, you are a standard-bearer in that fight”.
Then, the brand new Doctor Honoris Causa was sworn in, who joyfully raised his title and medal. True to his profession, instead of giving a speech, Veracruz hung up his guitar and performed several of his most heartfelt compositions accompanied by other folklore musicians and dancers, in front of an audience that accompanied him with clapping and enthusiasm.
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The director of the University Cultural Space and Vice Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Arts Marta Varela was in charge of reading the laudatio with the trajectory of the distinguished man.
Orlando Vera Cruz, stage name of Orlando Luis Cayetano Pais, was born in Santa Fe in 1944. As a child he moved to Santo Tomé, although he currently resides in Sauce Viejo. From an early age he joined folk dance groups, began studying singing and guitar and there he discovered his vocation for popular songs and knowledge of the customs of his land.
At the age of 8, he had his first contact with the poetry of Julio Migno, a work that gave direction to his career as an artist. In the town square he recited "Canto a la Libertad" mounted on his horse and since then together with the poet from Santa Fe and his own compositions, he gave Santa Fe the native song that it owed to the country. His voice and his words represent this province with wisdom in each scenario where he appears.
His artistic career began with the group "Los Litoraleños", together with young people from his town who transcended popular singing. But the work that he embraced as a child led him to a solo career due to its regionalism and his social denunciation. At a national level he was recognized as “Revelación Cosquín 1974” and “Consagración Cosquín 1975” and released a record label that contained the hit “Costera, mi costerita”.
He won many awards, including: "Martín Fierro" from APTRA in 1973 for the best program of cultural interest on Canal 13 in Santa Fe, Palmera de Plata Guadalupe 1975, Gurisito de Bronca from the Paso del Salado Festival 1977. Despite these distinctions, his recording career was silenced from 1974 to 1984.
With the return of democracy to the country, he edited “Verdades”, “Qué tenerás, pago” in 1985, “Pilchas gauchas” in 1986, “Provincianía” in 1988, “Corazón de río” in 1990, “El canto santafesino” in 1992 , “Bajo un mismo cielo” in 1999 and finally “Estrellero” in 2001. In 2010, after carrying out an exhaustive work of historical compilation, he released his work “Cantata para el Brigadier Estanislao López”, in which they are described with accurately the milestones of the life of the hero from Santa Fe.
Journalist: Victoria Arrabal/ Photography: ECU