Marcelino "Rapindey" Guerra - Cuba - N.Y.C. - SpainLázaro Herrera

Marcelino Guerra a.k.a "Rapindey"

b; 1914 Cienfuegos, Cuba
d; 1996 Alicante, Spain

Septeto Nacional 1937 Cuba
L-R
Marcelino Guerra - maracas
Francisco Gonzalez Solarez - tres
Futimio Constantin Guillarte - guitarra
Ramon Castro - bongoesLázaro Herrera Diaz - trompeta
Bienvenido Granda - cantante
Oscar Vilarta - bass

Marcelino Guerra with 'Conjunto Siboney'.

1940 La Habana, Cuba.


Marcelino Guerra with 'Arsenio's' conjunto
1940-'41 Cuba
(Marcelino third star down on right)

Marcelino singing with Arsenio Rodriguez


New York City 1945

Leopoldo “Chicharito" González, Doroteo Santiago, Servando Díaz, Marcelino Guerra, Otilio Portal, Pedro “Piquito” Marcano, Claudio Ferrer, Montesinos, “Toñito” Ferrer, Andrés Andino. Bottom: Federico Pagani, Jorge López, Frank “Machito” Grillo, "Valentino".

Marcelino Guerra
New York City 1948-'49
Marcelino Guerra y Su Orq.
At the Palladium, N.Y.C. late '40's
(Willie Bobo tumbadora)

Marcelino Guerra QuintetN.Y.C early '50's
('Willie Bobo': timbales, "Charlie The Tailor": bass)

Marcelino Guerra QuintetN.Y.C. mid '50's

The recordings by El Maestro 'Marcelino Guerra' on LP and CD are many and all great.

This was his last recording done in 1996, he died in Spain a few month's later.
A beautiful recording, he sings his own compositions and plays guitar, acompanied by his friends.

"Rapindey" - 1996
R.I.P.
Ibayé bayé tonu

Recordando a 'Marcelino Guerra' (Rapindey)
Autor: 'Senén Suárez Hernández'

Lou Peréz - Pianist, flautist, composer & arranger -N.Y.C.

Lou Peréz was born in New York City in 1921, his father was Cuban, his mother Puerto Rican.
He and his parents moved to Cuba when he was four years old, then moved back to the the U.S. when he was 12 or 13 years old.

A "masterful musician and arranger", 'Lou Peréz' wrote between 300 and 500 compositions, played drums and vibraphone, his main instruments were flute and piano. He also sang.
As a young musician, he was involved in the bands of Gilberto Valdés, Noro Morales and Belisario López among many others.
He wrote music for T.V. commercials and films as well.

'Lou Peréz' very sadly died in N.Y.C. in 2005, the result a car accident. He was 77 years old.
One of his sons, 'Ron' is a V.P. of a computer corp., his other son 'Louis A. Perez Jr.' is a professor at the University Of North Carolina and author of the following books:
"Cuba: Between Reform and Revolution" - 1988
"Cuba and the United States" -1990
"Guide to Cuban Collections in the United States" - 1991
"Cuba" - 1995
"On Becoming Cuban" - 2001
"Cuba: Picturing Change" - 2002
"To Die In Cuba" - 2005
(all 7 books available on Amazon.com)

I never had the good fortune to play with Lou Peréz , although I met him several times near the end of his life. He was a true gentleman, very personable... with great soul.
This is not a definitive discography or biography, just twelve great recordings by him.
I really like Lou's music and his playing, and that he chose to have 'Marcelino Guerra' singing on several of these LP's.

"Para La Fiesta Voy" - 1961
(Reissued on CD)
Rudy Calzado vocal & coro

"Bon Bon De Chocolate!" - 1962
(Ajay vinyl LP)
Rudy Calzado: vocal

7. "Asi Se Baila Mi Son"

"Que buena está... Elena!!"

