Luis María Frómeta Pereira was born in Pimentel, Duarte Province, Dominican Republic, on November 15, 1915. He would move with his family to San Francisco de Macorís some years later. The school he attended there had compulsory music lessons, so he learned much of his musical training there.
In 1930, at the age of 15, he founded and was the resident conductor of the Banda del Cuerpo de Bomberos de Ciudad Trujillo (Ciudad Trujillo's Fire Brigade's Band). He also founded the Orquesta Sinfónica de Santo Domingo during this time.
In 1933, he moved back to Santo Domingo. During these years, he would meet and work with some of his closest friends and associates: Freddy Coronado, Ernesto Chapuseaux and Simó Damirón, whom he already knew from school . The Conjunto Tropical and the Santo Domingo Jazz Band were formed then, as well.
Frómeta then began studying Pre-Medicine in the Universidad de Santo Domingo and had to abandon all musical activity during this time. However, he eventually dropped out on his third year to dedicate himself fully to music.
Frómeta and his orchestra arrived in Venezuela in December 1937 with his orchestra to play regularly in a dance club in a Caracas, the Roof Garden. The Santo Domingo Jazz Band did well, but the club owners didn't think the name would stick- so they had Frómeta change it to something more marketeable. Frómeta went along, which got him barred from ever returning to his native Dominican Republic as Trujillo considered the change- "Billo's Caracas Boys"- an insult. Billo, Grandes Éxitos, a compilation album of the most famous songs of the Billo's Caracas Boys, was released in 1996.
Frómeta continued to play in Venezuela until the fall of Marcos Pérez Jiménez in 1958. Accused of being a supporter of the regime, he was barred by the Asociación Musical del D.F y Estado Miranda from ever playing in Venezuela again.
Following this, he moved to Cuba to play with a Cuban band there.
In 1960, a special session of the National Assembly was convened in Caracas. The purpose was to lift the ban passed on Billo in 1958, which was by then considered to have been unfair. That very same year, Frómeta returned to Venezuela.
On April 27, 1988, he suffered a stroke while rehearsing with the Venezuela Symphony Orchestra for a concert-tribute in his honour that would occur the very next day: just after he finished conducting the practice run for "Un Cubano en Caracas", he collapsed on the ground as the orchestra was applauding his performance. Frómeta died the following week on May 5, 1988 in Caracas.
Tres Perlas
Billo's Caracas Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Santa Marta, Barranquilla y Cartagena
Son tres perlas que brotaron en la arena.
Tres estrellas del mar, del Mar Caribe
Que descansan en la orilla de la playa.
En el bello amanecer de su bahía,
Sus notarias victorias, su hidagía,
Sus leyendas de amor, su melodía.
Al morir el Gordonete Magdalena
Barranquilla la arenosa se levanta.
Alegría y carnaval su ambiente llena,
Armonía de color su pueblo encanta.
Consentida, orgullosa y benerada
Cartagena la heroíca está dormida.
Paraíso de piratas acosada
Hoy descansa feliz tierra querida.
Santa Marta, Barranquilla y Cartagena
Son tres perlas que brotaron en la arena.
Tres estrellas del mar, del Mar Caribe
Que descansan en la orilla de la playa.
En la costa del Caribe tierra mía
En palmera de sal de fina arena.
Hay tres perlas con luz de fantasía,
Santa Marta, Barranquilla y Cartagena.
El Castillo San Felipe, en Cartagena
El San Pedro Alejandrino, en Santa Marta
Conocer Puerto Colombia, en Barraquilla
Santa Marta, Barranquilla y Cartagena
Visitar a BocaChica, en Cartagena
Resvalar en Robadero, en Santa Marta
Recorrer Paseo Bolivar, en Barranquilla
Santa Marta, Barranquilla y Cartagena
Y la Playa de Marbella, en Cartagena
Y la Punta de Bertín, en Santa Marta
Soledad y Payo Galán, en Barranquilla
Santa Marta, Barranquilla y Cartagena
El Castillo San Felipe, en Cartagena
El San Pedro Alejandrino, en Santa Marta
Conocer Puerto Colombia, en Barraquilla
Santa Marta, Barranquilla y Cartagena
Visitar a BocaChica, en Cartagena
Resvalar en Robadero, en Santa Marta
Recorrer Paseo Bolivar, en Barranquilla
Santa Marta, Barranquilla y Cartagena
Y la Playa de Marbella, en Cartagena
Y la Punta de Bertín, en Santa Marta
Soledad y Payo Galán, en Barranquilla
Santa Marta, Barranquilla y Cartagena
The lyrics of Tres Perlas by Billo's Caracas Boys touch upon the beauty and uniqueness of three cities in Colombia - Santa Marta, Barranquilla, and Cartagena. These three cities are referred to as "three pearls" that have emerged from the sandy beaches and are now stars of the Caribbean Sea. The song celebrates the distinct characteristics of each city and their great historical and cultural significance.
