Cleofes Ortiz

Cleofes Ortiz was born in 1910 in Galesteo, New Mexico. He learned from local northern New Mexican fiddle players, especially from his cousin, Emiliano Ortiz, who was quite a bit older than Cleofes. Emiliano was part of a group of well known fiddle players in the early 1900's that included Gregorio Ruiz, Librado Leyba, and Alejandro Flores, coverining the area from Santa Fe to Las Vegas. The tunes were played for Spanish Colonial dances.

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