Biography: Andy Palacio

Andy Vivian Palacio was a Belizean singer and musician. Born December 2, 1960 in Barranco, a coastal town in Belize, died on January 19, 2008. Palacio achieved fame in the late 80's, when he became the most famous musician in Belize and a major proponent of Garifuna culture. The orchestra of Palacio, called the Garifuna Collective, invented "punta rock", music inspired by traditional dance of the Garifunas. Palacio sang in Garifuna, arawakano, Spanish and English. Was designated Belize's cultural ambassador, Palacio was also deputy administrator of the National Institute of Culture and History of his country.