A Tribute to Pedro Infante

By Raymundo Eli Rojas

Pedro Infante Cruz, was born in Guamuchil,Sinaloa, on December 17, 1917. He worked as a carpenter from a young age, though his interest in music led him to make his own guitar, a labor that took two years.

In 1937, Pedro Infante sang for the first time in public at a local festival in Sinaloa. His first wife, Maria Luisa Leon, convinced him to move to the capital to try his luck. In Mexico City, he was given the opportunity to act for the radio Station XEB, though only making a modest sum. While there, he also performed in concert halls, interpreting the songs of Alberto Cervantes, Jose Alfredo Jimenez, Cuco Sanchez, Tomas Mendez, Ruben Fuentes, Salvador Flores, and many more. From that point, he was to go on to record more than two-hundred albums, his first --El Soldado Raso--which he recorded on November 19, 1943 on the Peerless label. Some of his songs include La Que Se Fue, El Durazno, Dulce Patria, Maldita Sea Mi Suerte, Asi Es La Vida, Manana Rosalia, Cartas a Eufemia, Flor Sin Retono, and a multitude of others.

His movie career began in 1942 with the movie La Feria de Las Flores. He then went on to star in Jesucita en Chihuahua, Sobre Las Olas, Gavilan Pollero, and La Oveja Negra among many others. He made Los Tres Garcia, its sequel Vuelven Los Garcia, El Inocente, and Dicen Que Soy Mujeriego with Sara Garcia. With Marga Lopez, he made Un Rincon Cerca Del Cielo and its sequel Ahora Soy Rico. Antonio Badu and Infante made the hilarious comedies Los Hijos de Maria Morales and El Gavilan Pollero. Infante also brought us the memorable character of Pepe "El Toro," in the movies Nosotros Los Pobres, Ustedes Los Ricos, and Pepe, El Toro.

In 1947, Pedro Infante was involved in the first of three airplane accidents that he would have in his life. However, his love of flying kept him going back into the air. In 1949, he was involved in another plane crash near Zitacuaro, Michoacan. He suffered serious injury to his head and the situation looked grave. After a successful three hour surgery and many hours of praying, the Mexican people could breathe a sigh of relief. Following some rehabilitation, he went on to make more movies like A Toda Maquina and its sequel Que Te Ha Dado Esa Mujer with Luis Aguilar "El Gallo Giro," in which they played two motorcycle cops riding American Harley Davidson motorcycles. Infante also did a tour of the United States, concentrating on New York and Texas. In 1951 he, Sarita Montiel, and the hilarious actor and singer Lalo Gonzalez "El Piporro" came out with the movie Ahi Viene Martin Corona and its sequel El Enamorado.

History was made in 1952, when the two idolos of Mexico, Pedro Infante and Jorge Negrete starred together in the comedy Dos Tipos de Cuidado. In 1955, Pedro Infante sang for the famous radio station XEW, taking part in the popular program Asi Es Mi Tierra. During one of his many tours of South America, he received the Medalla de Oro Simon Bolivar (Gold Medal of Simon Bolivar) from the president of Venezuela, becoming the first foreigner to receive that award. During this time he also did more tours of the United States, this time concentrating in California. There had always been friendship and friendly rivalry between Pedro Infante and Jorge Negrete. When Negrete died in 1953, the throne that was shared was left solely to Infante. The news of his death, though, brought him great sadness. During the funeral procession for his friend, Infante rode his famous Harley Davidson motorcycle as an escort.

In 1956, Infante starred with Maria Felix in a movie in color called Tizoc and also made his final movie Escuela Para Rateros. Planned were more movies and he was in the process of making another. Also planned were some appearances in some American movies with Marlon Brando, John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Joan Crawford, among others. In July of 1956, the Academy of Cinemagraphic Science & Art of Mexico presented Pedro Infante with the Aerial Award for his movie La Vida No Vale Nada.

On April 15th of 1957, Infante woke up early and rode his Harley Davidson motorcycle to the airport. His love of flying brought about his death that day. He was killed in a plane crash near Merida, Yucatan. At 11:15, Manuel Bernal, of the radio station XEW, announced, "Ha muerto Pedro Infante" ("Pedro Infante has died.") Newspaper headlines read: "Pedro Infante Perished Yesterday in an Airplane he Co-Piloted," and "Astonishment, Mourning, and Pain from the Death of an Actor."

That day, forty years ago, was declared a national day of mourning in Mexico. All the radio and television stations of Mexico gave programs in homage to their idolo, practically playing Infante's songs all day. When his coffin arrived in Mexico City, a multitude descended on the airport. At the National Association of Actors and Composers in the Jorge Negrete Theater, his body was placed so that his people could pay homage. There, mariachis bid farewell with Amorcito Corazon, the bolero he had made so famous. At the XEW a plaque was put up in studio four, in commemoration of the last place Infante sang in the Asi Es Mi Tierra program.

In many households on Sunday afternoons, one can find people watching the old Pedro Infante movies. His recording of Tu, Solo Tu which is probably the best rendition of that song, came out in the movie soundtrack of Mi Familia/My Family. His songs ranged from valses, cha-cha-cha's, boleros, and canciones rancheras. He was accompanied by the great musical ensembles of that time like El Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan, El Orquesta de Pedro Garcia, El Orquesta de Noe Fajardo, Trio Claveras, Andres Huesca y sus Constenos, and the guitar playing of Antonio Bisbiesca.

He brought the bolero ranchero, into prominent use by mariachis and ranchera singers, as seen in the singing Javier Solis, Juan Mendoza "El Tariacuri", and Marco Antonio Muniz. In the styles of many singers today, one can find Pedro Infante's style in their voices. Pedro Infante has not been forgotten. Though he made millions, he always represented the common poor carpenter he once was. Infante was a symbol of someone who had worked himself up from nothing. To many Latin Americans, he wasn't just an actor and singer, but much, much more. Forty years have done nothing to erase his influence and to this day, flowers are taken to his grave.