Category: Rumba

  • La Lupe

    La Lupe

    About Guadalupe Victoria Yolí Raymond, better known as La Lupe, was a Cuban singer of boleros, guarachas and Latin soul known for her energetic, sometimes controversial performances. Following the release of her first album in 1961, La Lupe moved from Havana to New York and signed with Tico Records, which marked the beginning of a…

  • Chano Pozo

    Chano Pozo

    About Luciano Pozo González, known professionally as Chano Pozo, was a Cuban jazz percussionist, singer, dancer, and composer. Despite only living to the age of 33, he played a major role in the founding of Latin jazz. He co-wrote some of Dizzy Gillespie’s Latin-flavored compositions, such as “Manteca” and “Tin Tin Deo”, and was the…

  • María Teresa Vera

    María Teresa Vera

    About María Teresa Vera was a Cuban singer, guitarist and composer. She was an outstanding example of the Cuban trova movement. Albums/Songs: El legendario dúo de la trova cubana (Grabaciones históricas 1916-1924) The Cuban Legend Y sus canciones Boleros primordiales 50 años de inspiración Call to Action: What’s your favorite María Teresa Vera song? Share…

  • Eliades Ochoa

    Eliades Ochoa

    About Eliades Ochoa Bustamante is a Cuban guitarist and singer from Loma de la Avispa, Songo La Maya in the east of the country near Santiago de Cuba. Albums/Songs: Son de Oriente Tributo al Cuarteto Patria Mi guitarra canta (Remasterizado) A la casa de la Trova Vamos a bailar un son La colección cubana 5…

  • Compay Segundo

    Compay Segundo

    About Máximo Francisco Repilado Muñoz Telles, known professionally as “Compay Segundo”, was a Cuban trova guitarist, singer and composer. Albums/Songs: Hey caramba Son del monte Anita 100% Latino Yo vengo aquí Chan Chan De Cuba a México Lo mejor de la vida Balcon de Santiago Grandes éxitos Cien años de son Ochoa & Segundo Musique…

  • Bebo Valdés

    Bebo Valdés

    About Dionisio Ramón Emilio Valdés Amaro, better known as Bebo Valdés, was a Cuban pianist, bandleader, composer and arranger. He was a central figure in the golden age of Cuban music, especially due to his big band arrangements and compositions of mambo, chachachá and batanga, a genre he created in 1952. Albums/Songs: Blanco y Negro:…

  • Buena Vista Social Club

    Buena Vista Social Club

    About Buena Vista Social Club was a musical ensemble primarily made up of Cuban musicians, formed in 1996. The project was organized by World Circuit executive Nick Gold, produced by American guitarist Ry Cooder and directed by Juan de Marcos González. They named the group after the members’ club of the same name in the…

  • Mongo Santamaría

    Mongo Santamaría

    About Ramón “Mongo” Santamaría Rodríguez was a Cuban percussionist and bandleader who spent most of his career in the United States. Primarily a conga drummer, Santamaría was a leading figure in the pachanga and boogaloo dance crazes of the 1960s. His biggest hit was his rendition of Herbie Hancock’s “Watermelon Man”, which was inducted into…

  • Antonio Machín

    Antonio Machín

    About Antonio Abad Lugo Machín was a Spanish-Cuban singer and musician. His version of El Manisero, recorded in New York, 1930, with Don Azpiazú’s orchestra, was the first million record seller for a Cuban artist. Although this was labelled a rhumba, it was in reality a son pregón, namely, a song based on a street-seller’s…