Pedro Espinel Torres
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Pedro Espinel Torres (August 1, 1908 – November 8, 1981 in Lima) was a Peruvian composer of música criolla. He is best known for his piece El Rey de las Polkas.[1]
Espinel worked in various jobs — messenger, printing apprentice and worker in a wood warehouse — while cultivating his passion for music. He formed small musical groups with guitar and castañuelas, with which they softened bar meetings and fiestas, gaining the love of the Limeño public.[2]
In 1925 he became a member of the conductor Felipe Pinglo Alva, considered the “Padre de la Canción Criolla”. This friendship gave rise to a deep admiration and a great musical influence that marked his style. Espinel learned from Pinglo the art of combining popular poetry with Creole melody, which led him to develop his own style.[2][3]
