The full City Council Totana agreed last night unanimously to hold a tribute to nominate institutional and public spaces of the town of Tudela Juan Totana legs, known as "Uncle John Rita", coinciding with its 100 years of age who meet the next day February 14 and its contribution to the promotion of folklore.
The event is scheduled to be held next February 11, at 12.30 hours, existing in a square Triptolemos area, between the Avenue de Mazarron and Cartagena street of this town, and with the participation of the Gang of Aledo.
"Uncle John Rita" as it is known in the local and regional cultural sphere is a man of enviable artistic and human, very close to the town of Totana, where lived for many years.
Born in Aledo a February 14, 1912, but the vicissitudes of life he was transferred with his mother and brother to Zuniga, in the town of Lorca, which was natural and lived until she married.
For over 70 years living in Totana.
"Uncle John Rita" said on numerous occasions the enormous difficulties he had to suffer in the early years of his life when he still got seven years to serve with some shepherds in exchange for food and a place to sleep.
He worked as a pastor, servant in wealthy homes, farmer, and esparto picker in the old mining operations Lorca sulfur.
Until the Civil War, where he served in the Republican ranks as a chef, prides itself on not having fired a single shot throughout the contest, in Madrid, Castellon and Extremadura.
He moved to Totana after meeting his wife, where their first child was born and calamities endured until his participation in the Civil War, which made the family situation was even more painful to increased insecurity in their absence.
His love of singing, poetry and popular ballads sight-time goes back to his child, when they went to ask for the "eagle".
Later, as a waiter, crews began to seek other people, until he joined the Gang of Aledo, which acts as a script.
Besides Easter Verses, Uncle John Rita has sung and danced Malaga, partying and jacks and any other genre of popular song.
His character awake, affable, affectionate, open, subtle, close, conventional, optimistic, realistic and healthy humor in their songs awaken the love and admiration of many people who love Trova.
Juan Tudela Legs has been a showcase of our land inside and outside through the trova, because, not only what we have seen on stage in our region but in many other parts of Spain and has even acted, as always Aledo his Gang, in some European countries.
There are many awards and distinctions received by Uncle John Rita, but precisely Totana City in February 2010 gave the title of Honorary Citizen Juan Tudela Legs, during an emotional event that took place in the Sociocultural Center Jail and it came to completing the record that began in December 2008.
Adhered to the file in its day a total of 44 entities and associations of various parts of the Region
In addition, the Autonomous Region of Murcia also gave him the last day June 8, 2011, in the act of the Day of the Region, one of the Diplomas Distinguished Service for his contribution to popular culture Murcia.