The song starts by highlighting the beauty of Santa Marta, with its picturesque bay where the morning sun shines bright. The city is known for its inspiring victories, ancient myths, and melodious music. Barranquilla is depicted as a vibrant city that has risen beyond its struggles, and the friendly community is always ready to welcome visitors to their vibrant carnivals. The song describes Cartagena as a historical city with a heroic past, famous for its paradise-like beaches that are perfect for relaxing and unwinding.
The song invites the listener to explore and visit various landmarks in each city, such as the San Felipe Castle in Cartagena, the San Pedro Alejandrino in Santa Marta, or Puerto Colombia in Barranquilla. The song is an ode to the rich and diverse culture and history of Colombia, represented by these three cities.
Line by Line Meaning
Santa Marta, Barranquilla y Cartagena
These three cities, Santa Marta, Barranquilla, and Cartagena, are important pearls that emerged on the sandy beaches of the Caribbean coastline
Son tres perlas que brotaron en la arena.
They are like three precious pearls that originated from the sandy beaches of this land
Tres estrellas del mar, del Mar Caribe
They are like three sparkling stars that shine brightly in the Caribbean Sea
Que descansan en la orilla de la playa.
These cities lie peacefully on the edge of the beautiful beaches
En el bello amanecer de su bahía,
At the beautiful dawn in the bay of these cities
Se refleja en Santa Marta su alegría.
One can see the joy reflected in Santa Marta at this moment
Sus notarias victorias, su hidagía,
This is a place of notable victories, hidden treasures, and mysteries
Sus leyendas de amor, su melodía.
It is a land filled with tales of love and music
Al morir el Gordonete Magdalena
After the death of the great leader, Magdalena
Barranquilla la arenosa se levanta.
Barranquilla, the sandy one, rises
Alegría y carnaval su ambiente llena,
Joyful and festive vibes fill the atmosphere
Armonía de color su pueblo encanta.
The harmony of colors is captivating for the people here
Consentida, orgullosa y benerada
Cartagena is a beloved, proud and blessed city
Cartagena la heroíca está dormida.
The heroic Cartagena is currently at rest
Paraíso de piratas acosada
This is a land of pirates who once plagued this region
Hoy descansa feliz tierra querida.
But today, it is a peaceful and happy place well-loved by its people
En la costa del Caribe tierra mía
This land belongs to me on the Caribbean coast
En palmera de sal de fina arena.
It is surrounded by palm trees, salt, and fine sand
Hay tres perlas con luz de fantasía,
There are three pearls here that shine like a fantasy
Santa Marta, Barranquilla y Cartagena.
They are Santa Marta, Barranquilla, and Cartagena
El Castillo San Felipe, en Cartagena
The San Felipe Castle in Cartagena
El San Pedro Alejandrino, en Santa Marta
The San Pedro Alejandrino in Santa Marta
Conocer Puerto Colombia, en Barraquilla
Explore the Puerto Colombia in Barranquilla
Visitar a BocaChica, en Cartagena
Visit BocaChica in Cartagena
Resvalar en Robadero, en Santa Marta
Slip and slide in Robadero in Santa Marta
Recorrer Paseo Bolivar, en Barranquilla
Stroll through Paseo Bolivar in Barranquilla
Y la Playa de Marbella, en Cartagena
And the Marbella Beach in Cartagena
Y la Punta de Bertín, en Santa Marta
And the Bertin Point in Santa Marta
Soledad y Payo Galán, en Barranquilla
Experience Soledad and Payo Galan in Barranquilla
Santa Marta, Barranquilla y Cartagena
These are the three shining pearls
Writer(s): Vidal Carlos, Mendoza Victor
Contributed by Reagan A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.