Cano Estremera
Encyclopedia
Carlos Enrique Estremera Colón (born 2 September 1958 is a Puerto Rican
Salsa
singer who is a native of San Juan
. Estremera, who is an albino, is nicknamed -and billed- as "El Cano" ("The Light-Colored Haired One"), a word which is commonly use in Puerto Rico to refer to people of light complexion. He is arguably the most famous albino in the Caribbean country, and as such, has raised public awareness of the condition's traits and limitations (such as limited vision, which Estremera openly acknowledges, even in the occasional song).
Estremera developed his talent as a singer while residing in Residencial Las Casas
, a public housing complex in the area of Santurce, not far from Trastalleres, where Daniel Santos
, Andy Montañez
and Ossie Ocasio
were raised. As Héctor Lavoe
did before him, Estremera acknowledges Puerto Rican jíbaro country singers as a strong influence. He developed a reputation for being a fast and clever improviser, in the same vein as Marvin Santiago
, Gilberto Santa Rosa
, Oscar D'León
and other salsa singers who could improvise dozens of soneos (improvisations within a call–response format) on the spot. Later in his life Estremera would use the title "Dueño del soneo" ("Owner of the Soneo") as a marketing concept, emphasizing his prowess as an on-the-spot improviser.
In 1978, Estremera joined Bobby Valentín
, among other replacements to Vaentín's band -namely Santiago and former Sonora Ponceña singer Luiggi Texidor. Estremera recorded six albums before stating his own band in 1984. He was the lead singer on many of the best selling hits by Valentín's band, particularly the band's best seller ever, "La boda de ella" ("Her Wedding")
Estremera began touring all over Latin America by 1989. He enjoyed wild success in Puerto Rico
as well as in Brazil
and Peru
, among other places. His best known hit as a solo artist is "El Toro" ("The Bull"), a humorous take on infidelity
(and, in one line, about his low vision
).
Estremera has participated in "soneo" battles with other salsa singers, most famously with Domingo Quiñones
. He has also faced two incidents where he has been blacklisted from venues in Puerto Rico for using profanity
onstage. As a result, he often polls audiences before addressing specific subjects onstage.
A 2003 CD release celebrated his twenty years in the music industry.
With Bobby Valentín:
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
Salsa
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
singer who is a native of San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. Estremera, who is an albino, is nicknamed -and billed- as "El Cano" ("The Light-Colored Haired One"), a word which is commonly use in Puerto Rico to refer to people of light complexion. He is arguably the most famous albino in the Caribbean country, and as such, has raised public awareness of the condition's traits and limitations (such as limited vision, which Estremera openly acknowledges, even in the occasional song).
Estremera developed his talent as a singer while residing in Residencial Las Casas
Residencial Las Casas
Residencial Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas, more commonly known as Residencial Las Casas or Las Casas, is a public housing complex located in San Juan, Puerto Rico consisting of 417 housing units. It is under the management of the Puerto Rico Housing Authority and is under the federal housing program...
, a public housing complex in the area of Santurce, not far from Trastalleres, where Daniel Santos
Daniel Santos (singer)
Daniel Santos was a singer and composer of boleros, and an overall performer of multiple Caribbean music genres, including guaracha, plena and rumba...
, Andy Montañez
Andy Montañez
Andrés Montañez , better known as Andy Montañez, is a salsa singer from Puerto Rico.-Early life:Montañez, like singer Daniel Santos and boxer Ossie Ocasio, is a native of the Tras Talleres area of Santurce San Juan. He is known by the nickname "El Godfather de la Salsa"...
and Ossie Ocasio
Ossie Ocasio
Osvaldo Ocasio, , better known as Ossie Ocasio and nicknamed Jaws, is a Puerto Rican who was a boxer and world Cruiserweight champion. He got his peculiar nickname after accidentally biting another boxer during a sparring session...
were raised. As Héctor Lavoe
Héctor Lavoe
Héctor Juan Pérez Martínez , better known as Héctor Lavoe, was a Puerto Rican salsa singer. Lavoe was born and raised in the Machuelito sector of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Early in his life, he attended a local music school and developed an interest inspired by Jesús Sánchez Erazo. He moved to New York...
did before him, Estremera acknowledges Puerto Rican jíbaro country singers as a strong influence. He developed a reputation for being a fast and clever improviser, in the same vein as Marvin Santiago
Marvin Santiago
Marvin Santiago was a Puerto Rican salsa singer who became famous all across Latin America during the 1970s. He was also a part-time comedian on Puerto Rican television. His brother, Billiván Santiago, had some success in Puerto Rico as a plena singer.- Early life :Santiago was born in San Juan...
