A NOTE FROM THE MAESTRO With this concert, we remember a dear person who has given so much to our community. A musician of extraordinary talent and skill. Hector Garrido was like a brother and friend. Above all, he was a person with whom we all shared wonderful musical moments. I dedicate this concert to his memory from the bottom of my heart. Musically yours, –Pasquale Valerio
HECTOR GARRIDO Hector Luis Garrido, a world-class musician passed from this life in the morning hours on December 14th, 2021, while hospitalized in Cumming, GA following a massive stroke. He was an arranger, conductor, composer, songwriter, musical director and television and movie score writer. He was born to Petrona and Carlos Garrido at 5:35 pm on January 4th, 1937, in Buenos Aries, Argentina. The family lived modestly, occupying a two-bedroom apartment in Buenos Aries. Hector shared a bedroom with his brother Carlos. Hector began piano lessons at age 10 and took to music immediately. He also excelled at soccer. His music and soccer skills both increased rapidly and at age 17 Hector was playing the piano professionally in clubs in Buenos Aries and was approached by professional teams to play soccer. At that point his mother, Petrona, put her foot down and decreed, “Piano or Soccer!” The piano won. He continued his music and in 1962 came to the United States with a traveling band and got ‘gigs’ in this country. At one point the band traveled to Puerto Rico where Hector met a beautiful woman named Marina. He was struck with her, really struck with her – more than she was struck with him. Hector moved on to Chicago and began a furious letter writing campaign to Marina, in Puerto Rico. The sincerity of the letters convinced Marina to ‘give him another look.’ But, because of his the schedule he wasn’t going to see her again, though he vowed, somehow, someway he would win this wonderful woman. Fate intervened; Hector’s local gigs were canceled and the group’s manager got them booked in Puerto Rico once again. Marina then went to New York with her mother, reconnecting with Hector, and the love affair began. Hector and Marina were married in 1966. Hector and Marina raised four wonderful children, Yvonne, Mario, Alex and Kenny, and were blessed with ten grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren. Hector’s first break in the music industry came when he was working in the Ed Sullivan building as a copyist with others, for the Sammy Davis, Jr television 4
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