Ernesto Lecuona

Ernesto Lecuona Ernesto Lecuona y Casado (August 6, 1895 – November 29, 1963) was a Cuban composer and pianist of worldwide fame. He composed over six hundred pieces, mostly in the Cuban vein, and was a pianist of exceptional skill. His father was Canarian and his mother was Cuban. Lecuona was born in Guanabacoa, Havana, Cuba. He started studying piano at an early age, under his sister Ernestina Lecuona, a famed composer in her own right. As a child prodigy, he composed his first song at the age of 11. He later studied at the Peyrellade Conservatoire under Antonio Saavedra and the famous Joaquin Nin. Lecuona graduated from the National Conservatory of Havana with a Gold Medal for interpretation when he was sixteen. And he performed outside of Cuba at the Aeolian Hall (New York) in 1916. In 1918 he collaborated with Luis Casas Romero, Moisés Simons, Jaime Prats, Nilo Menéndez and Vicente Lanz in setting up a successful player piano music roll factory in Cuba producing Cuban music and also copies from masters made by QRS in the USA. The brand label was “Rollo Autógrafo” He first travelled to Spain in 1924 on a concert tour with violinist Marta de la Torre; his successful piano recitals in 1928 at Paris coincided with a rise in interest in Cuban music. María la O, Lecuona’s zarzuela, premiered in Havana on March 1, 1930. He was a prolific composer of songs and music for stage and film. His works consisted of zarzuela, Afro-Cuban and Cuban rhythms, suites and many songs which are still very famous. They include Siboney (Canto Siboney), Malagueña and The Breeze And I (Andalucía). In 1942, his great hit, Always in my heart (Siempre en mi Corazon) was nominated for an Oscar for Best Song; however, it lost to White Christmas. Lecuona was a master of the symphonic form and conducted the Ernesto Lecuona Symphonic Orchestra, employing soloists including Cuban pianist and composer Carmelina Delfin. The Orchestra performed in the Cuban Liberation Day Concert at Carnegie Hall on October 10, 1943. The concert included the world premiere of Lecuona’s Black Rhapsody. Lecuona gave help and the use of his name to the popular touring group, the Lecuona Cuban Boys, though he did not play as a member of the band. He did sometimes play piano solos as the first item on the bill. In 1960, thoroughly unhappy with Castro’s new régime, Lecuona moved to Tampa and lived on West Orient Street with his relative, singer Esperanza Chediak. Lecuona lived his final years in the US. Three years later, on November 23, 1963 he died at the age of 68 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, as a result of an attack of asthma, a disorder which had persecuted him his entire life. He was interred at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York, but his will instructs that his remains be repatriated once the current régime runs its course. A great deal of Lecuona’s music was first introduced to mass American audiences by Desi Arnaz, a fellow Cuban and Lucille Ball’s spouse. Lecuona’s talent for composition has influenced the Latin American world in a way quite similar to George Gershwin in the United States, in his case raising Cuban music to classical status. Ernesto and Ernestina’s cousin Margarita Lecuona was another accomplished musician and composer. She was the author of the song “Babalú”, made popular in the Latin American world by Miguelito Valdés, and in the United States by Desi Arnaz (who, contrary to popular folklore, did not write the song). Lecuona was included as a character in the novel The Island of Eternal Love, by Miami-based Cuban writer Daína Chaviano, together with other important names in Cuban music. Videos: Selected compositions For piano Suite Andalucía Córdova/Córdoba Andalucia/Andaluza Alhambra Gitanerías Guadalquivir Malagueña San Francisco El Grande Ante El Escorial Zambra Gitana Aragonesa Valencia Mora Aragón Waltz Si menor (Rococó) La bemol Apasionado Crisantemo Vals Azul Maravilloso Romántico Poético Others Ahí viene el chino Al fin te vi Amorosa Andar Aquí está Arabesque Bell Flower Benilde Burlesca Canto del guajiro Cajita de música Como el arrullo de palma Como baila el muñeco Dame tu amor Danza de los Ñáñigos Danza Lucumí Diario de un niño Ella y yo ¡Echate pa’llá María! El batey El miriñaque El sombrero de yarey El tanguito de mamá (también llamada A la Antigua) En tres por cuatro Eres tú el amor Futurista Gonzalo, ¡no bailes más! Impromptu La 32 La primera en la frente La Comparsa La conga de medianoche La Habanera La danza interrumpida La mulata La negra Lucumí La Cardenense Los Minstrels Lola Cruz Lola está de fiesta Lloraba en sueños Mazurka en glissado Melancolía Mientras yo comía maullaba el gato Mis tristezas Malagueña Muñequita Negra Mercé Negrita ¡No hables más! No me olvides No puedo contigo Orquídeas Pensaba en ti Polichinela ¿Por qué te vas? Preludio en la noche ¡Que risa me da! Mi abuela bailaba así Rapsodia