Angel Viloria y su Conjunto Típico Cibaeño
Encyclopedia
Angel Viloria y su Conjunto Típico Cibaeño was a merengue
band performing in the US Latin community in the 1950s. It was the first band to enjoy major success in popularizing merengue music outside
the Dominican Republic
. The band featured Angel Viloria on the accordion
(the accordion player was the traditional leader), Ramón
E. García on alto saxophone, Luis Quintero on tambora and Dioris Valladares on vocals. Between 1950 and 1952, it notched up
a number of hits under the New York
based Ansonia Records banner
of Rafael Pérez.
In its name, the band claimed to be authentic (tipico) El Cibao music - this is the region in north Dominican Republic
, where merengue had its origins. The tipico merengue features a slightly faster tempo, and
keeps the accordion sound, as opposed to
the jazz-influenced music of Luis Alberti
who had adapted merengue to a
more urban ethos in the 1940s. The style of Angel Viloria's band
however reflected more of the urban Alberti influence than the name admits;
the accordion was of course, quite tipico.
By 1953, the band had split up, with Viloria, Quintero, and Valladares forming separate groups.
Merengue music
Merengue is a type of music and dance from the Dominican Republic. It is popular in the Dominican Republic and all over Latin America. Its name is Spanish, taken from the name of the meringue, a dessert made from whipped egg whites and sugar...
band performing in the US Latin community in the 1950s. It was the first band to enjoy major success in popularizing merengue music outside
the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
. The band featured Angel Viloria on the accordion
(the accordion player was the traditional leader), Ramón
E. García on alto saxophone, Luis Quintero on tambora and Dioris Valladares on vocals. Between 1950 and 1952, it notched up
a number of hits under the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
based Ansonia Records banner
of Rafael Pérez.
In its name, the band claimed to be authentic (tipico) El Cibao music - this is the region in north Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
, where merengue had its origins. The tipico merengue features a slightly faster tempo, and
keeps the accordion sound, as opposed to
the jazz-influenced music of Luis Alberti
Luis Alberti
Luis Alberti was a Dominican Merengue musician, arranger, conductor, and author of significant popular songs such as Compadre Pedro Juan and many others performed and recorded by noted interpreters with diverse backgrounds.-Career:Born Luis Felipe Alberti Mieses in La Vega, Dominican Republic, he...
who had adapted merengue to a
more urban ethos in the 1940s. The style of Angel Viloria's band
however reflected more of the urban Alberti influence than the name admits;
the accordion was of course, quite tipico.
By 1953, the band had split up, with Viloria, Quintero, and Valladares forming separate groups.