Caridad Hierrezuelo was born in the capital of son, Santiago de Cuba, in 1924. She was still one of Cuba´s most fascinating singers.
Caridad Hierrezuelo was a subtle and versatile vocalist who brilliantly performed most Cuban genres, including the romantic bolero, the swinging mambos, the light-footed cha cha cha, guarachas and sones montunos. She was known as the guarachera de Oriente.
Caridad was brought up among a family of legendary musicians. She and her 10 brothers were surrounded by traditional Cuban music, and used to sing with their parents at family reunions. Her eldest brother Lorenzo was founder of great duo Los Compadres, and her youngest brother Reinaldo Creagh led the famous Vieja Trova Santiaguera.
For more than fifty years Caridad Hierrezuelo was at the forefront of Cuba´s most outstanding bands, including Los Taínos de Mayarí, Los Van Van, Conjunto Rumbavana and the marvelous Conjunto Caney.
Apart of performing several times with the Vieja Trova Santiaguera, Caridad sang with musicians like Ibrahim Ferrer, Ruben Gonzalez and Eliades Ochoa from the Buena Vista Social Club and with Cuba´s leading timba and salsa pianist Manolito Simonet (Manolito y su Trabuco). With Manolito she also recorded her CD Como Yo Quería. Rediscovering a kind of conjunto line-up she included a huge rhythm and brass section.
Caridad Hierrezuelo died February 6, 2009 in Havana.
Discography:
Guarapo, Pimienta y Sal (Egrem, 1964)
Sabor De Cuba
con sabor
Como Yo Queria (Endirecto, 1999)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.