Background
Ayala, the son of musician Emilio Ayala, began playing the accordion when he was 5 years old.
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Pedro Ayala
Edit ProfileCareer
Pedro Ayala lead the birth of conjunto music with his distinctive accordion playing, receiving a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship Award for his contribution to conjunto and folk music By age fourteen, Pedro was playing a two-row button accordion, guitar and playing with one of his favorite accordionists, Chon Alaniz. By 1963 Pedro Ayala"s youngest son Emilio joined the group renaming the group to Pedro Ayala El Monarca del Acordeónew york Los Hermanos Ayala touring the entire United States for the next several years.
Over the course of his career, Ayala made 10 albums and numerous 78- and 45-rpm recordings that included polkas, chotes, valses, and redovas.
Pedro Ayala married Esperanza Benitez in 1935. They had a total of nine children three of which also played instruments.
Hector Ayala, Elia Ayala, Pedro Ayala Junior., Anita Ayala, Ramon Ayala, Pedro Ayala Junior. (Quito), Olga Ayala, Magdalena Ayala, and Emilio Ayala.
In 1988 Pedro Ayala received a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship.
Ayala was given a Texas flag that flew over the state capitol in Austin, Texas by Governor Ann Richards. Pedro Ayala y Los Hermanos Ayala were invited to perform at the White House in Washington, District of Columbia by the Smithsonian Institution. The entire event was documented on video.
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Born
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Died
December 1, 1990 (aged 79) -
Nationality
United States