Domingo Cura

Domingo Cura

On December 23, 1996, I interviewed Domingo Cura, the most outstanding percussionist in the history of Argentine folk music.

Domingo Cura was born on April 7, 1929 in Santiago del Estero. He was the son of Syrian immigrants, like Eduardo Falù. His father was going to be a priest and sang in the church choir. This is why Domingo is called Cura.

At the age of six, Domingo Cura began to play the drum on all kinds of cans, wooden boxes and other objects. He was self-taught and never studied at a music school. He is so sorry, he told me during our talk, because he is not capable of writing down his musical ideas.

Domingo participated in several milestones of Argentine folklore: in 1961 he recorded the album “Folclore Nueva Dimension” with Ariel Ramírez and Jaime Torres, who innovated Argentine folklore.

Misa Criolla

A highlight of his career was the recording of Ariel Ramírez’s Misa Criolla in 1964. Domingo loved all kinds of musical styles: Arab and Jewish folklore, Brazilian batucada, bolero, jazz and rock, so it was never difficult for him to cross musical borders.

He played Argentine folklore with Mercedes Sosa and his brother-in-law, the legendary harmonica player Hugo Díaz. – National Rock with Litto Nebbia, – Jazz with Gato Barbieri, Nat King Cole and Garry Mulligan and Brazilian music with Milton Nascimento. It’s been more than 25 years since our talk in his rehearsal room in downtown Buenos Aires.

But I always remember my enthusiasm listening to this p such an exceptional drummer! Domingo Cura told me that people were surprised because they have soft hands, without calluses, like a woman’s. And he sang several folkloric rhythms for me: Carnavalito, Chacarera, southern and northern Malambo and much more!

Listen for yourselves to everything that this great Master of percussion, sadly deceased in 2004, only 75 years old during a performance with Chico Navarro.