16 Facts About Irvan Perez

Irvan Perez is most well known for the singing of decimas, but he was an accomplished woodcarver.

Irvan Perez knew Isleno Spanish as a first language and possessed little knowledge of English until attending elementary school.

Irvan Perez's father taught him how to sing the traditional songs of his community and carve decoys.

Irvan Perez was known for his high-pitched, tenor voice and particular style when signing and composing decimas.

In 1983, Irvan Perez narrated the documentary Mosquitoes and High Water by the Center for New American Media.

In 1999, Irvan Perez was featured in the PBS series The River of Song: A Musical Journey.

Irvan Perez performed at the Wolf Trap National Folk Festival, Carnegie Hall and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

In 1950, Irvan Perez was employed at the Kaiser Aluminum factory in Chalmette, Louisiana which he would work at for twenty-five years.

Irvan Perez was greatly involved with the promotion of Isleno culture, and he visited the Canary Islands multiple times.

Notably, Irvan Perez was an informant to Samuel Armistead and Manuel Alvar in their individual investigations.

In 2001, Irvan Perez performed for King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain.

Irvan Perez lost irreplaceable recordings of his father's songs, as well as most of his woodworking tools.

Irvan Perez sang at a public concert just three weeks before his death and carved one of his ducks the day he died.

Irvan Perez suffered a heart attack at his home, and he died later that day at Tulane Medical Center on January 8,2008.

Irvan Perez was one of the last of the Isleno decima singers.

Irvan Perez's death is seen as a great loss to the continued presence of Isleno Spanish and the customs of the Canary Islands in Louisiana.