December 2015


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Los Parranderos De UWI marks 35 years

When you think about it, 35 years is a long time, going right back to the beginning of the eighties and a whole generation dancing to a different beat.

In 2015, the Los Parranderos De UWI celebrated its 35 years with a book tracing its history and its achievements. Nuestra Canción – Our Song was edited by its longstanding member (from 1983) and tireless advocate, Miguel Browne and offers a CD of music to enjoy while browsing the contents.

There are some interesting nuggets inside, like the first name: Los Parranderos Universitarios” and that in the early days, “the group played primarily at campus concerts and functions and when the term ended, made the rounds to homes of group members and friends.”

“In its early days, the band functioned primarily as a campus aggregation, performing at faculty concerts and shows. As such, very few knew of the group’s existence outside the University fraternity. However, the group’s entry into the competition arena in 1993 gave it national exposure. The many awards and accolades over the fourteen year competitive phase culminating in its emergence as National Parang Champions in 2006 made Los Parranderos de UWI a household name among parang aficionados,” writes Browne.

It is rare to hear of groups “paranging” any house (right or wrong) these days so this book and the CD might be just the thing to bring that spirit back to the season.