Paulina Álvarez y Barbarito Diez - Esas Si Son Cubanas
Paulina Álvarez was born on June 29, 1912 in Cienfuegos, Cuba. She began singing at local parties and school events at the early age of nine. In 1926, her family moved to Havana where she continued with her singing career. In 1929, she was the first woman to sing danzonete, a new variation on the danzón created by musician Aniceto Diaz, from Matanzas. The danzonete burst into history at the Spanish Casino of Matanzas in the form of a title appropriately named "Rompiendo la rutina," (braking the routine) composed by Díaz, it combines elements from the son and the danzón. At the time, in the 1930's, radio was coming of age in Cuba, as in the rest of the world, and Álvarez became a well-known singer on the airwaves and sang with different orchestras, beginning with La Elegante in 1931. In 1938 she formed her own band, which was instantly a tremendous success. She became known as the "Empress of Danzonete." In 1939 she performed a concert in the very exclusive Auditorium Theater, which was the first time a dance band had performed in such a select venue. She continued to sing a repertoire of different genres of popular music with her own orchestra and with other bands. Paulina Álvarez died on July 22, 1965 in Havana. Celia Cruz stated that, one of her first influences and the first singer she ever saw performing in front of an orchestra was Paulina Álvarez.
Barbarito Diez was born in Bolondrón, Cuba on December 4, 1909. His family moved to Central Manatí in Oriente province, the location of a large sugar factory, when he was 4 years old. There at an early age, he began his artistic career as a music enthusiast. In 1930 he moved to Havana, where the following year, he joined a trio with Isaac Oviedo and composer Graciano Gómez. In 1935 he became the soloist of Antonio Maria Romeu's famous dance band and after Romeu's death the band become known as the Barbarito Diez Orchestra. He traveled to Puerto Rico, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and the United States in concerts, made more than 14 LPs and is highly respected as a performer of "danzones" and earlier "boleros" and "canciones". Barbarito Diez died on May 6, 1995 in Havana. Diez is considered the voice which sang the most famous musical works of Cuba.
To listen and/or purchase Paulina Álvarez's CD "Rompiendo La Rutina" go to:
Amazon.com
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CDUniverse.com
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To listen and/or purchase the CD "Antologia Cubana: Barbarito Diez" go to:
Amazon.com
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Descarga.com
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Also visit www.HavanaNewYork.com your guide to Cuban music & more...