In the early hours of this Monday, January 8, the news spread of the sensitive death of Christopher Aráuz, a well-known Nicaraguan musician and guitarist who lived in Miami, USA.
The 34-year-old has shown his love for pop music since his youth; Nicaraguan folklore, boleros, trova and various Latin American rhythms make his versatility noticeable, so much so that, self-taught and with the support of various references of the Nicaraguan guitar, he positioned himself as one of the greatest musicians that existed in Nicaragua.
READ MORE: Nicaraguan singer-songwriter Ceshia Ubau wins award in Costa Rica
His friends and colleagues describe him as a man with great artistic sensitivity, noble, funny and charismatic. From his beginnings as a musician in churches to accompanying the famous Cuban singer-songwriter Amaury Gutiérrez in Miami, Christopher stood out for his creative ease, leadership and kindness.
Nicaraguan singer-songwriter Luis Pastor González mourned the death of Cristopher Araúz. Both have been working together in Miami for a year and a half on various recordings and concerts. “For me this was very strong news, very shocking and very sad,” he said in statements to 100% Noticias.
Luis Pastor González with Cristopher Aráuz. Photo from social networks.
“He was my regular musician with whom I performed several concerts in various cities here in the United States,” admitted González.
According to Luis Pastor, both traveled to Atlanta for two private concerts last December for Christmas for a Foundation.
“I had the opportunity to work with Cristopher in Nicaragua at various concerts at the Rubén Darío National Theater. I saw him play and we shared him when we gave concerts with Juan Solórzano. “Christopher was classified as a young guitar virtuoso and it is not because he died at that moment when you can speak well,” highlights Luis Pastor Cristopher’s “talent as a musician,” which he praised when introducing him at each concert .
Cristopher Aráuz with Ceshia Ubau, Nicaraguan singer-songwriter. Photo by Andrea Saro.
He shared the stage with Eduardo Araica, Luis Pastor González, Keyla Rodríguez, Luis Pérez, Juan Solórzano y los Macuá, Luis Enrique and Carlos Mejía Godoy, Trío los Girasoles, Katia Cardenal, Kathya Martínez and Ceshia Ubau. Together with Juan Solórzano and Erving Rayo, he directed Ceshia's first album “Con los Ojos del alma”. Christopher recorded all the guitars on the album, which includes songs like “Las Mujeres de mi tierra.” This recording was recognized regionally and worldwide.
“For me, music has been a great escape in this life and in my family. She was a pillar and a banner that supported me in difficult moments of my life,” Aráuz said in an interview on the website Con Sabor a Pinol.
Cristopher Aráuz performs with Ceshia Ubau and Juan Solórzano in a recording studio in Managua in 2016. Photo: Ceshia Ubau.
“They rated me as one of the best young guitarists in Nicaragua. It's an honor that they have me in a class like this. But how did I start? My teacher was my father and that's interesting because my father doesn't know. “He can play the guitar and only knows four songs,” Aráuz recalled in his last interview.
YOU CAN READ: Second call for university scholarships opened for young Nicaraguans in exile
He confessed that he suffers from depression “Artists are sensitive” as he recalled dedicating a song to Juan Solórzano's son, who died of Covid in Nicaragua.
“But one of the people who struck a chord with me, and who struck a chord with me, and no one can imagine it, is Nicaraguan singer-songwriter Ceshia Ubau. She lives in Costa Rica and she struck a chord with me because I was “directing the production of his album with Juan Solórzano and Ervin Rayo,” Cristopher recalled in October 2023.
Araúz was currently living in Miami, where he worked as a guitarist for various music projects, including with Nicaraguan singer-songwriter Luis Pastor Gonzáles and Carlos Mejía Godoy.
Nicaragua and Central America are losing a jewel of their musical history. May Christopher Aráuz rest in peace.