Don Azpiazú was a leading Cuban orchestral director in the 1920s and 30s. His band introduced authentic Cuban dance music

Music of Cuba

The Caribbean island of Cuba has developed a wide range of creolized musical styles, based on its cultural origins in Europe and Africa. Since the 19th century its music has been hugely popular and influential throughout the world...

 and Cuban musical instruments to a wide audience in the USA

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. It was his Havana Casino Orchestra which went to 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...

 in 1930, and recorded one of the biggest hits in Cuban music history, the Peanut Vendor. The band included a number of star musicians such as 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 :...

 (trumpet); Antonio Machín

Antonio Machín

Antonio Machín was a 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...

 was the singer.

Azpiazú also used North American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 singers such as Bob Burke or Chick Bullock

Chick Bullock

Chick Bullock was a popular American jazz and dance band vocalist, most active in the 1930s. He recorded some 500 tunes over the course of his career. Bullock was mostly associated with the ARC group of labels...

to help popularize the genre.