[1] Born in Caracas, his parents (Juan José Landaeta and Maria Candelaria Arévalo) were free mulatos.
He studied music at the school of Padre Sojo, with Juan Manuel Olivares.
He joined the 1814 Caracas Exodus, but fell into the hands of José Tomás Boves in Cumaná, who had him executed.
In 1810 he wrote the melody of Gloria al bravo pueblo ("Glory to the brave people") to the lyrics by Vicente Salias.
In 1881, it was declared the Venezuelan national anthem by General Antonio Guzmán Blanco.