# David Záizar

David Záizar was a Mexican mariachi singer and actor who appeared in many Mexican films. He was active beginning in the 1940s and until his death in 1982, due to a respiratory infection. What earned him the title of "Rey del Falsete" or "King of the Falsetto" was the fact that he displaced Miguel Aceves Mejía, who had the title until Záizar's appearance on the ranchera music scene.

## Career

Initially, he joined forces with his brother, Juan Záizar, with whom he formed a duo. Prior to this, they had both been working on individual projects, especially Juan, who was a renowned composer and singer. They had only sung together for very special occasions, like their tribute to honor the famous ranchera composer, also from Jalisco, Pepe Guízar. Out of this union came the famous duo, "Los Hermanos Záizar" (the Záizar brothers). The brothers mainly recorded on Peerless Records, but they also made some recordings on RCA Victor and RCA Camden in their early years. Nearly all of his solo recordings recorded on Peerless. Like most Mexican folk songs, the majority of those interpreted by David that we have left today are about lost loves, unfaithful women, Mexico and its people, and several other topics commonly present throughout ranchera music.

## Death

On January 2, 1982, Záizar died in Mexico City at the age of 53, due to non-traumatic cardiac arrest. His body was buried in a crypt within the plot of the National Association of Actors (ANDA) of the Garden Pantheon, located in the same city.

## Legacy

His songs are considered an integral part of the Mexican musical heritage and are comparable, for instance, to Woody Guthrie's influence on American folk music.
In addition to his own recordings, many of his songs have been recorded successfully by renowned recording artists from around the Spanish-speaking world, most notably Miguel Aceves Mejía, Pedro Infante, Rocío Dúrcal, Javier Solís, Pedro Fernández, Jorge Negrete, José Alfredo Jiménez, Vikki Carr, Luis Miguel, Lola Beltrán, Alejandro Fernández, Chavela Vargas, Maná, Antonio Aguilar, Vicente Fernández, Julio Iglesias, Joaquín Sabina, Manolo García, Los Tigres del Norte, and Gualberto Castro.
In Tamazula, his house was adorned with an allusive plaque and “Reforma” street changed its name to “Hermanos Záizar.” In the same city, on September 24, 2009, the General Directorate of Cultural Linkage of the Ministry of Culture of Jalisco inaugurated the Hermanos Záizar Museum, which houses a section dedicated to the history of the town, with paleontology and archeology rooms, a section for children and another for ethnographic studies. On the upper level of the museum, charro costumes used by the brothers, their discography, photos and a small music library are exhibited.
A monument has been erected in his honor in the Parque de las Rosas, now renamed "David Záizar" in the Colonia Militar Marte, Iztacalco, Mexico City.

## Partial list of songs

* Indita Mía
* El Preso De San Juan De Ulúa
* El Abandonado
* Flor Silvestre
* La Malagueña
* Cielo Rojo
* Cuatro Vidas
* Esta Tristeza Mía
* Sueño
* Dolor De Mi Dolor
* Se Me Hizo Fácil
* Hace Un Año
* Albur De Amor
* Llorona
* Hay Unos Ojos
* Amor De Los Dos
* El Profugo
* Anillo De Compromiso
* Estrellita Marinera
* Rayando El Sol
* Un Viejo Amor
* Suenen Guitarras
* Por Una Mujer Casada
* Mi Terruño
* Las Rejas No Matan
* La Barca De Oro
* Paloma Negra
* Me Voy Lejos
* El Jinete
* El Adiós Del Soldado
* Escaleras De La Cárcel