music file 1966. In 1959 he fought against the Cambridge University team. EB in the Gibraltar Chronicle wrote; ‘...in the welter weight fight Peter Goring found Caballero a tough customer who could counterpunch hard. In the initial stages, Goring surprised Caballero with successive rights and lefts to the face, but a right cross by Caballero in the third round shook Goring. In the end both boxers were indeed tired and the verdict went to Caballero.’ Two years later when the Cambridge Bath Soaks came to fight on the Rock he fought and out pointed Laurie Mitchell. In 1968 Frank Dawes, now Gaming Manager of the Playboy Club in Park Lane, secured him a residency at the Playboy Club; by coincidence Los Cinco Ricardos were playing up the road at the Grosvenor House hotel. Los Huapangeros acquired an agent, and after the stint at the Playboy Club played at the recently opened Batley Variety Club in Yorkshire. Top of the bill was Frankie Vaughan who had made a film on the Rock with Anna Neagle called The Lady is a Square. Frankie had many happy memories of his time in Gibraltar. Then followed a series of engagements on the club circuit supporting stars such as Chan Canasta. After three months his sister Flori became pregnant and so the trio broke up as Flori and Eduardo wanted to return to the Rock. Luis went solo, singing in mainly Spanish and Latin American clubs in London by night and working as an electrician by day. At one stage he was an electrical charge hand at St Mary’s hospital, Paddington where he saw many Gibraltarian patients. Michael Mifsud contracted him to sing at Gibraltar Group dances in locations such as the Hammersmith Town Hall and he also sang in Pepe Pincho’s tapas bar La Roca.
Another trio was formed this time with sessions in La Costa Brava Club in Charing Cross Road and La Cucaracha on nearby Greek Street. Work expanded to singing in locations outside London where there were Spanish speakers. Incredibly there are penas from Galicia, Asturias, Valencia and the pena Andalucia de Londres to be found throughout London. Luis, by incredible coincidence, lived in Verdi House on the Mozart estate, North Kensington and when Margaret Thatcher in 1980 encouraged tenants of council houses to buy their homes he did so. Since then he’s sold the property and moved to a semi-detached house in Eltham, South East London. In 1977 Luis was invited to join the trio Los Zafiros, originally from Galicia and he stayed with them for a decade travelling round the world playing in Israel, Kenya, Zambia, Oman, France and Holland to name but a few. The trio also supported stars such as Sasha Distel, Tommy Cooper and Cilla Black. Musicians have to adapt with the times (discos caused clubs with live music to close down) so Los Zafiros moved to the cruise industry and worked the circuit starting with the Caribbean and on one cruise supported Rita Moreno.
During a gap in the cruise schedule Luis visited Mexico for the first time and was able to sing supported by mariachi musicians
Their agent was Joe Collins, father of Joan and Jacqui, and living in the flat underneath the office was Cliff Richard. During a gap in the cruise schedule Luis visited Mexico for the first time and was able to sing supported by mariachi musicians and found himself in seventh heaven. Louis left Los Zafiros in 1979. His debut disc Los Canciones de un Mariachi was recorded in 1984 and sold well. After time as a solo artist he was invited to sing at a reception in London to mark the National Day of Paraguay and as a result met two like-minded musicians and formed another trio, Los Rancheros. This lasted for a decade until the female member decided to move to Plymouth. Luis retired from singing professionally in 2000 and, at the same time closed, his freelance electrician business. He still sings and when asked by former clients he will do his best to oblige. Luis has only missed two National Days and this was the first year he has not been invited to sing. One of the highlights of his visits has been to sing at Mount Alvernia. The 2009 National Day was missed because his wife was ill and last year because he took her on a cruise to convalesce. However he will be back next year and hopes this time to be invited to sing his Mexican love songs. A couple of years ago he recorded Mi Virgin de Europa and paid for 1000 copies which he gave to Bishop Charles Caruana to sell to raise money for Catholic charities. Luis, commenting as a septuagenarian, said “Gibraltar’s young musicians are getting better and better and the more popular acts have a large enthusiastic following. The Ministry of Culture is taking much more interest in young musicians and goes out of its way to help them. I am most impressed with all the talent that can be heard on the local music scene.” n
Singing with the Mariachis in a Mexican night club
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GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2011