Marcelino Guerra
Encyclopedia
Marcelino Guerra, also known as "Rapindey" (c. 1914 – 1996) was a Cuba
n singer and songwriter who spent much of his life in the United States. His primary role was as a segunda voz, or harmony
, singer.
Guerra was born in Cienfuegos
to an impoverished family, and was orphan
ed at age five. He was raised by his grandmother, who gave him the nickname Rapindey. In 1931 he moved to Havana
, where he sang in Ignacio Piñeiro
's Septeto Nacional and took guitar lessons from Rafael Rebuifero. He worked in various groups in Havana through the 1930s, joining Arsenio Rodríguez
's orchestra in 1938 and performing frequently on national radio.
He took a trip to New York City to record in 1944, and decided not to return to Cuba. He joined Machito
's orchestra soon after, and contributed several original compositions to the group in addition to singing harmony. He worked extensively on the New York Latin pop
scene in the 1950s, including with his own orchestra, before temporarily leaving music in the 1960s to become a merchant marine. In the mid-1970s he was asked by producer René Lopez to return to music, and began recording with salsa musicians such as Rubén Blades
and Eddie Palmieri
. After this he retired again and moved to Alicante
, Spain, where he married Julia Nuñez.
He was asked to come out of retirement once more in the 1990s by musicologist
Tony Evora. He recorded in 1995 with a host of other Cuban musicians, including Compay Segundo
and Omara Portuondo
, both of whom would later release under the Buena Vista Social Club
umbrella. Guerra's last album, Rapindey, was released in 1996; he died later that year.
Marcelino worked as a Merchant Marine aboard the American-Export Isbrandsten liners, SS Atlantic and later aboard the SS Constitution.
Marcelino died in El Campello, a coastal town of Alicante SPAIN, today you can still hear his brilliant melodies.
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 and songwriter who spent much of his life in the United States. His primary role was as a segunda voz, or harmony
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
, singer.
Guerra was born in Cienfuegos
Cienfuegos
Cienfuegos is a city on the southern coast of Cuba, capital of Cienfuegos Province. It is located about from Havana, and has a population of 150,000. The city is dubbed La Perla del Sur...
to an impoverished family, and was orphan
Orphan
An orphan is a child permanently bereaved of or abandoned by his or her parents. In common usage, only a child who has lost both parents is called an orphan...
ed at age five. He was raised by his grandmother, who gave him the nickname Rapindey. In 1931 he moved to 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...
, where he sang in Ignacio Piñeiro
Ignacio Piñeiro
Ignacio Piñeiro Martínez was a black Cuban musician and composer whose career started in rumba, and flowered in the rise of the son. He was one of the most important composers of son music; in total he wrote about 327 numbers, mostly sones.Piñeiro was a brilliant rumbero who worked with musical...
's Septeto Nacional and took guitar lessons from Rafael Rebuifero. He worked in various groups in Havana through the 1930s, joining Arsenio Rodríguez
Arsenio Rodríguez
Arsenio Rodríguez was a Cuban musician who played the tres , reorganized the conjunto and developed the son montuno, and other Afro-Cuban rhythms in the 1940s and 50s...
's orchestra in 1938 and performing frequently on national radio.
He took a trip to New York City to record in 1944, and decided not to return to Cuba. He joined Machito
Machito
Machito , born as Francisco Raúl Gutiérrez Grillo, was an influential Latin jazz musician who helped refine Afro-Cuban jazz and create both Cubop and salsa music...
's orchestra soon after, and contributed several original compositions to the group in addition to singing harmony. He worked extensively on the New York Latin pop
Latin pop
Latin pop generally refers to pop music that has what may be perceived a Latin American influence...
scene in the 1950s, including with his own orchestra, before temporarily leaving music in the 1960s to become a merchant marine. In the mid-1970s he was asked by producer René Lopez to return to music, and began recording with salsa musicians such as Rubén Blades
Rubén Blades
Rubén Blades Bellido de Luna is a Panamanian salsa singer, songwriter, lawyer, actor, Latin jazz musician, and politician, performing musically most often in the Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz genres...
and Eddie Palmieri
Eddie Palmieri
Eddie Palmieri , is a Grammy Award winning Puerto Rican pianist, bandleader and musician, best known for combining jazz piano and instrumental solos with Latin rhythms.-Early years:...
. After this he retired again and moved to Alicante
Alicante
Alicante or Alacant is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the comarca of Alacantí, in the south of the Valencian Community. It is also a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city of Alicante proper was 334,418, estimated , ranking as the second-largest...
, Spain, where he married Julia Nuñez.
He was asked to come out of retirement once more in the 1990s by musicologist
Musicology
Musicology is the scholarly study of music. The word is used in narrow, broad and intermediate senses. In the narrow sense, musicology is confined to the music history of Western culture...
Tony Evora. He recorded in 1995 with a host of other Cuban musicians, including Compay Segundo
Compay Segundo
Compay Segundo was a Cuban trova guitarist, singer and composer.-Biography:...
and Omara Portuondo
Omara Portuondo
Omara Portuondo Peláez is a Cuban singer and dancer whose career has spanned over half a century. She was one of the original members of the Cuarteto d'Aida, and has performed with Ignacio Piñeiro, Orquesta Anacaona, Orquesta Aragón, Nat King Cole, Adalberto Álvarez, Los Van Van, the Buena Vista...
, both of whom would later release under the Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
The Buena Vista Social Club was a members club in Havana, Cuba that held dances and musical activities, becoming a popular location for musicians to meet and play during the 1940s...
umbrella. Guerra's last album, Rapindey, was released in 1996; he died later that year.
Marcelino worked as a Merchant Marine aboard the American-Export Isbrandsten liners, SS Atlantic and later aboard the SS Constitution.
Marcelino died in El Campello, a coastal town of Alicante SPAIN, today you can still hear his brilliant melodies.