Alberto Socarras
Encyclopedia
Alberto Socarrás Estacio, (Manzanillo
, 19 September 1908 – New York
, 26 August 1987), was a Cuban-American flautist
who played both Cuban music
and jazz
.
Socarras started learning the flute
in 1915 with his mother, Dolores Estacio, and later joined the provincial music conservatory at Santiago de Cuba
. He completed his studies at the Timothy Music Conservatory in New York, gaining the equivalent title to a doctorate in music. In the middle 1920s he moved to Havana to join the theatre orchestra of Arquimedes Pous, where his sister Estrella was playing the violin. He also played in one or two early Cuban jazz bands (Early Cuban jazz) before moving to the United States in 1927.
In the US he recorded with Clarence Williams in 1927 and began taking jazz flute solos as early as 1929, making him the earliest known jazz flute soloist (earlier even than Wayman Carver
). He played with The Blackbirds
revue between 1928 and 1933, and plays on Lizzie Miles
's 1928 recording "You're Such a Cruel Papa to Me". In 1933 he played with Benny Carter
, then led the all-female Cuban band Anacaona
on a tour of Europe in 1934. In 1935 he played with Sam Wooding
and led his own bands from 1935 into the 1940s; his sidemen included Edgar Sampson
and Mongo Santamaría
, and Cab Calloway
as a singer. He also played with Erskine Hawkins
in 1937. He made one recording session in 1935, with four numbers. He also recorded for RCA Victor in 1947 and SMC Pro-Arte c. 1950. In 1956, he recorded an LP for Decca titled "Latin Impressions."
In the 1950s he took part in Rod Serling
's The Twilight Zone
on TV, and offered concerts of cult music at the Carnegie Hall
in New York. In the 60s he dedicated himself to teaching, but also made some recordings. In 1983 he was filmed by Gustavo Paredes playing the flute in a TV documentary Música.
Manzanillo, Cuba
Manzanillo is a municipality and city in the Granma Province of Cuba.It is a port city in the Granma Province in eastern Cuba on the Gulf of Guacanayabo, near the delta of the Cauto River...
, 19 September 1908 – 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...
, 26 August 1987), was a Cuban-American flautist
Flautist
A flautist or flutist is a musician who plays an instrument in the flute family. See List of flautists.The choice of "flautist" versus "flutist" is the source of dispute among players of the instrument...
who played both Cuban 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 jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
.
Socarras started learning the flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
in 1915 with his mother, Dolores Estacio, and later joined the provincial music conservatory at 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....
. He completed his studies at the Timothy Music Conservatory in New York, gaining the equivalent title to a doctorate in music. In the middle 1920s he moved to Havana to join the theatre orchestra of Arquimedes Pous, where his sister Estrella was playing the violin. He also played in one or two early Cuban jazz bands (Early Cuban jazz) before moving to the United States in 1927.
In the US he recorded with Clarence Williams in 1927 and began taking jazz flute solos as early as 1929, making him the earliest known jazz flute soloist (earlier even than Wayman Carver
Wayman Carver
Wayman Carver was an American jazz flautist and reeds player.Carver was one of the earliest flute soloists to perform jazz; while Alberto Socarras preceded him by about five years, Carver was one of very few jazz flautists active in the swing era. His first professional experience was with J. Neal...
). He played with The Blackbirds
The Blackbirds
The Blackbirds is a Norwegian rock band from Oslo. The Band was formed in 1996, but it wasn't until 2001, when five became four, they developed their own unique style. Two guitars, bass and drums was the recipe for The Blackbirds elegant sound. These four young men from Oslo has known each other...
revue between 1928 and 1933, and plays on Lizzie Miles
Lizzie Miles
Lizzie Miles was the stage name taken by Elizabeth Mary Landreaux , an African American blues singer.-Career:...
's 1928 recording "You're Such a Cruel Papa to Me". In 1933 he played with Benny Carter
Benny Carter
Bennett Lester Carter was an American jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. He was a major figure in jazz from the 1930s to the 1990s, and was recognized as such by other jazz musicians who called him King...
, then led the all-female Cuban band Anacaona
Anacaona (all-girl band)
Anacaona is the name of an all-girl orchestra, founded in 1930s Havana by Cuchito Castro and her sisters. Eventually, all 11 sisters joined the band. The band was formed during the Machado era when the political situation led to university closings, forcing Cuchito Castro to abandon her studies and...
on a tour of Europe in 1934. In 1935 he played with Sam Wooding
Sam Wooding
Sam Wooding was an expatriate American jazz pianist, arranger and bandleader living and performing in Europe and the United States.Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he led several big bands in the United States and abroad...
and led his own bands from 1935 into the 1940s; his sidemen included Edgar Sampson
Edgar Sampson
Edgar Melvin Sampson was a composer, arranger, saxophonist, and violinist...
and Mongo Santamaría
Mongo Santamaría
Ramón "Mongo" Santamaría Rodríguez was an Afro-Cuban Latin jazz percussionist. He is most famous for being the composer of the jazz standard "Afro Blue," recorded by John Coltrane among others. In 1950 he moved to New York where he played with Perez Prado, Tito Puente, Cal Tjader, Fania All...
, and Cab Calloway
Cab Calloway
Cabell "Cab" Calloway III was an American jazz singer and bandleader. He was strongly associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem, New York City where he was a regular performer....
as a singer. He also played with Erskine Hawkins
Erskine Hawkins
Erskine Ramsay Hawkins was an American trumpet player and big band leader from Birmingham, Alabama, dubbed "The 20th Century Gabriel". He is most remembered for composing the jazz standard "Tuxedo Junction" with saxophonist and arranger Bill Johnson...
in 1937. He made one recording session in 1935, with four numbers. He also recorded for RCA Victor in 1947 and SMC Pro-Arte c. 1950. In 1956, he recorded an LP for Decca titled "Latin Impressions."
In the 1950s he took part in Rod Serling
Rod Serling
Rodman Edward "Rod" Serling was an American screenwriter, novelist, television producer, and narrator best known for his live television dramas of the 1950s and his science fiction anthology TV series, The Twilight Zone. Serling was active in politics, both on and off the screen and helped form...
's The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone is an American television anthology series created by Rod Serling. Each episode is a mixture of self-contained drama, psychological thriller, fantasy, science fiction, suspense, or horror, often concluding with a macabre or unexpected twist...
on TV, and offered concerts of cult music at the Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
in New York. In the 60s he dedicated himself to teaching, but also made some recordings. In 1983 he was filmed by Gustavo Paredes playing the flute in a TV documentary Música.