Homage is paid to the The Iruñako in Pamplona

24/10/2011. The music group, Los Iruñako, spread some of the popular Sanfermin music to all corners of the world during the decade of the sixties. They were the authors of the homily sung to the figure to San Fermin by the runners just before the running of the bulls starts

As from today, a plaque will remember the birthplace at no. 54 of the Calle Mayor Street in Pamplona of the two deceased members of the group Los Iruñako - Joaquín Zabalza and Alberto Huarte. It was this group, during the decade of the nineteen sixties, that spread the popular music of the San Fermin fiestas to many parts of the world. They co-existed with the The Platters and shared the same billboard with some of the best musical groups of that time. The Iruñako broke up in 1965 and left a wide range of records and LPs from some of the top recording companies behind them. Popular songs from the San Fermin Peñas as well as "Jotas" and even the homily which overtures the running of the bulls (composed by Joaquín Zabalza) were all given popularity abroad thanks to the fame of this group which played in all the best venues all over the world. One of their early successes was the winning of the song competition festival - the Festival de Benidorm in 1960 (2ª edition).

Representatives from all levels of Navarra society including the mayor of Pamplona, Enrique Maya, attended the homage today, as well as friends and family of the two musicians. The widow of Alberto Huarte, Charo Solchaga, was given the privilege of uncovering the commemorative plaque. Earlier a son each of both of the musicians, Jokin and Alberto , gave a short but emotional homily. Kike los Arcos and Enrique Abad, two of the three surviving members of the group - along with Iñaki Astondoa - sang a couple of "Jota" songs which moved all those attending the ceremony . The songs and music of San Fermin featured on several of their LPs. One of the most popular was "Sanfermin. Fiestas en Pamplona" brought out by Columbia records. Their relationship with Sanfermin was given a fresh impetus in 1994 with the award of the Gallico de Oro de Napardi from that cultural and gastronomic society.