Elena Madera was from N.Y.C. with a Cuban mother & West Indian father.
Her singing style and voice was brusque, harsh & screechy ("torrid"?)... but Lou's arrangements and band sound great .
Early 1960's vinyl LP, nothing really special.

6. Hermosa Tierra

11. Canto Karabali

"Tamboleo"
1964?
Marcelino Guerra: coro
(Reissued on CD but they took everything from vinyl)

6."Mamá, Mamá, Mamá"

10. "Bodas De Oro"

11. "Oye Tu Veras"



Lou Peréz and his Orq.
Recorded in N.Y.C. - 1966
Lou Peréz: flute & vocal, Cachao: acoustic bass,
Marcelino Guerra: vocal & coro, "El Negro" Vivar: trumpet,
Alberto Fajardo & Pupy Legarreta violins.
(possibly obscure rough mixes)

The odd thing about this is that the songs are the same as on the LP "Of Latin Extraction".. but the mixes are different. For example, on "Adios Amor", Lou Perez is singing... but the same song on the LP "Of Latin Extraction" below, there is no vocal.
I have listened to both recordings closely, these are the same songs, but perhaps these may be the original 'rough mixes' before the actual LP "Of Latin Extraction" was released.
Marcelino Guerra is definitely singing, but there is no mention of his name and no mention of Alejandro "El Negro" Vivar on trumpet or Alberto Fajardo & Pupy Legarreta on the LP.

3. "Adios Mi Amor"
Vocal: Lou Peréz
(version with vocal)

6. "En Carne Propia"
Vocal: Lou Peréz
Trumpet: Alejandro "El Negro" Vivar

"Of Latin Extraction"

Vinyl LP on the Madrid label

Marcelino "Rapindey" Guerra sings on several songs as well as in the coro and Alejandro "El Negro" Vivar plays trumpet on one song, but their names are not listed on the LP.
"Cachao" plays his ass off!!

4. "Guantanamo"

6. "Martina"
(Lou's great composition in 5/4 & 3/4)

7. "El Palo Tiene Curujey"
Vocal: Marcelino Guerra

12. "Guantanamera"
Vocal: Marcelino Guerra

"Barrio"

1972 Parnaso vinyl LP

3. "No Tienes Gandinga"
Vocal: Marcelino Guerra

"¡Que Calor!"
Lou Peréz y su Conjunto Tipico1974
(Originally on Parnaso, this is a Seeco pressing)

Leader, conductor & Flute: Lou Perez

Vocal on several songs: Roberto Torres

Piano: Larry Kiviat
Bass: Israel "Cachao" López (Ibayé bayé tonu)
Timbales: Nicky Marrero
Conga: Ray Mantilla
Bongoes: Manny Oquendo (Ibayé bayé tonu)
Trumpets: Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros & Alberto "Panama" De Mercado

2. "El Reloj De Pastora"
Comp: Arsenio Rodriguez
Vocal: Marcelino Guerra

"Fantasia Africana"

1975 CD
Javier Vazquez: piano
Virgilio Marti: tumbadoras
Osvaldo "Chihuahua" Martinez: Güiro

"Nuestra Herencia"
1976 Tico vinyl LP

With Edy Martinez: Piano.
Israel "Cachao"Lopez: bass.
Julito Collazo, "Cachete" Maldonado & Steve Berrios: Batá drums.

1. "Our Heritage" (mini suite)

5. "No Hay Nada Como El Son"

8. "Mi Matanzas"

"De Todo Un Poco"
1977 Vinyl LP
With Edy Martinez on piano,
Julito Collazo, Batá.

"Lou Perez And His New York N.Y. Sound"
197?
3. "El Miri Miron"
Vocal: Marcelino Guerra

"Lou Peréz Live At The Palladium N.Y.C."
Sacodis label - 1979
(thanks to "Odara" for the photo)

'Louis Armstrong' & 'Lou Peréz'

Roseland Ballroom N.Y.C. 1966

The late Sonora Matancera guitarist Rogelio Martínez, the late Lou Peréz and the late Israel "Cachao" Lopez. 1970's

R.I.P.

