Carlos Irigoyen Ruiz was a renowned Salvadoran musician during the 1920s-1940s.
Background
Carlos Irigoyen Ruiz was born 2 May, 1903 in San Salvador, El Salvador to a family of Basque descent. Though his father"s family did not have a tradition of professional musicians, his father"s mother, Carmen Irigoyen, was a music lover and encouraged Carlos and his brother José.
Career
He directed the philharmonic and owned several of the most renowned marimba bands performing at the national and international level at the time. José moved to Panama to pursue a musical career, and Carlos began studying law at the University of El Salvador. After 2 years, he abandoned a legal profession and returned to music, attending classes at the Salvadoran School of Music) and taking private music lessons in both El Salvador and Guatemala.
He also studied languages, becoming proficient in English, French and German.
He created numerous marimba bands, including Irigoyen Marimba Central, Marimba Central, El Salvador Country Club, Salvadoran Marimba, New World Marimba, and traveled extensively throughout Latin America, the United States and Europe. Irigoyen was a director of the philharmonic and taught multiple instruments.
He recorded 78rpm acetate records for Radio Corporation of America Victor of his compositions.