Lorenzo Hierrezuelo
Encyclopedia
Lorenzo Hierrezuelo was a Cuban trova
musician, a singer, guitarist and composer. His face showed clear signs of Indian descent: he was an indo-mulatto (one of his grandmothers was a Siboney
). He was the son and nephew of sonero
s, and he grew up in the ambiance of this type of Cuban music and dance. At ten, he was singing in Santiago de Cuba
; at thirteen he formed a trio with two friends: the trio eventually left for Havana. They sang in cafés and private houses.
He worked for most of his life in duos with three important Cuban trovadors. When his two friends returned to Oriente, Lorenzo met María Teresa Vera
, and formed a duo with her in 1937. Later, with Compay Segundo
(Francisco Repilado), he formed the duo Los Compadres
; lastly he continued under the same title with his brother, Reinaldo Hierrezuelo, known as Rey Caney
. He also had a sister, Caridad Hierrezuelo
, who was a singer in the guaracha
style. Los Compadres became a successful touring act, singing in most countries of the Americas. Lorenzo and his brother remained based in Cuba for the rest of their lives. Reinaldo became a member of the Vieja Trova Santiaguera
.
Lorenzo composed a large number of sones
, bolero
s and guaracha
s, such as Barbarita tiene novio, Cantando mi son yo me muero, Caña quema, Culpable no soy, El hule de Tomasita, Ese palo tiene jutía, Mal tiempo, Mi son oriental, Rita la caimana, Sarandonga.
Trova
Trova is one of the great roots of the Cuban music tree. In the 19th century a group of itinerant musicians known as trovadores moved around Oriente, especially Santiago de Cuba, earning their living by singing and playing the guitar...
musician, a singer, guitarist and composer. His face showed clear signs of Indian descent: he was an indo-mulatto (one of his grandmothers was a Siboney
Ciboney
The Ciboney were pre-Columbian indigenous inhabitants of the Greater Antilles in the Caribbean Sea. The name Ciboney derives from the indigenous Taíno people which means Cave Dwellers; evidence has shown that a number of the Ciboney people have lived in caves at some time. Over the years, many...
). He was the son and nephew of sonero
Son (music)
The Son cubano is a style of music that originated in Cuba and gained worldwide popularity in the 1930s. Son combines the structure and elements of Spanish canción and the Spanish guitar with African rhythms and percussion instruments of Bantu and Arará origin...
s, and he grew up in the ambiance of this type of Cuban music and dance. At ten, he was singing in Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city of Cuba and capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province in the south-eastern area of the island, some south-east of the Cuban capital of Havana....
; at thirteen he formed a trio with two friends: the trio eventually left for Havana. They sang in cafés and private houses.
He worked for most of his life in duos with three important Cuban trovadors. When his two friends returned to Oriente, Lorenzo met María Teresa Vera
María Teresa Vera
María Teresa Vera was a Cuban singer, guitarist and composer. She was an outstanding example of the Cuban trova movement....
, and formed a duo with her in 1937. Later, with Compay Segundo
Compay Segundo
Compay Segundo was a Cuban trova guitarist, singer and composer.-Biography:...
(Francisco Repilado), he formed the duo Los Compadres
Los Compadres
Los Compadres was a famous Cuban trova duo formed by Lorenzo Hierrezuelo in 1947. At the time Lorenzo had a singing duo with María Teresa Vera, and this partnership continued alongside the new venture. His first partner in Los Compadres was Compay Segundo , who became the second voice and tres...
; lastly he continued under the same title with his brother, Reinaldo Hierrezuelo, known as Rey Caney
Rey Caney
Rey Caney is a Cuban singer, guitarist and tresero. He led Cuarteto Patría for some time: this famous group is now led by Eliades Ochoa. In the middle 1950s he took over Compay Segundo's place in the duo Los Compadres, the other partner being his elder brother Lorenzo Hierrezuelo...
. He also had a sister, Caridad Hierrezuelo
Caridad Hierrezuelo
Caridad Hierrezuelo was a Cuban popular singer. She was the sister of Lorenzo Hierrezuelo and Rey Caney, two famous trova musicians. Her career began in 1947 as a member of the Trio Baraguá, and later the Conjunto Beltrán, until 1950, when she decided to sing as a soloist...
, who was a singer in the 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...
style. Los Compadres became a successful touring act, singing in most countries of the Americas. Lorenzo and his brother remained based in Cuba for the rest of their lives. Reinaldo became a member of the Vieja Trova Santiaguera
Vieja Trova Santiaguera
La Vieja Trova Santiaguera is a Cuban musical band that formed in 1994 and became successful in Europe. Its members included:*Reinaldo Hierrezuelo la O , solo voice and lead guitar/tres)...
.
Lorenzo composed a large number of sones
Son (music)
The Son cubano is a style of music that originated in Cuba and gained worldwide popularity in the 1930s. Son combines the structure and elements of Spanish canción and the Spanish guitar with African rhythms and percussion instruments of Bantu and Arará origin...
, bolero
Bolero
Bolero is a form of slow-tempo Latin music and its associated dance and song. There are Spanish and Cuban forms which are both significant and which have separate origins.The term is also used for some art music...
s and 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...
s, such as Barbarita tiene novio, Cantando mi son yo me muero, Caña quema, Culpable no soy, El hule de Tomasita, Ese palo tiene jutía, Mal tiempo, Mi son oriental, Rita la caimana, Sarandonga.