*If anyone knows how to make a page in 'Wikipedia',
Lou Peréz should have his own page!

Luis "Lija" Ortiz Y Su Sexteto Caravan - with Marcelino Guerra early 1950's - N.Y.C. and with Panchito Riset

"No Me Persigas"
Luis 'Lija' Ortiz Y Su Sexteto Caravan
Ansonia vinyl LP (long out of print)
With Marcelino Guerra and Nando Díaz vocals.

The late Puerto Rican tresero Luis "Lija" Ortiz on an Ansonia LP with his 'Sexteto Caravan', recordings originally done in the early 1950's, recorded in New York City.

Besides singing, Marcelino Guerra most likely is also accompanying "Lija" on guitar on these recordings.
El Maestro Marcelino Guerra sings lead on his composition "Cuidado Con El Pega Palo" and coro on his other composition "Volvi A Querer". Marcelino Guerra kills on these.

3. "El Carbon"
Tres: Luis "Lija" Ortiz

(M. Guerra + N. Díaz: coro)

6. "Brinca Perico"
Tres: Luis "Lija" Ortiz
(M. Guerra + N. Díaz: coro)

7. "Cuidado Con El Pega Palo"
Tres: Luis "Lija" Ortiz
(M. Guerra: lead vocal & comp.)

8. "Volvi A Querer"
Tres: Luis "Lija" Ortiz
(M. Guerra + N. Díaz: coro)
M. Guerra: comp



Panchito Riset
with Luis Lija Ortiz y Su Conjunto
Vol.1 and Vol.2

Arsenio Rodríguez - Rca-victor 1940-1956 - Cuba

El Alma De Cuba

Rca-victor 'Arsenio Rodriguez' Recordings 1940-1956
(6 Cd Box-set TCD315)Label: Tumbao Cuban Classics

The eventual release of the Arsenio Rodriguez Rca-Victor recordings.
Everything he ever recorded in studio "in Cuba", 1940-1956
All remastered from the original Rca-Victor 78 rpm's.
(Unfortunately the "remastering" is not really so great)
Featuring: Miguelito Cuní, Felix Chappotín, René Álvarez, Rubén González, Luis "Lilí" Martínez Griñán, Guillermo Fellove, Lázaro Prieto, Benitín Bustillo, Domingo Corbacho, Marcelino Guerra, Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros, Félix "Chocolate" Alfonso... and others.

CD-1: 1940-1944

1. EL PIRULERO NO VUELVE MÁS (A. Rodríguez) pregón
2. YO TA’ NAMORÁ (A. Rodríguez) afro
3. CORAZÓN DE HIELO (A. Rodríguez) Bolero
4. YO TUVE LA CULPA (A. Rodríguez) Bolero
5. NO HACE NA’ LA MUJER (Bienvenido J. Gutiérrez) Guaracha
6. TODOS SEGUIMOS LA CONGA (A. Rodríguez) Conga
7. SEDIENTO DE AMOR (Jacinto Scull) Bolero son
8. COMO TRAIGO LA YUCA (A. Rodríguez) Guaracha
9. CON UN SOLO PIE (Bienvenido J. Gutiérrez) Conga
10. INTRANQUILIDAD (Mercedes Valdés) Bolero
11. SIN TU QUERER (Pablo Cairo) Bolero son
12. SANDUNGUERA (Luís Piedra) Guaracha
13. ¡SO CABALLO! (A. Rodríguez) Son montuno
14. TRISTE LUCHA (A. Rodríguez) Bolero son
15. ÑAÑA SERÉ (A. Rodríguez-Guillermo Valdés) Guaracha
16. A BUSCAR CAMARÓN (A.Rodríguez) Son montuno
17. PILLA CON PILLA (Guillermo Valdés) Son montuno
18. OYE COMO DICE (Felix Chappottín) Bolero Son
19. CAMINA A TRABAJÁ, ARAGÁN (A. Rodríguez-J. Scull) Son montuno
20. ¿QUIÉN SERÁ MI AMOR ? (Mercedes Valdés) Bolero son
21. QUIEN AMA NO TRAICIONA (A. Rodríguez) Bolero son
22. MI CHINITA ME BOTÓ (A. Rodríguez) Son Guajiro
23. OYE MI CONSEJO (A. Rodríguez) Bolero son
24. ESTÁS EQUIVOCADA (Osvaldo Farrés) Bolero son

