Photo: Wikipedia
Who is the "Benny" of Benny's Bar?
Benny's Bar is a very nice place that has just been renovated in 2020. It is a partner of Passion Varadero and this is where you will find the "Passion Varadero" cocktail. These two photos are by Renaud Canuel.
But who is Benny Moré?
Here is what Wikipedia specifies:
Maximiliano Bartolomé Moré Gutiérrez , known as Benny Moré or Beny Moré , born on 24 august 1919 in Lajas ( Cienfuegos Province ) and died on February 19, 1963 in Havana , is a Cuban singer and composer , frequently considered the greatest singer of Cuban music [1] .
The singer
Benny Moré, real name Maximiliano Bartolomé Moré Gutiérrez, is an emblematic figure of Cuban music. Born on August 24, 1919 in Lajas, in the province of Cienfuegos, and died on February 19, 1963 in Havana, he was both a singer and a composer. Nicknamed the "Barbarian of Mambo", he is widely recognized as one of the greatest interpreters of Cuban music.
With an innate talent for improvisation and a remarkable tenor voice, Benny Moré excelled in various musical genres, including Cuban son, mambo and bolero. His artistic journey led him to replace Miguel Matamoros in the conjunto Matamoros in 1944, and then to form his own orchestra, "La Banda Gigante", in 1953. Sadly, his life was marked by struggles with alcoholism, and he died of cirrhosis at the age of 43, leaving behind an indelible musical legacy.
Every year in September, a Cuban festival named after him takes place in Cienfuegos, his hometown. Many songs celebrate his contribution to Cuban music, and in Havana, a salsa club perpetuates his memory.
In 2006, a film called "El Benny" was a popular success in Cuba, starring renowned artists such as Chucho Valdés, Juan Formell and Orishas. In addition, Cuban writer Daína Chaviano paid tribute to him by including him as a character in her novel "The Island of Eternal Loves", which is the most translated Cuban novel of all time and won the Gold Medal in the Florida Book Awards competition.
Discography
His discography, including the box set "Grabaciones Completas 1953-1960", demonstrates his lasting influence on Cuban music, while albums such as "Caricias Cubanas" continue to delight music lovers around the world.
Comments