Manos Y Arcilla: the Poetry of Carlos Hugo Gamboa.

On Friday, Sept. 17, 2004 at 7:30 p.m. MECA will present Colombian poet Carlos Hugo Gamboa M. The evening will also include a classical guitar performance by Rodrigo Gamboa, Carlos Hugo’s son.

Carlos Hugo Gamboa M. was born in Santiago de Cali in 1926 and received a Licenciatura en Filosofia y Letras y Pedagogia from the Universidad Javerian in 1955. Carlos Hugo has assisted and participated in various national and international conferences and seminars as a teacher in special education and rehabilitation of persons with sensory and physical disabilities. Mr. Gamboa is a member of several organizations including El Consejo Panamericana Prociegos “CPPC”, el Consejo Mundial para el Bienestar de los Ciegos con sede in New York, Los Ayerones de San Antonio in Cali, and el Grupo de Ayuda Psicologica in Cali.

Carlos Hugo Gamboa M.’s job experience includes being assistant director and professor at the Instituto Nacional para Ciegos “INCI” for 1970-1981 and assistant director and professor at the Instituto Nacional para Ninos Ciegos y Sordos de Cali from 1956-1976. Carlos Hugo’s poetic works include a published book of poems, Manos y Arcilla, as well as the unedited books, Mass alla de la noche and Por las huellas de Basho.

Guitarist, vocalist, and percussionist, Rodrigo Gamboa, is a native of Cali, Colombia. From a young age he taught himself guitar and percussion in addition to his studies of the fine arts. Before leaving Colombia, Mr. Gamboa ran a thriving art and graphic design studio and performed in a local chamber ensemble. He specializes in authentic recreations of diverse Latin American styles, especially the folk styles of Colombia and neighboring South American countries.

Rodrigo Gamboa is praised for his uncanny vocal ability, which revives the spirit of such great Latin American singers as Atahualp Yupanqui, Carlos Gardel, Guillermo Portables and Joao Gilberto. On Friday, Sept. 17, 2004 Rodrigo Gamboa will perform nine pieces in conjunction with his father’s poetry. The pieces vary from the Vals El Negrito by Antonio Lauro to Lagrima by Tarrega to Torna a Sorrento by Ernesto di Curtis.

For more information at http://www.meca-houston.org