The most famous player of the Llanera harp was born in 1899 in Cunaviche, a small town in the Venezuelan state of Apure where the vast plains are the home to the enormous herds of cattle. This region in the West of Venezuela called the Llano is rich in music and traditional folklore. Figueredo's father played the bandola and the mandolin in local village dances. The Llanera harp, which little Ignacio learned as a child in spite of the long and difficult work which he had to do in the fields, plays a central role in the traditional music of this region.
Figueredo played in his first dances as early as 1914 and he quickly made a name for himself as a performer and composer: his first compositions date from this period. He married in 1925 and the couple had 11 children. Some of his children performed with him in concerts and in his recordings. In 1948, the composer Antonio Estévez and the cuatro player Fredy Reyna heard Figueredo and were astonished by this great musical talent, his vitality, virtuosity and extraordinary sense of rhythm. They invited him to play in Caracas where he quickly became a national star, appearing on television and playing during radio broadcasts.
He also gave lessons of the llanera harp and made concert tours throughout the country. Having received numerous prizes and awards, he returned to his native town as a true hero. Ignacio “Indio” Figueredo died in 1995 at the age of 96 after a career which was full and remarkable. Ignacio “Indio” Figueredo is the composer of more than 300 pieces including Los Caujaritos, Mi Camaguán, Priva Resuello, El Caimán, El Gabán, El Guayabo negro, La Periquera, Zumba que Zumba, María Laya, Marbella, Gavilán, Laguna verde and Amor que se fue, all of which will be published by Caroni Music. Several of these compositions have been wonderfully arranged for guitar by Alirio Díaz.
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