Alberto Muniz Lopez

Former Libby resident Alberto Muniz Lopez, 76, died in November 2006 in Spain.

He was born Aug. 3, 1930, in Madrid, Spain, to German and Angeles Lopez Muniz.

Alberto served in Morocco for the Spanish Foreign Legion.

After his military service, he received a master's in music and piano from The Royal Conservatory of Music in Madrid.

A talented pianist, Alberto accompanied many well-known concert artists in Spain and the United States.

In 1971, he went to North Hollywood, Calif., to perform at the La Cana Flamenco Club. While there, he met Zarita Felix, a singer and dancer at the club. They married.

Alberto and his family lived in Madrid and Libby. While in Libby, he worked at St. Regis Lumber Co.

In 1977, he began to construct and collect buildings for Montana City, Old Town. It opened in 1980 and gained international attention in 1983 when it was featured by Bob Dotson on NBC's "Today Show."

When Alberto returned to Spain in 1985, he played piano for Clint Eastwood at his "Western Motion Picture Town" near Madrid. Alberto won the International Ragtime Piano Competition and toured the Ragtime Circuit in the United States.

Alberto was preceded in death by a son, Steve.

He is survived by his son, David Muniz, of Libby; his former wife, Zarita Muniz Zook of Virginia City, Nev.; a sister, Angelinas Muniz Lopez, and several nephews and nieces, all in Madrid.