Andy Vivien Palacio

Andy Vivien Palacio (born Dec. 2, 1960, Barranco, Belize—died Jan. 19, 2008, Belize City) was a Belizean musician who used his music to help preserve the culture of the Garifuna (descendants of Carib Indians and Africans exiled in the 18th century from British colonies in the eastern Caribbean).

A bandleader and composer, Palacio hosted in 1981 a Garifuna program on Radio Belize in an effort to stimulate interest in the culture and language through music and song. His infusion of traditional elements of Garifuna music with electric guitars inspired a younger generation of musicians. In collaboration with other Garifuna musicians, a group that was known as the Garifuna Collective, Palacio produced several influential albums, notably Paranda (1999) and Wátina (2007). He was awarded Belize’s Order of Meritorious Service in September 2007, and two months later he was named a UNESCO Artist for Peace.