 GARCIA, NINO July 16, 1934 - July 28, 2014 The Albuquerque community was saddened to hear that one of their native residents, whose career spanned from Barelas to Broadway, suffered a cardiac arrest on July 28, 2014 while on vacation in Madrid, Spain. Nino was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico to Saturnino (Nino) and Louisa (Lua) Garcia. From an early age, it was noted by all, that he was musically gifted with "perfect pitch" (voice), able to play complex classical music scores on the piano, and with perfect posture & strength he was able to excel in both Ballet Espanol (Flamenco) and Modern Dance. He grew up and received his education in Albuquerque, graduating with a BFA & MA in piano and voice from the University of New Mexico. After graduation from UNM, Nino was in the Army--heavy weapons--infantry division. He was transferred to the US Army Band, where he shared the piano bench with Peter Duchin. Upon discharge from the Army, Nino went to New York City with his duffle bag and $99 "muster out" pay. He had further studies at the Julliard School of Music, Westminster Choir College and Queens College in New York. Nino learned Modern Dance from Martha Graham and had Spanish Dance Classes with Teresa and Mariquita Flores. He studied acting under Mr. Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York. To enhance his vocal skills, Nino was coached by Lily Wexberg and Vera Byrne. He also expanded his piano key board skills to mastering the playing of a pipe organ under the tutelage of Dr. Paul-Martin Marki, Richard Amend, Nina Ancona, and Wesley Selby. The early years of Nino's vast professional musical career started as a Flamenco dancer and Music Director with Maria Alba and Ramon de los Reyes Dance Company. He toured the United States as pianist and Musical Director for Ximenez-Vargas Ballet Espanol for eight years. Nino was the opening act for the McGuire Sisters ,Tommy Sands and the legend Marlene Ditrich. She was his favorite because it was all glamour and every detail was worked out to perfection. In NYC, Nino started playing piano for various voice teachers, dance classes, and opera workshops with people like Doris Doree. People noticed that Nino sight read very well, so the word spread around and Nino got more and more work. He played piano in all the rehearsal studios of the time (on 6th Avenue and 47th Street; Variety Arts on 46th; Jerry Leroys on 8th Avenue & 47th; Showcase on 8th and 56th; Alexaders on 57th.) Nino would take a quick subway ride up to the Ansonia Hotel and the sister building to play for dozens of teachers. He had studies at Jacob Pillow, so he met many dancers and played the piano for them. Among them were Carola Goya and Matteo. Carola played beautiful castanet solos to great Spanish music. Others were Rosario Galan; Elba O Campo (the great queen of the Gypsies); Carmen Amaya; Maria Alba; Ramon de los Reyes; Roberto Iglesias and many others. Nino also played piano for many singers and instrumentalists, such as, Rjui Mascaarenas; Amalia Rodrigues; and Vera Brynner. Columbia Artists hired Nino as an accompanist. He stayed with them for about 10 years, traveling all over the world doing "one night stands" and "community concerts" for William Primrose, George Fenley, Lola Beltran, the Ortiz Trio (later known as the Coronados). Nino was also the pianist for the Graz Opera School in Graz, Austria; the Spoleto Festival in Italy (where he met his good friend/Broadway & International star Patti LuPone); and the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival (for 13 seasons). For six years, Nino was also a Chorus Teacher and Musical Director for the New York City Public School System. A job he did not particularly enjoy, but it paid the bills. His first job from pianist to Lead Tenor was in "Son of Irene". This was a production directed and choreographed by the great & talented Busby Berkely. Then summer stock with the Kansas City Starlite Theatre and Casa Manana in Texas. Nino was hired by the New York City Opera Company in 1966 and was a full-time member of their ensemble until 1973 as a Tenor. In1973, Nino was hired by the Metropolitan Opera Company in New York City as a Full time member of their Chorus. He was already a well-seasoned performer with almost half-a-century of experience. Plus, Nino had previously worked part-time in the "Old Met Opera House" as Security where he was given the honor of escorting Hubert Humphrey through three passage ways of the old Met to his seat. Nino lived for music twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week. On Sundays, he was the Organist & Choir Director for many churches in NYC. Among them were The Central Methodist Church, Brooklyn; First Presbyterian Church, Whitestone; St. James Episcopal Church, Flushing; United Methodist Church, Jackson Heights; North Congregational Church, Bronx; St. Lucy's - St. Patrick's, Brooklyn; and Emmet Fox Church of the Healing Christ. Tragedy struck Nino on November 3, 2002, after his performance at the Metropolitan Opera. Nino was an innocent driver who became involved in a criminal police chase of armed robbers resulting in a multi vehicle accident in which his car was struck on the driver's side and subsequently rolled over several times. Nino suffered multiple trauma; the most serious of which was an aortic dissection (the same type of injury that killed Princess Diana). Not too many people can survive this injury yet alone the multiple broken bones and other severely injured organs in his body. Through prayer and the talented medical staff at New York Presbyterian Hospital, Nino kept hanging on to life. Unfortunately, a few weeks after his admittance to the hospital, Nino went into cardiac arrest; was deprived of oxygen for five minutes; and had to have his tracheostomy tube in his throat replaced. It took Nino months to fully come out of his medically induced coma. It took years of physical therapy for him to learn to do everything again. His beautiful Tenor voice was gone and his career with the Metropolitan Opera was over. Nino had to retire from singing. Since Nino was always married to his music career, he was determined to not let his disabilities limit him. He left New York and returned to the beautiful home he had built for his mother (behind their original adobe house) in Albuquerque. His mother, Lua, nurtured her baby son until she died at 100. Nino kept pressing on. And as they say in show business, "PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE," and Nino took that to heart by playing the organ. At the time of his death, he was the Organist and Choir Director for the First Presbyterian Church in Belen. Nino was preceded in death by his parents, Saturnino & Louisa Garcia, and brother Andrew L. Garcia, Captain USN, (Ret). He is survived by his brother Ernie Candelaria (aka Ernie Kemm); his sister Kathryn Garcia and her children Cindy Garcia-Uyenoyama, Rob, & Nina Sanchez; his sister-in-law Vickie Garcia and children Andy, Steve, Mike, Tom (whose son Tyler was born on Nino's birthday) & Theresa Garcia-Stohlman; as well as many great nieces & nephews, cousins, and hundreds of friends around the world. He was greatly loved and will be missed by many ......especially Isleta & Sandia Casinos. Cremation took place in Madrid, Spain. A Catholic Mass will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church, 412 Stover Avenue SW, ALB on Saturday, September 6th, 2014 at 10:00a.m. At a later date his cremations will be buried alongside his mother, Lua, whom he loved and spoiled all his days. Nino loved life; a good party; fine food & drink; the dollar slots; and especially MUSIC. Nino did not want us to cry --- he wanted us to celebrate his life; share the fun & funny experiences we had with him; laugh, sing, dance, eat, drink and toast his spectacular time with us.
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