Pablo Valenzuela
Encyclopedia
José Pablo Valenzuela García (San Antonio de los Baños
, 2 March 1859 – Havana
, 25 December 1926) was a leading Cuban cornetist, composer
and bandleader
. After taking his first lessons in music under his father Lucas, Pablo moved to Havana. There he first joined the orchestra of Manuel Espinosa, before joining La Flor de Cuba, the leading band of the day. This had come under the direction of his brother Raimundo
after the death of its founder, and at some stage the name was changed to Orquesta Valenzuela.
Raimundo died in his fifties in 1905, after which the band was under Pablo's direction. Now it was possible for Cuban bands to record their music, and the Orquesta Valenzuela was one of the earliest to take advantage of the opportunity: they recorded about 120 numbers. In 1906 there were 40 recordings on Edison cylinders; in 1909 23 numbers for Columbia Records
, and 56 numbers with Victor Records. The last recordings were in 1919; there were about 120 numbers in all, most of which were danzones. Of his compositions, some became lasting hits: Coco seco, El congo libre, La frita, La niña, La Patti negra, María Teresa, El garrotín.
The band dispersed after Pablo's death in 1926.
San Antonio de los Baños
San Antonio de los Baños is a municipality and city in the Artemisa Province of Cuba.It is located 26 km from the city of Havana, and the Ariguanabo River runs through it. The city was founded in 1802....
, 2 March 1859 – 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...
, 25 December 1926) was a leading Cuban cornetist, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
. After taking his first lessons in music under his father Lucas, Pablo moved to Havana. There he first joined the orchestra of Manuel Espinosa, before joining La Flor de Cuba, the leading band of the day. This had come under the direction of his brother Raimundo
Raimundo Valenzuela
Raimundo Valenzuela de Leon was a leading Cuban trombonist, composer and bandleader.- Life & career :...
after the death of its founder, and at some stage the name was changed to Orquesta Valenzuela.
Raimundo died in his fifties in 1905, after which the band was under Pablo's direction. Now it was possible for Cuban bands to record their music, and the Orquesta Valenzuela was one of the earliest to take advantage of the opportunity: they recorded about 120 numbers. In 1906 there were 40 recordings on Edison cylinders; in 1909 23 numbers for Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, and 56 numbers with Victor Records. The last recordings were in 1919; there were about 120 numbers in all, most of which were danzones. Of his compositions, some became lasting hits: Coco seco, El congo libre, La frita, La niña, La Patti negra, María Teresa, El garrotín.
The band dispersed after Pablo's death in 1926.