Ángel Agustín María Carlos Fausto Mariano Alfonso del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Lara Aguirre y del Pino (1900-1970), better known as Agustín Lara, has been one of the most prolific Mexican composers and, according to writer Ricardo Garibay, “an essence of Mexican soul”.
Native of Veracruz, self-taught and with an out-of-this-world musical vocation, at 13 years old he worked as a pianist in a brothel and composed songs for every woman he met until he rose to prominence as the distinguished bolero singer of a whole era and a legendary womanizer.
“The Golden Thin Man”, as he was known, counts over 700 amongst his registered songs; including the most famous, known and sung all over the world, “Solamente una vez”, “Farolito” and “Granada” —the hymn adopted by the city of Alhambra.
In 2015 the Mexican Society of Authors and Composers (SACM) awarded him the Juventino Rosas posthumous recognition, which honors deceased authors whose work has crossed borders, transcending time and remaining valid until our days for the glory of Mexico in the world.