The Saturday briefing

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

- by CAROLINE FORD

Is there anything you're yearning to know? Send your questions, on any subject, to the contacts given below, and we will do our best to answer them...

I remember in the early 1960s, an instrumental by a South American group who played harps. Who were they and can their music still be accessed today?

R Ederby, Northants

The South American group who became internationally popular in the 1960s - led by their charismatic singer Luis Alberto del Paraná - was Los Paraguayos.

Their music was distinctive for blending traditional Paraguayan folk with other Latin genres, using instruments like the harp, guitar and bongo drums, along with unique vocal harmonies.

The group was formed in the 1950s and known as Trio Los Paraguayos with Digno Garcoa on harp, and singers Agustin Barboza and del Paraná on guitar.

In 1953, President Federico Chavez offered artists from the country 3,200 dollars to spread Paraguayan music to Europe.

Travelling on diplomatic passports, Trio Los Paraguayos arrived in Genoa in 1954 and one of their first performances was singing "India" on Vatican Radio.

After moving to Antwerp, they signed to Philips and won a gold disc for record sales in Europe.

Once the official "Cultural Mission" was over in 1956, the trio split up and del Paraná went on to found Los Paraguayos.