About Gustavo Adolfo Palma
Lived 1920 – 2009 (aged 89). Gustavo Adolfo Palma was a Guatemalan singer and songwriter.
Gustavo Adolfo Palma (31 August 1920 – 1 December 2009) was a Guatemalan singer, actor, and lyric tenor between 1936 and 1970, nicknamed "the Tenor of Central America" by Guatemalan radio personality José Flamenco y Cotero.
Early years Palma's parents were lawyer Cecilio Palma y Palma and Piedad Recinos. When he was seven years old, his family moved to Guatemala City. He soon began to sing in aficionado programs at the Abril Theater.
Returning to Guatemala in October 1944, he shared a stage with Pedro Vargas, in the glamorous Salon Granada, located in 6ª Avenue and 11 Street of zone 1 and in 1947, he shared a stage with Pedro Infante in Mansion Victoria of the City of Guatemala. In 1955, he acted in the film "El Cristo Negro" (the Black Christ) with the actors Raúl Martinez and Rosa Carmina. The movie filmed in Guatemala and directed and produced by Jose Baviera, of Spanish nationality. This one forms part of the List of Guatemalan films.
In 1956, he was named "most wanted artist", by popular vote, in a contest promoted by the newspaper Mundo Libre, a testimony to the public's esteem. He recorded with several recording houses of Mexico, as well as "Columbia Records" and "Musart Records". He recorded other Central American discography seals.
In 1964, he participated in the Central American Festival of the Song, in El Salvador, obtaining a prize for his song "Tonight, my Love", composed by Marco Tulio Cordón. In 1970, he was the guest of honor in the First Festival of the Central American and Caribbean Song in Panama. The event was carried out 23, 24 and 25 October . Palma interpreted the song "Contigo" ("With You") of his own inspiration, accompanied by an orchestra conducted by maestro Jorge Sarmiento. In this event he again shared the stage with Pedro Vargas.
Palma was artistically versatile, acting in television, radio, night clubs and theaters across the entire Republic. In Guatemala, he was accompanied by famous orchestras led by conductors such as Miguel Sandoval. In 1982, he was the protagonist of the festival "Broadway '82" performed in the Teatro Nacional of Guatemala, where he shared the stage with a then unknown Ricardo Arjona.
Palma also composed of some romantic songs
His last recording, called "Yesterday, Today and Always," was released in 1971.
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Important facts
People in Gustavo Adolfo Palma's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Gustavo Adolfo Palma's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Gustavo Adolfo Palma?
Guatemalan musician (1920-2009)
When was Gustavo Adolfo Palma born?
Gustavo Adolfo Palma was born on 31 August 1920 in Jutiapa.
When did Gustavo Adolfo Palma die?
Gustavo Adolfo Palma died on 1 December 2009 in Guatemala City.
What was Gustavo Adolfo Palma's occupation?
Gustavo Adolfo Palma was a singer and songwriter.
What nationality was Gustavo Adolfo Palma?
Gustavo Adolfo Palma was Guatemalan.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Gustavo Adolfo Palma
· DBpedia: Gustavo Adolfo Palma
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Gustavo Adolfo Palma. https://biography.guide/gustavo-adolfo-palma/
MLA: "Gustavo Adolfo Palma." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/gustavo-adolfo-palma/.
Chicago: "Gustavo Adolfo Palma." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/gustavo-adolfo-palma/.
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