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Sonora Matancera

Sonora Matancera
Also known as Tuna Liberal
Septeto Soprano
Estudiantina Sonora Matancera
Conjunto Sonora Matancera
La Sonora Matancera
Origin Barrio Ojo de Agua, Matanzas, Cuba
Genres Cuban/Afro-Cuban, son cubano, guaracha, bolero, son montuno, guaguancó, chachachá
Years active 1924 (1924)–present
Labels RCA Victor, Panart, Stinson, Ansonia, Seeco, Tropical, Marvela, MRVA, Orfeón, Bárbaro, Fania, Taurus, Warner Music, Varsity, Discos Fuentes
Associated acts Ignacio Piñeiro, Conjunto Casino, Sexteto Habanero, Arsenio Rodríguez
Website sonoramatancera.com
Members Valentín Cané
Pablo Vázquez Gobín "Bubú"
Manuel Sánchez "Jimagua"
Ismael Goberna
Domingo Medina
José Manuel Valera
Juan Bautista Llópis
Julio Gobín
Humberto Cané
Carlos Manuel Díaz Alonso "Caíto"
Rogelio Martínez Díaz
José Rosario Chávez "Manteca"
Calixto Leicea
Pérez Prado
Bienvenido Granda
Ezequiel Frías Gómez "Lino"
Ángel Alfonso Furias "Yiyo"
Past members Bienvenido León
Daniel Santos
Myrta Silva
Celia Cruz
Pedro Knight
Miguelito Valdés
Leo Marini
Bobby Capó
Nelson Pinedo
Vicentico Valdés
Estanislao Sureda "Laíto"
Alberto Beltrán
Carlos Argentino
Celio González
Elpidio Vázquez
Carmen Delia Dipiní
Javier Vázquez
Willy Rodríguez "El Baby"
Alfredo Armenteros "Chocolate"
Ismael Miranda
Justo Betancourt
Linda Leida
Gabriel Eladio Peguero "Yayo El Indio"
Welfo Gutiérrez
Olga Chorens
Gloria Díaz
Tony Álvarez
Chito Galindo
Toña la Negra
Elliot Romero
Emilio Domínguez "El Jarocho"
Gladys Julio
Hermanas Lago
Israel del Pino
Johnny López
Jorge Maldonado
Kary Infante
Manuel Licea "Puntillita"
Martha Jean Claude
Máximo Barrientos
Miguel de Gonzalo
Pepe Reyes
Raúl del Castillo
Reynaldo Hierrezuelo "Rey Caney"
Rodolfo Hoyos
Tony Díaz
Victor Piñero
Vicky Jiménez
Alfredo Valdés
Roberto Torres

La Sonora Matancera is a Cuban/Afro-Cuban band that played Latin American urban popular dance music. Founded in 1924 and led for more than five decades by guitarist, vocalist, composer, and producer Rogelio Martínez, musicologists consider it an icon of this type of music. Notable singers to have sung with the band include Bienvenido Granda,Daniel Santos, Myrta Silva, and Celia Cruz.

The group was founded on January 12, 1924 in Barrio Ojo de Agua, a neighborhood in the city of Matanzas. Culturally and demographically, this seaport is located in the most African region of Cuba. The ensemble was initially named Tuna Liberal for political reasons. The co-founders were Valentín Cané (director, tres, guitar and tumbadora, or as it is commonly called, conga. He was also a songwriter and later on a singer) and Pablo "Bubú" Vázquez Gobín (contrabass). The other original members were Manuel "Jimagua" Sánchez (timbales), Ismael Goberna (cornet/trumpet), Domingo Medina, José Manuel Valera, Julio Gobín, Juan Bautista Llópis (guitarists), and Eugenio Pérez, vocalist. One source believes Valera and Bautista Llópis were the vocalists while a second source holds to the position that Eugenio Pérez was the sole sonero. At this point, the band was just a commonplace group and had not yet developed its distinctive sound.

In 1925, Gerardo Machado, then Cuban President, invited Tuna Liberal to play at a party for his birthday. This marked a new acceptance for Afro-Cuban groups and a style of music that had previously been barred from certain restaurants and hotels.


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