Feliz Cumple Manolito Simonet

Manolito Simonet by Cristian Muñoz Manolito Simonet photo courtesy of Cristian Muñoz

For International Timba Month we honor not only anniversaries but also birthdays. Bandleader Manolito Simonet celebrates his birthday today and we wish him health, happiness and que haya trabuco pa' rato. Manolito hails from Camagüey and has been one of the main proponents of heavily son-influenced timba. His piano tumbaos are mesmerizing hooks that are irresistible to dancers. Who doesn't immediately recognize the opening tumbao of "Marcando la distancia"?

But Manolito is not just living in the past and neither are we, although we have posted a lot of classic timba and there is more to come. Timba is alive and well in Cuba and here is the recent official video of the collaboration between F-Clan and Manolito Simonet y Su Trabuco "Yo soy bueno". A tasty combination of urban Havana with the son sello of Manolito Simonet, it is destined to be another big dance floor hit.

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miércoles, 15 abril 2015, 02:09 pm

Pupy y Lso Que Son Son Tour 2015

Pupy y Los Que Son Son will soon be gracing the stages of Europe. The tour begins in just over one month and will take them to eleven countries including their first-ever concerts in the UK! Pupy will be bringing his legendary music to Glasgow on May 29th and London on the 30th. The London tickets are going fast so please get yours in time. I've seen Pupy in Europe twice and both concerts were sold out. Click here to find a concert near you.

If you've been following our International Timba Month posts, you've seen the 2001 videos of Pupy y Los Que Son Son with Tirso, Pepito and Mandy as well as a guest appearance by Mayito. Here is their most recent video "La Conga Pelotera" from the album "Sin Límites". You can keep up with the latest news about Pupy y Los Que Son Son at their official Facebook page. Dale Like!

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sábado, 11 abril 2015, 05:13 am

Issac Delgado 25th Anniversary

As I mentioned in a previous post, April is International Timba Month because of the number of significant timba anniversaries. Kevin's ITM post for today is a great concert by NG La Banda at the Montreaux Jazz Festival from 1994. Issac Delgado was part of NG for the first couple of years, but left NG to form his own band around 1990. He recorded his first CD "Dando la hora" in 1991, winning the 1992 EGREM award. Today is Issac's 53rd birthday, which he is celebrating with a red-carpet anniversary concert at La Cecilia.

April 2nd, Kevin posted the full Issac Delgado Valentine's Day 1997 concert - "The Croy Concert", which is one of the most exciting and inspiring concert videos from this great era of timba. If you haven't seen it yet, check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm8HJ8QWY8I

Last month Havana Culture posted an interview with Issac. I think Issac's fans will enjoy it. It's in Spanish with subtitles. Happy birthday Issac!

Interview with Issac Delgado by Havana Culture

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miércoles, 08 abril 2015, 03:21 pm

Leonel Limonta & Azúcar Negra @ Latinoamericando 2013

Today for International Timba Month we celebrate the second group with an anniversary in April: Leonel Limonta & Azúcar Negra. Before starting his own orchestra, Leonel Limota wrote major hits for other bands: "24 días" for Issac, "Quítate el disfraz", "Nube pasajera", "El avión" and "Extraños ateos" for La CHaranga Habanera as well as almost all of the "Yo no me parezco a nadie" as manager for Bamboleo.

Haila Mompie sings "Vengo de estreno" shortly after the founding of the band in 1998

Now in full control of his own band, Limonta continued proving his extraordinary talent as songwriter with songs such as "Andar andando", "Vengo de etreno", "3 de azúcar y 2 de café", "Se acabó el pesca'o" and "Bailar con tacones". He also worked with many of the great female singers such as Haila Mompie, Monica Mesa, Tania Pantoja, and Ailyn Dallera. Recently he changed the format of the band to follow the times and has only male vocalists. Below is a clip of one of the new singles "Suave, Rico y Despacito" with Reiner Rojas on lead vocals.

Congratulations to Limonta and los chamaos de Azúcar!

Azúcar Negra 2015