The Puerto Rico Daily Sun reports that “independentistas, patriots, artists, musicians, and everyone in between with at least a hint of ‘boricua’ national pride will celebrate their Puerto Ricanness” during the 36th edition of the four-day “Festival de Claridad,” which this year pays homage to singer Lucecita Benítez. The festival is traditionally hosted by Claridad, the Puerto Rican weekly leftist newspaper, which just celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2009. “Festival de Claridad,” will be held February 25-28 at the parking lot of the Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico.

The festivities will begin on February 25 with performances by Caribe Gitano (8pm), Roy Brown (9pm), leading into Benítez’s concert (10pm). On February 26 will include shows by Andy Montañez, ChivoLoco, Plena Libre, and La Muza. On Saturday, February 27, at 1pm, will feature Plenazo Claridad, “where a local plena group along with everyone else there with a drum in hand will jam it all out until 4pm.” Later that evening, there will be performances by Jazz Montuno, Mapeyé, Tata Cepeda y Gracimá, Viento de Agua, Así Somos, Estereo Nosotros, Radio Pirata, and Los Majaderos de Cachete Maldonado. Highlights on Sunday, February28, will be a troubadour contest and performances by Atabal, Fiel a la Vega, and Los Rayos Gamma.

Lucecita Benítez, better known in Puerto Rico as Lucecita, has been hailed “La Voz Nacional de Puerto Rico” [The National Voice of Puerto Rico]. The article explains:

One of the members of the Nueva Ola popular music movement of the 1960s created by Alfred D. Herger alongside Chucho Avellanet and Lissette, the interpreter of “Soy de una raza pura” is widely known for her hit “Génesis” and her ballads of love and despair, as well as for her thunderous, yet moving and inspiring voice. Once compared to France’s Edith Piaf, Benítez has made a name for herself performing songs by Alberto Cortéz, Tony Croatto and from numerous luminaries from the Latin American soundscape, including Mercedes Sosa, Pablo Milanés, Joan Manuel Serrat, and Roy Brown, among others.

For full article, see http://www.prdailysun.com/index.php?page=news.article&id=1265942313

Photo from http://djangueo.blogspot.com/2009/08/lucecita-benitez-recibio-la-tarjeta-de.html