, Gilberto Santa Rosa
Gilberto Santa Rosa
Gilberto Santa Rosa, also known as "El Caballero de la Salsa" , is a Puerto Rican bandleader and singer of salsa and bolero.-Early years:...
, Oscar D'León
Oscar D'León
Oscar Emilio León Somoza, better known as Oscar D'León is a Venezuelan musician who became internationally famous for his salsa music. In Spanish, he is known as El Sonero del Mundo . His most famous song is perhaps "Llorarás," which he recorded in 1975 with his group La Dimensión Latina...
and other salsa singers who could improvise dozens of soneos (improvisations within a call–response format) on the spot. Later in his life Estremera would use the title "Dueño del soneo" ("Owner of the Soneo") as a marketing concept, emphasizing his prowess as an on-the-spot improviser.
In 1978, Estremera joined Bobby Valentín
Bobby Valentin
Bobby Valentin, also known as "El Rey del Bajo" , is a musician and salsa bandleader.-Early years:...
, among other replacements to Vaentín's band -namely Santiago and former Sonora Ponceña singer Luiggi Texidor. Estremera recorded six albums before stating his own band in 1984. He was the lead singer on many of the best selling hits by Valentín's band, particularly the band's best seller ever, "La boda de ella" ("Her Wedding")
Estremera began touring all over Latin America by 1989. He enjoyed wild success in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
as well as in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, among other places. His best known hit as a solo artist is "El Toro" ("The Bull"), a humorous take on infidelity
Infidelity
In many intimate relationships in many cultures there is usually an express or implied expectation of exclusivity, especially in sexual matters. Infidelity most commonly refers to a breach of the expectation of sexual exclusivity.Infidelity can occur in relation to physical intimacy and/or...
(and, in one line, about his low vision
Low vision
Low vision is a subspecialty within the professions of optometry and ophthalmology dealing with individuals who have reduced vision even when using the best possible spectacle or contact lens correction available. It can be a result of either congenital disease Low vision is a subspecialty within...
).
Estremera has participated in "soneo" battles with other salsa singers, most famously with Domingo Quiñones
Domingo Quiñones
Domingo Quiñones is a singer of salsa music. He is also a composer, producer and actor.Domingo Quinones was born on August 9, 1963 in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. When he was four years old he moved to Puerto Rico with his parents and lived in Ceiba. He returned to New York City in 1977. He began his...
. He has also faced two incidents where he has been blacklisted from venues in Puerto Rico for using profanity
Profanity
Profanity is a show of disrespect, or a desecration or debasement of someone or something. Profanity can take the form of words, expressions, gestures, or other social behaviors that are socially constructed or interpreted as insulting, rude, vulgar, obscene, desecrating, or other forms.The...
onstage. As a result, he often polls audiences before addressing specific subjects onstage.
A 2003 CD release celebrated his twenty years in the music industry.
Discography
- Puerto Rican Maestra, La Historia de la Salsa (2003)
- Opera Ecuajey Vol.1 (2002)
- Sonora Ponceña 45 Años (1999)
- Diferente (1999)
- Encuentro Histórico (1998)
- Punto y Aparte (1996)
- Cambio de Sentido (1994)
- Éxitos del dueño del Soneo (1991)
- Dueño del Soneo, Vol.2 (1990)
- Dueño del Soneo, Vol.1 (1989)
- Salvaje '88 (1988)
- El Niño De Oro (1986)
With Bobby Valentín:
- Cano Estremera con la Orquesta Bobby Valentín, en Acción (1984)
- Brujería, Bobby Valentín (1983)
- Bobby Valentín presenta a Cano Estremera (1982)
- Siempre en Forma (1981)
- Bobby Valentín (1980)
- Bobby Valentín, El Gato (1979)
- Bobby Valentín presenta al Cano Estremera, La Boda de Ella (1978)