by the El Reportero’s news services
Puerto Rican singer Gilberto Santa Rosa offered a concert on Aug. 21 in this capital to pay tribute to the Dominican Republic genre merengue, reported the producers of the event.
Santa Rosa shared the stage of the amphitheater Nuryn Sanlley with Frank Cruz, Joseito Mateo and Vinicio Franco to sing emblematic songs of the musical genre.
In this concert, the salsa singer will also sing some of his most popular themes like Perdóname (Forgive Me), Que Alguien Me Diga (Someone Tells Me) and Conteo Regresivo (Countdown).
Also known as the Caballero de la Salsa, he has made versions of several songs, including: Caballo Viejo, by Simon Díaz; Dime Por Qué, by Ismael Rivera; and Buenas Noches Don David, by Ricardo Arjona.
Santa Rosa began his career at 12 years by organizing a group of amateur musicians with whom he took his first steps in tropical music. He has produced 20 albums throughout his career.
Cuban singing academy to pay tribute to Rita Montaner
The singing Academy Mariana de Gonitch will dedicate its concert Thursday to the Cuban singer Rita Montaner in the 115th anniversary of her birthday, announced the director of the group Hugo Oslé.
Referring to the tribute, Oslé said the presentation will take place at the Yoruba Cultural Association in this capital, and the audience will hear songs sang immortalized by Montaner as Siboney, Maria la O, Babalu Aye, Oldman River, Cecilia Valdés and La Viuda Alegre.
Through choral singing, the academy founded seven decades ago by the Russian teacher Mariana de Gonitch, will remind one of the greatest artists of Cuba, born in Guanabacoa on Aug. 20, 1900.
Montaner, known also as La única (the only one) left an undeniable mark on the theater, radio and television in this island, and achieved many successes in national and international stages.
After listening to her singing the opera La Gioconda in a duet with Lola de la Torre, the Cuban writer Alejo Carpentier described her exquisite voice as a caress to ears.
Despite her ability to play the piano, which made her win the first place in an international competition, further development of the artist was as an opera singer.
The privileged vocal conditions of Montaner allowed her to play a varied repertoire that ranged from Ay Mamá Inés, by Eliseo Grenet, to La Medium and El teléfono, by Italian Gian Carlo Menotti.
Cubans pay tribute to Benny Moré
With a traditional pilgrimage to his grave, the people in this city, his hometown, paid tribute today to famous Cuban singer Benny Moré, on his 96th birthday anniversary.
Considered the greatest exponent of Cuban popular music in the 20th Century, Benny More mastered most musical expressions like son, rumba, mambo and guaracha, taking them to stages in Mexico, Venezuela, Jamaica, Haiti, Colombia, Panama and the United States.
Of a very humble origin as a grandchild of African slaves, Bartolome Maximiliano More (known as El Benny) boasted an innate talent leading him to the summit of popular music in Cuba.
He died at 43 years of age on Feb. 19, 1963, but left an immortal monumental work that spreads beyond borders.
At his own request, his body was laid to rest at the municipal cemetery of Santa Isabel de las Lajas, and his grave was declared National Monument in November 2009.
