Domingo Cruz (3 July 1864 – 20 October 1934), a.k.a., "Cocolía", was a late 19th-century Puerto Rican musician, and director of the Ponce Firefighters' Band (now the Ponce Municipal Band).Ponceños Ilustres. Municipality of Ponce. In memory of tropical music great, “Cocolía” Juan A. Hernandez. Puerto Rico Daily Sun. 26 February 2010.
Early years Domingo Cruz was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico on 3 July 1864.Ponceños Ilustres. Municipality of Ponce.
Professional career Cocolía (Spanish for little crab) played the saxhorn with "La Lira Ponceña" orchestra (by 1919 also known as the Ponce Symphony OrchestraLuis Fortuño Janeiro. "Album Historico de Ponce (1692–1963)". Page 405. Imprenta Fortuño. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 1963.) under the baton of Ponce's renowned composer Juan Morel Campos. Famous for his danceable tunes, Cocolía was also a music teacher and director of the Firefighters' Band, the Banda Municipal de Ponce. Upon the death of Juan Morel Campos, Cruz became the director of the Ponce Municipal Band.Las Retretas. Municipality of Ponce. He directed it from 1896 until 1916.Don Domingo Cruz (Cocolia). Museo del Parque de Bombas de Ponce. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 2 March 2011.
Death Cocolia died in 1934 in the Province of Alicante, Spain.Frommer's Walking Tours
Legacy
The city of Ponce recognized his work with a statue. For many years, Cocolia's statue stood in front of the Instituto de Musica Juan Morel Campos, which took over the space previously occupied by the downtown Ponce fire station, next to Teatro La Perla.In memory of tropical music great, “Cocolía.” Juan A. Hernandez. Puerto Rico Daily Sun. 26 February 2010. Accessed 20 July 2017. It currently (2012) stands at Plaza Las Delicias.
Cocolia is also recognized at the Park for the Illustrious Ponce Citizens.Music. Travel Ponce. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
In Ponce, there is also a park named after him at the intersection of Calle Intendente Ramirez, Calle Mayor, and Calle Tricoche streets.Luis Fortuño Janeiro. "Album Historico de Ponce (1692–1963)". 1963. Pages 97–98. Imprenta Fortuño. Ponce, Puerto Rico.
See also Juan Morel Campos Julio Alvarado Tricoche Luis Osvaldo Pino Valdivieso List of Puerto Ricans People from Ponce, Puerto Rico Escuela Libre de Música de Ponce
References
External links Statue of Cocolia