Enrique Jorrín
Encyclopedia
Enrique Jorrín was a Cuba
n composer, violinist and band director. He is famous as the inventor of a style of Cuban dance music called cha-cha-chá
.
neighborhood of Havana, where Jorrín was to live for the rest of his life. At the age of 12, he began to show a particular interest in music and decided to learn the violin. He then pursued musical studies at the Municipal Conservatory of Havana.
He started out as a violinist in the orchestra of Cuba's National Institute of Music, under the direction of González Mántici. In 1941, he became a member of the danzonera Hermanos Contreras. It was here that he became interested in popular music. Next, he joined the renowned charanga
Antonio Arcaño y sus Maravillas.
In the early 1950s, while a member of Ninón Mondéjar's Orquesta América
, he created a new genre of dance music which became known as the cha-cha-chá.
He lived in Mexico
from 1954 to 1958. In 1964, he toured Africa and Europe with his orchestra- Orquesta de Enrique Jorrín. From 1964 onwards, he recorded extensively for the Cuban record label EGREM
.
In 1974, he organized a new charanga, which included singer Tito Gómez
and pianist Rubén González. This orchestra is still active in Havana and includes many songs by Jorrín in their active repertoire.
All his accomplishments were all fulfilled while raising his nephew Omar Jorrin Pineda, who grew up playing the piano for the orchestra as he got older. Omar Jorrin Pineda currently resides in a small Cuban community in New Jersey known to be Union City.
(Danzones)
(Cha-cha-chás)
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 composer, violinist and band director. He is famous as the inventor of a style of Cuban dance music called cha-cha-chá
Cha-cha-cha (music)
The Cha-cha-chá is a style of Cuban music. It is popular dance music which developed from the danzón in the early 1950s.- Origin :As a dance music genre, cha-cha-chá is unusual in that its creation can be attributed to a single composer, Enrique Jorrín, then violinist and songwriter with the...
.
Biography
At an early age, his family moved to the El CerroCerro
Cerro may refer to:in Bolivia:* Cerro Rico, the "Rich Mountain" containing silver ore near Potosi, Boliviain Italy:*Cerro , a subdivision of Bottanuco in the province of Bergamo*Cerro al Lambro, in the province of Milano...
neighborhood of Havana, where Jorrín was to live for the rest of his life. At the age of 12, he began to show a particular interest in music and decided to learn the violin. He then pursued musical studies at the Municipal Conservatory of Havana.
He started out as a violinist in the orchestra of Cuba's National Institute of Music, under the direction of González Mántici. In 1941, he became a member of the danzonera Hermanos Contreras. It was here that he became interested in popular music. Next, he joined the renowned charanga
Charanga
Charanga is a term given to traditional ensembles of Cuban dance music. They made Cuban dance music popular in the 1940s and their music consisted of heavily son-influenced material, performed on European instruments such as violin and flute by a Charanga orchestra....
Antonio Arcaño y sus Maravillas.
In the early 1950s, while a member of Ninón Mondéjar's Orquesta América
Orquesta América
Orquesta América is a Cuban then later Californian latin band or charanga orchestra.The band was founded in 1942 by singer Ninón Mondéjar with Alex Sosa , Enrique Jorrín, Antonio Sánchez, and Félix Guerra , Juan Ramos and others. Mondéjar and Sosa went to Mexico, then later revived Orquesta...
, he created a new genre of dance music which became known as the cha-cha-chá.
Cha-cha-cha (music)
The Cha-cha-chá is a style of Cuban music. It is popular dance music which developed from the danzón in the early 1950s.- Origin :As a dance music genre, cha-cha-chá is unusual in that its creation can be attributed to a single composer, Enrique Jorrín, then violinist and songwriter with the...
He lived in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
from 1954 to 1958. In 1964, he toured Africa and Europe with his orchestra- Orquesta de Enrique Jorrín. From 1964 onwards, he recorded extensively for the Cuban record label EGREM
EGREM
is the oldest Cuban record label, it is located in Havana. It was founded in 1964 following the Cuban Revolution...
.
In 1974, he organized a new charanga, which included singer Tito Gómez
Tito Gómez (Cuban singer)
Tito Gómez was a great Cuban singer.In 1938, he won a Cuban contest, called La Corte Suprema del Arte . Shortly after he joined the Sevilla Biltmore Orquestra and in 1939, he began singing for Orquesta Riverside...
and pianist Rubén González. This orchestra is still active in Havana and includes many songs by Jorrín in their active repertoire.
All his accomplishments were all fulfilled while raising his nephew Omar Jorrin Pineda, who grew up playing the piano for the orchestra as he got older. Omar Jorrin Pineda currently resides in a small Cuban community in New Jersey known to be Union City.
Works
Among his numerous compositions are:(Danzones)
- Hilda
- Liceo del Pilar
- Central Constancia
- Doña Olga
- Silver Star
(Cha-cha-chás)
- La Engañadora
- El Alardoso
- El Túnel
- Nada para tí
- Osiris
- Me muero