Francisco "Chico" Antonio Gonzalez Silverio (born 29 October 1945) is a political poet and writer who organised and took part in protests during “The Twelve Years” of

Joaquín Balaguer Joaquín Antonio Balaguer Ricardo (1 September 1906 – 14 July 2002) was a Dominican politician, scholar, writer, and lawyer who was the 41st, 45th and 49th president of the Dominican Republic serving three non-consecutive terms from 1960 t ...

presidency. His most famous song is "Francisco Alberto, Caramba…".

Expresion Joven

The group was established in

Santo Domingo Santo Domingo, formerly known as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city of the Dominican Republic and the List of metropolitan areas in the Caribbean, largest metropolitan area in the Caribbean by population. the Distrito Na ...

in 1972, sponsored by the Dominican sociologist Cholo Brenes . The poet Gonzalez, singers Manuel de Jesus, Ramon Leonardo and Puro Eduardo López, formed the political folk group. Also Rafael Ramon Castro as a substitute for Leonardo. Once formed as a group, they performed for a year and a half, in presentations around the country. These functions were performed under the sponsorship of the local clubs and associations of students in a very difficult environment, given the conditions of strong political repression caused by the government of Joaquin Balaguer in its so-called period of "The Twelve Years". Presentations were made in

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and especially in

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, a city with a strong representation of the Dominican diaspora . In mid- 1973 Expression Joven embraced the cause of solidarity with political prisoners, which at that time abounded in Dominican prisons. Under those circumstances, they recorded the song "Mr. Government, open the gates". All members of the group got arrested several times by the

police forces The police are a constituted body of people empowered by a state with the aim of enforcing the law and protecting the public order as well as the public itself. This commonly includes ensuring the safety, health, and possessions of citize ...

of Balaguer regime. In 1974, Cholo Brenes and Expression Joven assumed the artistic direction of the festival "Siete Dias con el Pueblo (Seven Days With the People)", held between 25 November and 1 December. The event was attended by numerous figures of Latin America and Spain protest songwriters. The group performed for 7 days and their interpretation of the song "Obrero Acepta mi Mano", by the composer Luis Dias, became the anthem of a Festival which resulted in a protest against the government. The group disbanded in 1975.

Discography

*''La Hora Esta Llegando''(1974) *''Obrero Acepta Mi Mano''(1975)

Health problems and disappearance

In March 1974, he had a

cerebral aneurysm An intracranial aneurysm, also known as a cerebral aneurysm, is a Cerebrovascular disease, cerebrovascular disorder characterized by a localized dilation or ballooning of a blood vessel in the brain due to a weakness in the vessel wall. These a ...

. He had a full recovery, but in August 1975 he had the second one. After the second

aneurysm An aneurysm is an outward :wikt:bulge, bulging, likened to a bubble or balloon, caused by a localized, abnormal, weak spot on a blood vessel wall. Aneurysms may be a result of a hereditary condition or an acquired disease. Aneurysms can also b ...

he did not have a full recovery. On 5 October 1997, he disappeared. An extensive search was done for several months, but he was never found.

Bibliography

While cultivated singing and songwriting of social commitment, Chico Gonzalez dabbled in writing poetry and sociopolitical short stories, leaving the publications: *''Con Cuba'' (1981) (With Cuba) - Short stories and poems *''Delirios de un Naufrago'' (1986) (Delusions of a castaway) – Poems

References

External links

Folkways.si.eduCantonuevo.perrerac.orgWorldcat.orgBooks.google.comTallerlatino.orgElnacional.com.doLainformacion.com.do
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gonzalez, Chico 1945 births 20th-century Dominican Republic poets People from Santiago de los Caballeros Dominican Republic male poets 20th-century Dominican Republic male writers Living people