Record cover for Pepe y Flora’s “En la Lucha” album. Photo used with permission by Flora Santiago.
This month The Boricua en la Luna had a chance to catch up with Flora Santiago. Santiago is one of Puerto Rico’s first protest folk singers. She moved to the Bronx in New York City in the 1950s where her absence from Puerto Rico would inspire her love for the island.
Photo provided by Flora Santiago.
During her journey, she met many people that would join her on her voyage of self-discovery. One of these people was Pepe Sanchez with whom she would form the influential recording duo, Pepe y Flora.
Photo of Grupo Tahone. Photo provided by Flora Santiago.
Years later she after returning to Puerto Rico, she went on to form part of the famous music group Taone. Roy Brown, one of the members of this group, composed the music for the Song “Boricua en la Luna” which is the namesake of this blog.
Flora went on to take part in other music groups including Edgardo Delgado y Taller Criollo.
Flora Santiago performs a duet with her daughter Melisa Claudio. Photo provided by Flora Santiago.
Numerous albums, songs, poems, and books later, Flora continues to be an advocate for Puerto Rican independence. Her spirit continues to influence her compatriots through her talents in music and poetry.
Flora Santiago meets recently freed political activist Oscar Lopez. Photo provided by Flora Santiago.