CD-2: 1944-1946

1. MUJERES, ENAMÓRENME (A. Rodríguez) Guaracha
2. YO NO COMO CORAZÓN DE CHIVO (A. Rodríguez) Guaracha son
3. TU NO ERES CULPABLE (Pepe Robles-Marcelino Guerra) Bolero
4. MI GUANE (Rafael López) guajira
5. NADIE MÁS QUE TÚ (Jacinto Scull) Bolero son
6. TIMBILLA (A. Rodríguez) Rumba de Cajón
7. AGONÍA (A. Rodríguez) Bolero
8. YEYÉ (Emilio Sanso-O. Gainza) pregón
9. DEUDA (Luís Marquetti) Bolero
10. NO HAY YAYA SIN GUAYACÁN (A. Rodríguez) Son montuno
11. YA LO VERÁS (A. Rodríguez) Bolero
12. CANTA, MONTERO (A. Rodríguez) Guajira son
13. INSPIRACIÓN (Pablo Pérez Chorot) Bolero
14. EL ÚLTIMO AMOR (A. Rodríguez) Bolero
15. CHICHARRONERO (Luís Martínez) Son
16. UNA EXPERIÉNCIA MÁS (A. Rodríguez) Bolero
17. DAME UN CACHITO PA’ HUELÉ (A. Rodríguez) Son montuno
18. EL RELOJ DE PASTORA ( A. Rodríguez) Son
19. SE ACABARON LOS GUAPOS EN YATERAS (Luís Martínez) Son
20. CANGREJO FUE A ESTUDIAR (A. Rodríguez) son montuno
21. TENGO QUE OLVIDARTE (Jacinto Scull) Bolero son
22. CELOS DE MUJER (A. Rodríguez) Guaracha
23. JUVENTUD AMALIANA (A. Rodríguez) Guaguancó
24. SEMILLA DE CAÑA BRAVA (Luís Martínez) Guaracha
25. ¿POR QUÉ LA TRAJISTE? (A. Rodríguez) Bolero son

CD-3: 1947-1949

1. MI CONVICCIÓN (Luís Martínez) Bolero son
2. ADIVÍNALO (José Luís Forest) Guaracha
3. SOY EL TERROR (A. Rodríguez) Son
4. LO DICEN TODAS (A. Rodríguez) Guaracha
5. LA VIDA ES UN SUEÑO (A. Rodríguez) Bolero
6. EL TABERNERO (Rafael Ortiz) Bolero
7. EL CERRO TIENE LA LLAVE (Fernando Noa) Guaracha
8. TE ESPERARÉ (Luís Martínez) Bolero
9. NO VUELVO A MORÓN (Otilio Portal) Son montuno
10. ESA CHINA TIENE COIMBRE (A. Rodríguez) Son montuno
11. SOY TU DESTINO (Isolina Carrillo) Bolero
12. SACANDO CANDELA (Gervasio Kessell) Guaracha
13. A PUERTO RICO (A. Rodríguez) Bolero
14. NO TOQUE EL GUAO (A. Rodríguez) Son montuno
15. ME SIENTO MUY SOLO (A. Rodríguez) Bolero
16. A BELÉN LE TOCA AHORA (A. Rodríguez) Guaguancó
17. LOS TRES JUANES (Bienvenido Julián Gutiérrez) Bolero
18. LUNA AL AMANECER (Luís Martínez) Bolero
19. DAME UN BESITO (A. Rodríguez) Son montuno
20. ORGULLO INUTIL (Rosendo Ruiz, Jr.) Bolero
21. LO QUE DICE USTED (Jesús Guerra) Son montuno
22. NO ME LLORES MÁS (Luís Martínez) Son montuno
23. EN SU PARTIR (Jacinto Scull) Bolero
24 PUEBLO NUEVO SE PASÓ (Luís Martínez) Guaguancó
25. FELIZ VIAJE (A. Rodríguez) Bolero

