MANOLÍN
EL MÉDICO DE LA SALSA

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The always controversial "Médico de la Salsa" is now a permanent resident of Miami after many well chronicled conflicts with the Cuban government which ultimately led to his controversial coro "El Puente" (now the title song of his first release since moving to Miami) and his subsequent defection from Cuba. His career direction seems to change almost monthly, but currently he's barely playing with the world-class timba band he has at his disposal in Miami and has signed a contract with BMG Latin to record pop music. Here's a brief history of his career:

One of the most interesting and controversial figures in Timba is Manolín, El Médico de la Salsa. Medical student turned singer, Manolín got his first break as a guest singer and songwriter with NG La Banda. His voice was untrained, but his presentation and especially his songwriting set him apart as an inspired, soulful performer.

In the late 1990s, Manolín rose to the top of the Havana hit parade. His own band packed the clubs and he wrote songs for other groups like Charanga Habanera, NG La Banda, and Bamboleo. The first signs of trouble came when he began to reach out to the Cuban community across the straits in Miami. His songs advocating friendship between the Cubans on the island and those in Florida were banned in Cuba. He traveled to Miami and stayed, but did not formally defect. For a time it seemed he could be the bridge that could reunite the Cubans in music. He made the unprecedented move back to Havana after having loudly proclaimed all Cubans as one and continuing his advocacy of friendship with Miami. Of course, his second Havana career went nowhere and he returned to Miami where he is now making steady progress towards building his musical life.

LEFT: Tomás "Tomasito" Cruz
photo by Duniel Deya

He has added master conguero Tomasito Cruz, previously with Paulito FG, and the young virtuoso timbalero Angel "Pututi II" Arces has rejoined Manolín after a hiatus of several years. The combination of these two with the phenomenal young drummer Reinier Guerra and longtime keyboard masters Eduardo "Chaka" Nápoles and Luis Bu, gives Manolín what may be the hottest Timba rhythm section ever assembled.

So although he's no longer in Cuba, Manolín has what is arguably one of the very top Timba bands in the world, but as of this writing, they can seldom be heard.

In February 2002, his long-lost fourth studio album was released on Caribe Records and there are persistent rumorsthat a new studio album may be recorded in Miami soon.(by Kevin Moore )

RIGHT: Reinier Guerra
photo by Duniel Deya