Pedro Villagra

Talented Pedro Villagra started getting involved in music while studying anthropology at Santiago de Chile. In 1977, the musician formed his first alternative project, called Santiago del Nuevo Extremo, adding different elements to traditional local folklore. Villagra's second project was named Huara and was known for combining Latin folk and foreign sounds and rhythms. A third project was called Kunza, an experimental jazz fusion band. During the '80s, Pedro Villagra made an important contribution to debuting Chilean acts, such as Pablo Herrera in 1983 and a Latin rock band called Upa! in 1986. In the mid-'90s, Villagra joined Latin folk group Inti Illimani, soon forming a new band called Pedroband, recording Pagano in 1998 and participating in a compilation called Oasis Jazz Sampler. ~ Drago Bonacich