CD-4: 1949-1950

1. LLEVATELO TODO (Luís Martínez) Son montuno
2. MÍRAME MÁS (Enrique Hernández) Bolero
3. FLOR DEL FANGO (Cristóbal Doval) Bolero
4. QUE COSAS TENDRAN LAS MUJERES (Luís Martínez) Son montuno
5. ME BOTE DE GUAÑO (Alfredo Armenteros) Montuno
6. ES MEJOR OLVIDARTE (René Scull) Bolero
7. EL PALO TIENE CURUJEY (Pascual Bueno Griñán) Son montuno
8. FINALIZA UN AMOR (Raúl Díaz) Bolero
9. LOS SITIOS ACERÉ (Silvio A. Pino) Guaguancó
10. SAGRADO AMOR (Lázaro Prieto) Bolero
11. FLOR DE CANELA (A. Rodríguez) Bolero
12. DUNDUNBANZA (A. Rodríguez) Son montuno
13. PERO YO NO SÉ (F.Chappotín) Bolero
14. JUVENTUD DE COLÓN (Federico Gayle) Guaguancó
15. POR TU BIEN (Luís Martínez Griñan) Bolero
16. NO PUEDO COMER VISTAGACHA (A. Rodríguez) Guaracha
17. KILA, QUIQUE Y CHOCOLATE (Israel Rodríguez) Son montuno
18. VUELVO A LA VIDA (A. Rodríguez) Bolero
19. EL RUMBÓN DE LUYANO (Lázaro Prieto) Guaguancó
20. RECUERDA AQUELLA NOCHE (A. Rodríguez) Bolero
21. EL RINCÓN CALIENTE (A. Rodríguez) Son montuno
22. ¡QUÉ SUSTO! (A. Rodríguez) Bolero
23. LA SANDUNGA DEL SON (Raúl Díaz) Son
24. CON RECIPROCIDAD (Bienvenido J. Gutiérrez) Bolero

CD-5: 1950-1951

1. ANABACOA (J.Ramírez) Guaracha
2. CÁRDENAS (A. Rodríguez) Bolero
3. TEN VALOR (A. Rodríguez) Bolero
4. CON UN AMOR SE BORRA OTRO AMOR (A. Rodríguez) Son montuno
5. JUVENTUD DE CAYO HUESO (A. Rodríguez) Guaguancó
6. TODO TERMINÓ (Israel Rodríguez) Bolero
7. ‘TA BENITO (A. Rodríguez) Afro
8. AQUÍ COMO ALLÁ (A. Rodríguez) Lamento afro
9. TE MANTEGO Y NO QUIERES (Rafael Ortiz) Son montuno
10. CREE LO QUE TÚ QUIERAS (Jacinto Scull) Bolero
11. EL QUE NO TIENE NO VALE (Félix Chappotín) Bolero son
12. QUIZÁS CON LOS AÑOS (Lázaro Prieto) Bolero
13. ME DIJO QUE SÍ Y LE DIJE QUE NO (A. Rodríguez) Son montuno
14. FALSO DESPRECIO (Antonio Alonso) Bolero
15. CAMINANTE Y LABORÍ (A. Rodríguez) Son montuno
16. JAMÁS TE PERDONARÉ (Enrique Pérez Poey) Bolero
17. TU FAZ MORENA (Juan Limonta) Bolero
18. ZUMBA (A. Rodríguez) Negón
19. MURUMBA (Félix Chappotín) Rezo Negro
20. NEGRITA (Marcelino Guerra) Guajira Son
21. AMORES DE VERANO (A. Rodríguez) Guaguancó
22. TE CONTARÉ (A. Rodríguez) Bolero 55
23. AMOR EN CENIZAS (A. Rodríguez) Bolero
24. MIRA...CUIDADITO (A. Rodríguez) Son montuno
25. A GRACIELA (A. Rodríguez) Bolero
26. MIRA QUE SOY CHAMBELON (A. Rodríguez) Son

