Aurelio y Los Bravos Del Caribe is a Caribbean orchestra created in 1996 by Aurelio Martínez (1969, Plaplaya, Honduras), a Garifuna singer-songwriter, percussionist, guitarist, and dancer (former member of the famous Gatos Bravos of San Pedro Sula). He is regarded as one of the most electrifying artists in Central America, blessed with an irresistible voice and charisma. Aurelio became the voice of the living Garifuna tradition—nothing less than the international ambassador of Garifuna culture. He is also the songwriter of the hit Pompis con Pompis!
The Garinagu, better known as the Garifuna, are the result of a blending between Amerindian and African peoples, originating from a small island in the Lesser Antilles known as St. Vincent. According to historical accounts, after numerous conflicts with European colonizers over control of the island, in 1797 the British government decided to deport them to one of its former colonies: the island of Roatán, located in Honduras’s Bay Islands. From there, the Garifuna people spread along the coasts of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, becoming a transnational community across Central America.
The Garifuna language, dance, and music have been recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2001.
As a Garifuna, Aurelio was born in Plaplaya, a small Caribbean village in northeastern Honduras, where he grew up surrounded by a family of musicians. At the age of 14, he decided to move to the city of La Ceiba in search of his dreams and a better education. However, shortly afterward, the future artist relocated to Danlí, a city in southern Honduras, where he joined his first orchestra, Shahilas de Vicente Blandón, as a percussionist.
In 1989, upon returning to La Ceiba, the young singer co-founded Colectivarte with Guillermo Anderson (RIP) and Lucas Calderón. Around the same time, the traditional Garifuna music and dance group Lita Ariran was formed. Aurelio later became a member of the orchestra Los Gatos Bravos under Don Alfonso Flores “Fonchin,” a period during which he gained nationwide recognition and began touring abroad, especially in the United States. There, he had the opportunity to share the stage for the first time with great artists such as Oscar D’León, Celia Cruz (RIP), Grupo Niche, and Orquesta La Luz, among others, and to participate in festivals like Miami’s renowned Calle Ocho Festival.
Four years after these early successes, Aurelio chose to leave Los Gatos Bravos and finally form his own orchestra. Several musicians came together to create Aurelio y Su Orquesta, which shortly afterward became known as Aurelio y Los Bravos Del Caribe. Their first concert was held in 1997 in honor of the 200th anniversary of the arrival of the first Garifuna people to Honduran soil. In 1998, Aurelio released his debut album Inocencia, which established him as one of the most important figures in Garifuna music, not only nationally but internationally.
Through hard work and perseverance, Aurelio Martínez transformed his orchestra into the first formally established musical enterprise in Honduras owned by a member of the Garifuna community. It was also the first orchestra to present itself under such an unprecedented structure before Garifuna audiences and in cities across Honduras.
Aurelio recorded six albums with Los Bravos del Caribe: Lita Ariran (1995), Inocencia (1998), Cuentos y leyendas (2000), Amor a Primera Vista (2006), 200+10+2 (2010), and Conexión Caribe (2014).
On March 17, 2025, Aurelio Martínez tragically passed away in a plane crash off the coast of Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras.
Aurelio Martínez was far more than an artist: he was a guardian of Garifuna heritage, a bridge between generations, and a symbol of cultural resistance. His unmistakable voice and mastery of the guitar carried Garifuna music onto the world’s most important stages, including his historic performance on NPR Music’s Tiny Desk, where he became the first Honduran to appear.
His impact went beyond music. In 2005, he made history as the first Afro-descendant to be elected to the National Congress of Honduras, advocating for the rights and visibility of the Garifuna people. His talent and cultural commitment earned him a place in the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative, where he worked alongside legendary musician Youssou N’Dour. Later, in 2022, he was named a Mellon Fellow at New York University, cementing his legacy as both a leader and a scholar in the preservation of Garifuna identity. Over the years, he released music with Real World Records and Stone Tree Records.
Throughout his career, Aurelio brought his music to stages around the globe, captivating audiences with his authenticity and passion. His sudden departure leaves a void in music, culture, and the struggle for the preservation of the Garifuna people. Yet his legacy lives on in his songs, in the memory of those who knew him, and in every young Garifuna who finds inspiration in his example.
Awards & Recognitions
- 21/12/2019 – Talento Garífuna, San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Cultural Artist of the Year
- 21/06/2019 – Embassy of France + Embassy of Spain, Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Recognition for promoting art during the International Year of Indigenous Languages (UNESCO)
- 19/11/2018 – Mayor Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles, USA. Recognizes Aurelio Martinez Suazo as Cultural Ambassador of the Garifuna nation
- 08/05/2018 – Presidency of the Republic, Honduras. Cultural-Artistic Development Award
- 03/05/2018 – Afropop Worldwide’s 30th Anniversary Gala, New York, USA. Salute to Aurelio’s mission
- 08/04/2018 – Garífuna World Music Award, New York, USA. Best Contemporary Male Artist
- 07/03/2018 – Permanent Delegation of Honduras to UNESCO, Paris, France. Distinction for promoting Garifuna culture
- 15/01/2016 – City of Tela, Honduras. Keys to the City, Distinguished Visitor
- 29/09/2006 – ODECO, La Ceiba, Honduras. Recognition for preserving culture and national identity
- 20/01/2006 – Secretary of Culture, Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Gold Laurel Leaf for cultural contribution
- 12/04/1998 – Garífuna World Music Award, New York, USA. Best Garifuna Music Performer; Best Cultural Group of the Year (Lita Ariran)