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Wildman Of Rhythm : The Life & Music Of Benny Moré
Cuba’s greatest sonero, Benny Moré remains a legendary name in Latin music. We review this new biography of the original mambo king.
Despite the global impact of Buena Vista Social Club, Cuba’s greatest sonero, ‘El Bárbaro del Ritmo’, Benny Moré, remains relatively unknown outside of the Hispanic world. In fact, John Radanovitch - the author of this most valuable book and an experienced jazz journalist - had never heard of Benny Moré until smitten by the music of Banda Gigante at a Crescent City soirée. It sent Radanovitch off on a mission that begins in “la Guinea” in Santa Isabel de las Lajas.
As a child, Benny Moré osmosed the rhythms of the guateques and at El Casino De Los Congos was initiated into the African religions. After experiencing back breaking work in the cane fields he slung a guitar over his shoulder and headed for Havana. Benny hustled and sang for people at their tables. Competition in this most hedonistic of cities was fierce but Benny had a voice that people were quick to recognize. It was that voice which carried him to Mexico and a host of new opportunities, recording with top orchestras Conjunto Matamoros and Perez Prado. During the 1950s his vocals graced dozens of smash hits in Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela.
By cataloguing Moré’s recordings, Radanovitch progresses steadily through his career, meeting many musicians who give us insight into their daily lives and the development of the music. After working with numerous bandleaders Benny formed the dazzling and innovative big band, Banda Gigante and placed himself at the epicentre of the Golden Age of Cuban music. He was a guajiro version of Cab Calloway. He was witty, a born joker and onstage he sported a zooty white suit, suspenders and a Cuban cowboy hat along with his ever present Palo cane.
Sadly, Banda Gigante was short lived. When in 1959 the Cuban revolution put Batista and his gangster pals out of business, many musicians fled the island but Benny stayed. He continued to record and perform but years of excessive drinking had taken its physical toll. On the way back from a remarkable late night-early morning show in Palmira, on 17 February 1963, his immune system finally collapsed. The headline in Revolucion - Cuba’s national daily - was “El Benny Dead Aged 44” and the people came to mourn in their thousands.
Wildman Of Rhythm: The Life & Music Of Benny Moré by John Radanovitch
is published by University Press Of Florida
www.wildmanofrhythm.com
Benny Moré – Como Fue
Paul Bradshaw / Straight No Chaser
book cuba latin music
// ALSO
- Ray Barretto
- Havana Cultura - New Cuba Sound
- 80s World Music Classics
- The Cuban diaspora, Buena Vista Exile Club
- Latin Music USA: the Barbican and BBC Four go Latin
- World Audio Foundation, Sacred sounds
- Andrés 'El Jíbaro' Jiménez, Andrés 'El Jíbaro' Jiménez - Puerto Rico's folk music icon
- New Latin series on BBC Radio 2 starts 5 Jan
- New Awards for World Music
// ALL JOHN RADANOVICH'S REVIEWS
Wildman Of Rhythm : The Life & Music Of Benny Moré
20/01/2010
// LINKS
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