Ramán “Mongo” Santamaria was born in 1922 in Havana’s Jesus María barrio. Originally a violinist as a child, he switched to percussion and dropped out…
Artist Profiles: Mongo Santamaría
Tag: Cuban music
Artist Profiles: Orlando Valle “Maraca”
Flutist, pianist, composer and arranger, Orlando Valle “Maraca” was a prodigy child. He wrote his first song at the early age of 10. After completing…
Artist Profiles: María Ochoa
María Ochoa was born on September 24, 1944 in Gran Piedra, Alto Songo, Santiago de Cuba. Her parents were both singers and treseros that transmitted…
Artist Profiles: Manuel Galbán
Pianist, organist, and guitarist Manuel Galbán was born January 14, 1931. He was the founder of the Havana doo-wop quartet Los Zafiros. As Los Zafiros’s…
Artist Profiles: Manolito y su Trabuco
Manolito y su Trabuco’s orchestra has been able to produce one of the most unique sounds of the decade in Cuba thanks to the combination…
Artist Profiles: Los Papines
When the legendary Chano Pozo was dazzling the bars in the Marianao area with his music and other drummers were lavishing fame to Los Pocitos…
Artist Profiles: Los Naranjos
Gumersindo Soriano Zayas formed los Naranjos together with a septet of young musicians and opened a new chapter in the musical life of Cienfuegos in…
Artist Profiles: Los Guanches
Los Guanches perpetuate the cultural tradition of Santiago de Cuba’s music, full of great figures that make it prestigious and universal. They are the “younger”…
Artist Profiles: Los Van Van
Formed in 1969 by bassist and composer Juan Formell, Los Van Van is Cuba’s leading dance band. Unafraid to experiment, they have added trombones, synthesizers…
Artist Profiles: Juan Carlos Alfonso y su Dan Den
Keyboardist and composer Juan Carlos Alfonso was born on March 30th, 1963, in Bejucal in the province of Havana, Cuba. He began to study music…