Negra Rosa, la china Tú serás Tres miniaturas ¡Y la negra bailaba! ¡Y sigue la lloviznita! Yo soy así Yumurí Zapateo y guajira Zenaida Credits: Jumping the Shuffle Blues: Jamaican Sound Composer, Primary 2011 System Classics Artist 1946-1960 The Fire/Fury R&B 2011 Primary Artist Story The Bobby Robinson 2011 Story: Selected Sides Primary Artist 1951-1960 Primary Artist, 2010 Beatles vs. Stones Sax (Tenor) Harlem Harlem Underground Featured Artist, 2009 Underground Band Saxophone Band Jazz for When You’re Primary Artist, 2009 Alone [Jazz Heritage Sax (Tenor) Society] The Best of Burlesque: 50 2009 Primary Artist Original Club Classics Bedtime Serenades: 2008 Primary Artist Jazz Ballads Atlantic Records 2007 Primary Artist Story In the ’50s: Hit, Git 2007 Mickey Baker Sax (Tenor) & Split 2006 Atlantic R&B Box Set Primary Artist Atlantic Rhythm & 2006 Blues 1947-1974, Vol. Primary Artist 1: 1947-1952 2006 Harlem Nocturne Primary Artist Spirit of Jazz: From 2006 Primary Artist Roots to Fruits Sunday Afternoon at Gilles Composer, Primary 2006 Dingwalls Peterson Artist Willis “Gator” Primary Artist, 2005 1950-1954 Jackson Sax (Tenor) Great Rock N Roll: 58 2005 Primary Artist Original Jivin Hits Willis “Gator” Composer, Primary 2005 Later for the Gator Jackson Artist Eddie Prestige Profiles, 2005 “Lockjaw” Primary Artist Vol. 10 Davis Primary Artist, 2005 The Kings of Funk Keb Darge Saxophone Composer, Guitar, The Remaining Willis Willis “Gator” 2005 Primary Artist, Jackson 1951-1959 Jackson Sax (Tenor) 100 Hot Rhythm & 2004 Blues Tunes from…the Primary Artist R&B Years 1952 2004 1951-1953 Ruth Brown Sax (Tenor) A Proper Introduction to Ruth Brown: 2004 Ruth Brown Sax (Tenor) Teardrops From My Eyes A Proper Introduction 2004 to the Clovers: Ting- The Clovers Sax (Tenor) A-Ling Composer, Horn, Willis “Gator” Main Personnel, 2004 After Hours Jackson Primary Artist, Sax (Tenor) All Songs Considered: Composer, Primary 2004 4 CD Collection Artist 2004 Complete 1943-1961 Bob Merrill Sax (Tenor) Complete Recordings: 2004 Eddie Mack Guest Artist 1947-1952 Giants of Jazz: 2004 Primary Artist Guitar Good Rockin’ Tonight: Georgian Composer, Primary 2004 28 Original Rock ‘N’ Festival Artist Roll Hits Orchestra Composer, Primary 2004 Good Times 4 Norman Jay Artist Jazz for Reading, 2004 Primary Artist Vol. 2 Lush: Essential 2004 Primary Artist Ballads Performer, Primary 2004 Pops In Jazz, Vol. 2 Artist Right On! Vol. 5: More Break Beats & 2004 Grooves From the Primary Artist Atlantic & Warner Vaults 2004 Souljazz Primary Artist The Boogie Shack Madison Shuffle: 25 2004 Vintage R&B Dancers Primary Artist from the Fire/Fury Vauts The Most Relaxing 2004 Jazz Standards in the Primary Artist Universe The Most Romantic 2004 Jazz Music in the Primary Artist Universe All Songs Considered, Composer, Primary 2003 Vol. 3 Artist 2003 Atomic Cocktails Primary Artist Big Horn: More Bounce Composer, Primary 2003 to the Ounce Artist Primary Artist, 2003 For Jumpers Only! Sax (Tenor) From Latin to Jazz 2003 Primary Artist Dance, Vol. 5 Jazz for When You’re 2003 Primary Artist All Alone [Somerset] Jazz for When You’re 2003 Primary Artist Alone, Vol. 1 Jazz for When You’re 2003 Primary Artist Alone, Vol. 2 Jazz for a Day in the 2003 Primary Artist Park Jazz for a Night on Composer, Primary 2003 the Town [Savoy] Artist More of the Most 2003 Relaxing Jazz Music Primary Artist in the Universe 2003 Organizer Red Young Composer The Big Horn: The History of the Composer, Primary 2003 Honkin’ & Screamin’ Artist Saxophone The Definitive Black Composer, Primary Willis “Gator” 2003 & Blue Sessions: Live Artist, Sax Jackson on Stage (Tenor) The Very Best of 2003 Freddy Weller Composer Freddy Weller Together Again! Composer, Primary [Together Willis “Gator” 2003 Artist, Sax Again/Together Again, Jackson (Tenor) Again] Little Willie 2002 Home at Last Sax (Tenor) John Hoot and Holler Guest Artist, Sax 2002 Piney Brown Saturday Night! (Tenor) Nuther’n Like Composer, Primary Willis “Gator” 2002 Thuther’n: More Artist, Sax Jackson Gravy/Boss Shoutin’ (Tenor) The Art of Jazz: Composer, Primary 2002 Saxophone [Slimline] Artist The Early King Little Willie 2002 Saxophone Sessions John The Hip Walk: Jazz Composer, Primary 2002 Undercurrents in 60s Artist, Sax New York (Tenor) Guest Artist, Sax 2001 1949-1950 Ruth Brown (Tenor) Composer, Primary Willis “Gator” 2001 Gravy Artist, Sax Jackson (Tenor) Composer, Primary Have You Had Your 2001 Artist, Sax Vitamin B-3 Today? (Tenor) Plays with Willis “Gator” Primary Artist, 2001 Feeling/The Way We Jackson Sax (Tenor) Were Cootie Composer, Guest 2000 1946-1949 Williams & His Artist, Sax Orchestra (Tenor) Composer, Primary 32 More Gems from 32 2000 Artist, Producer, Jazz Sax (Tenor) Composer, Primary Willis “Gator” 2000 At Large Artist, Sax Jackson (Tenor) Composer, Givin’ Away the 2000 Pat Martino Producer, Sax Store, Vol.

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