Cascarita
Encyclopedia
Orlando Guerra [gayr'-rah] was a popular Cuba
n singer
specialized in native musical forms such as guaracha
, pregón
and son montuno
. Affectively nicknamed Cascarita, he was born on September 14, 1920 in Camagüey
, the third largest city of Cuba
and the capital of Camagüey Province
.
Guerra started his professional career in his native Camagüey and Havana
in the early 1940s, and made his name singing in the orchestras of Hermanos Palau
and Julio Cueva
. Owner of a highly personal style of vocalizing, he had an interesting sense of ease and graceful fluency to improvise, particularly interpreting guarachas, which gained him an important place in Cuban popular music history. He also became popular for his extravagant costumes and tangled sayings.
In 1943, Guerra recorded with the Orquesta Siboney of Pepito Torres in Puerto Rico
. Soon after, when fellow countryman singer Miguelito Valdés
departed to the United States
, Guerra replaced him in the Casino de la Playa
orchestra. It was through his personal recommendation that Dámaso Pérez Prado
obtained the job of arranger
/pianist
of the orchestra. For these years, Pérez Prado had being blacklisted in Cuba from working as an arranger because his charts were bizarre and weird, according to many local musicians. He had gone about as far as he could working for Casino de la Playa, as Cascarita was more popular than the band. The records no longer came out under the title "Casino de la Playa, singing Cascarita", but "Cascarita accompanied by Casino de la Playa".
Guerra recorded dozens of songs. Some of his greastest hits are El baile del sillón, El caballo y la montura, Estoy acabando, Llora timbero, La ola marina, La pelotica, Piru, piru, pirulí, Se murió Panchita, Ta' bueno ya, La última noche and Uampampiro, between others. He settled in Mexico
after touring Colombia
, Panama
, Puerto Rico
and Venezuela
.
The popular Cascarita died in Mexico City
in 1975 at the age of 55.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n singer
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
specialized in native musical forms such as guaracha
Guaracha
The guaracha is a genre of Cuban popular music, of rapid tempo and with lyrics. The word had been used in this sense at least since the late 18th and early 19th century. Guarachas were played and sung in musical theatres and in low-class dance salons. They became an integral part of Bufo comic...
, pregón
Pregón
Pregón, a Spanish word meaning announcement or street-seller's cry, has a particular meaning in Cuban music, and Latin American music generally...
and son montuno
Son montuno
The son montuno is a style of the Cuban son, but exactly what it means is not an easy question to answer. The son itself is the most important genre of Cuban popular music. In addition, it is perhaps the most flexible of all forms of Latin-American music...
. Affectively nicknamed Cascarita, he was born on September 14, 1920 in Camagüey
Camagüey
Camagüey is a city and municipality in central Cuba and is the nation's third largest city. It is the capital of the Camagüey Province.After almost continuous attacks from pirates the original city was moved inland in 1528.The new city was built with a confusing lay-out of winding alleys that made...
, the third largest city of Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and the capital of Camagüey Province
Camagüey Province
Camagüey is the largest of the provinces of Cuba. Its capital is Camagüey. Other towns include Florida and Nuevitas.-Geography:Camagüey is mostly low lying, with no major hills or mountain ranges passing through the province...
.
Guerra started his professional career in his native Camagüey and Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
in the early 1940s, and made his name singing in the orchestras of Hermanos Palau
Orquesta Hermanos Palau
The Orquesta Hermanos Palau was one of the most renowned dance bands in Cuba during the early 1930s and late 1940s, following the tradition of local jazz bands started by the Jazz Band Sagua in 1914...
and Julio Cueva
Julio Cueva
Julio Cueva was a Cuban trumpeter, composer and band leader. He was an important figure in the spread of Cuban popular music in the 1930s.- Life and career :...
. Owner of a highly personal style of vocalizing, he had an interesting sense of ease and graceful fluency to improvise, particularly interpreting guarachas, which gained him an important place in Cuban popular music history. He also became popular for his extravagant costumes and tangled sayings.
In 1943, Guerra recorded with the Orquesta Siboney of Pepito Torres in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. Soon after, when fellow countryman singer Miguelito Valdés
Miguelito Valdés
Miguelito Valdés, born Miguel Ángel Eugenio Lázaro Zacarias Izquierdo Valdés Hernández , also called Mr. Babalú, was a Cuban popular singer of high quality...
departed to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Guerra replaced him in the Casino de la Playa
Orquesta Casino de la Playa
Orquesta Casino de la Playa, founded in 1937 in Havana, Cuba, was a band that took its name from the name of the casino where they worked. This orchestra made a bridge between Cuban popular music and the sound of American Jazz Big Bands...
orchestra. It was through his personal recommendation that Dámaso Pérez Prado
Perez Prado
Dámaso Pérez Prado was a Cuban bandleader, musician , and composer. He is often referred to as the 'King of the Mambo'.His orchestra was the most popular in mambo...
obtained the job of arranger
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
/pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
of the orchestra. For these years, Pérez Prado had being blacklisted in Cuba from working as an arranger because his charts were bizarre and weird, according to many local musicians. He had gone about as far as he could working for Casino de la Playa, as Cascarita was more popular than the band. The records no longer came out under the title "Casino de la Playa, singing Cascarita", but "Cascarita accompanied by Casino de la Playa".
Guerra recorded dozens of songs. Some of his greastest hits are El baile del sillón, El caballo y la montura, Estoy acabando, Llora timbero, La ola marina, La pelotica, Piru, piru, pirulí, Se murió Panchita, Ta' bueno ya, La última noche and Uampampiro, between others. He settled in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
after touring Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
.
The popular Cascarita died in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
in 1975 at the age of 55.
Selected discography
- Casino de la Playa
- Azúcar pa'un amargao'
- El baile del sillón
- El caballo y la montura
- Coge pa'la cola
- Esto es lo último
- Estoy acabando
- Llora
- La pelotica
- Quiero un sombrero
- Se murió Panchita
- Son los bobitos
- Tártara
- La última noche
- Un meneíto na'ma
- Yo pico un pan
- Julio Cueva
- La butuba cubana
- Camisa sin botones
- Cerebro como plancha
- Con la comida no se juega
- El cuento del sapo
- Desintegrando
- El golpecito
- Figurina del solar
- No tengo tambó'
- Ñéngere ñéngue
- Pasito pa'lante
- Pin pin
- Piru, piru, pirulí
- La rareza del siglo
- Sabanimar
- Sacando boniato
- En tiempo de mangos
- Hermanos Palau
- Acomodando
- Apriétame más
- La ola marina
- Mala maña
- Perro huevero
- Puntillita
- Rosas del pensil
- Sácale punta al lápiz
- Ta' bueno ya
- Tú verá' lo que tú va' ve
- Uampampiro
- Yo estoy aprendiendo inglés
- Pepito Torres
- Ladrón de gallinas
- Llora timbero
- Un brujo en Guanabacoa
Sources
- Cuba and its Music: from the first drums to the mambo – Ned Sublette Volume 1, pag 554. Publisher: Chicago Review Press, Inc., first edition, 2004. English. ISBN 1556526326
- Diccionario de la música cubana: biográfico y técnico – Helio Orovio, pages 229, 230. Publisher: Ed. Letras Cubanas, second edition, 1992. Spanish. ISBN 9789591000484
- Los contrapuntos de la música cubana – Cristóbal Díaz Ayala, page 123. Publisher: Ediciones Callejón, first edition, 2006. Language: Spanish. ISBN 1881748480