Legendary Cuban Musician René Touzet Dies

(Prensa Latina – Cumbancha) Miami, USA – Legendary Cuban musician René Touzet, one of the greatest authors of Spanish American popular music died in Miami, United States, at the age of 86, the relatives reported Tuesday. The creator of songs such as “La Noche de Anoche” and “Estuve Pensando,” died from a heart attack and his daughter Nilda Touzet found him dead early Sunday, his wife Merci Remos said. The creative ability of the composer, pianist and orchestra director had no limits and brought together the greatest musicians of his time from including Olga Guillot, Frank Sinatra and Lucho Gatica. Touzet was born in 1917 in Cojímar, Cuba and his music work covers about 500 songs and more than 20 albums, with melodies immortalized by other celebrities such as Bing Crosby, Pedro Vargas, Toña la Negra, Bola de Nieve and Elena Burke. He composed along with his orchestra in 1937, “No te importe saber”, a forerunner to the “feeling” movement in the 50’s and 60’s in Cuba, made popular later by Sinatra under the title “Let Me Love You Tonight.” His songs “La noche de anoche”, “Cada vez más”, “Anoche aprendí” and “Estuve pensando” are part of an entire period of romantic music in Cuba.

His international fame was marked by the spreading of mambo and “Afro-Cuban jazz” in California, in 1946, with Enric Madriguera’s Orchestra. After forming an orchestra with Pete Candoli, Bob Cooper and Art Pepper, he successfully recorded 10 albums for US producer Gene Norman between 1956 and 1966.

Touzet left Cuba in 1960 and after living in Mexico City, San Francisco and New York, he settled in Miami where since 1988 he organized concerts. His daughters Nilda, Olivia and Olga María, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren survived him. His funeral is expected to take place Wednesday, after a mass.