CD-6: 1951-1956

1. POBRE MI CUBA (A. Rodríguez) Lamento afro guajiro
2. GUARAGÜÍ (A. Rodríguez) Son montuno
3. YA SE FUÉ (Marcelino Guerra) Bolero
4. AMOR A MI PATRIA (A. Rodríguez) Lamento afro
5. BURUNDANGA (Félix Chappotín) Montuno afro
6. INJUSTA DUDA (Enrique González) Bolero canción
7. MI CONUCO (A. Rodríguez) Guajira son
8. POGOLOTTI (Eloy Oliva) Guaguancó
9. MAMBO ABACUA (A. Rodríguez) Mambo
10. MI PRIMER CARIÑO (A. Rodríguez) Cha-cha-chá
11. ACERCA EL OIDO (A. Rodríguez) Bolero
12. MAMBO EN LA CUEVA (Tata Gutiérrez) Mambo
13. ME ESTOY COMIENDO UN CABLE (A. Rodríguez) Guaracha
14. CUBA CHA-CHA-CHÁ (A. Rodríguez) Cha-cha-chá
15. SOBRE EL ARCO IRIS (E.Y. Harburg) Cha-cha-chá
16. CONFORMATE (A. Rodríguez) Guaguancó
17. LO SABÍA (A. Rodríguez) Bolero
18. QUE NEGRA P’ACELERA’ (A. Rodríguez) rumba
19. TITI, TU KUNDUNGO QUIERE PARA (A. Rodríguez) Cha-cha-chá
20. AYACA DE MAIZ (Silvano Schueg “Chori”) Son pregón
21. GRACIELA, TÚ LO SABES (A. Rodríguez) Cha-cha-chá
22. TRISTE LUCHA (A. Rodríguez) Bolero
23. DAME TU YOYO MA BELÉN (A. Rodríguez) Son montuno
24. CONTIGO NO SOY FELIZ (Jacinto Scull) Bolero
25. CASERA MIRE QUE CAÑA (A. Rodríguez) Son pregón
26. ADIOS RONCONA (A. Rodríguez) Columbia matancera
27. CON FLORES DEL MATADERO (A. Rodríguez) Guaguancó

**Note: The overall "sound quality of the box set" is not great, It is obvious that the production spent more money on the graphic design, box, photos, liner notes etc. (which is excellent), and did not "remaster" the audio as well as they could have.
However, someone gave me the entire box set that they re-did themself .. using "Pro Tools" software....on each of the 153 songs from the box set. The audio difference is absolutely amazing, compared to the "original sound quality" of the box set.

Yo no como corazón de chivo
Guaracha-son 1944

(Miguelito Cuní vocal, Arsenio Tres solo)
 

Yeyey
pregón 1944
(Miguelito Cuní vocal, Ruben Gonzalez piano solo)

Timbilla de Cajón
Rumba Guaguancó 1945 
(Miguelito Cuní: vocal, Papa Kila: bongoes)


No Toque El Guao
Son montuno 1947

Arsenio: tres solo


Dame Tu Yoyo Ma' Belen
Son montuno 1951-'56
"Floresita": trumpet, Arsenio: tres solo