Graciela
Encyclopedia
Graciela was a Cuban-American singer of Latin Jazz
, known as The First Lady of Latin Jazz.
Jesús María neighborhood. A pioneer in music, as a black Cuban woman, in a so-called man's world, she opened doors for all those who followed her. She performed around the world, recording and sharing the stage with her adoptive older brother, Frank "Machito" Grillo
who encouraged her to sing. They played along Mario Bauza
(originator of the genre Afro-Cuban Jazz
) in the world renowned orchestra Machito and the Afro-Cubans. Graciela was primarily known for her tremendous voice, risque and sassy stage presence and sexy double entendre lyrics. She could sing a jazzy guaracha
as easily as handling the most romantic boleros. Though her last name was Perez-Gutierrez, she was only known by her first name, "Graciela", long before doing so became widely fashionable among musicians.
She was summoned to New York City
in 1943 by Mario Bauza
, when Machito
was drafted into the army. She joined the orchestra as lead singer until Machito
returned in 1944 and from then on the three shared the stage together until their untimely split in 1975. For 32 years they were on top of the charts and were the orchestra not only to beat, but to emulate. Not only did they travel the USA and the rest of the world, but they were leaders and reigned supreme during the heyday of the Palladium (where blacks, whites, Jews, Italians and Latinos, and celebrities would converge to dance), from 1946 until its closing. Besides the Palladium, they would perform at the Royal Roost
, Birdland
, the Park Palace, the Corso and the Apollo Theater
on a yearly week-long gig—and many other clubs and theatres in New York. Graciela and the orchestra also performed on a yearly basis in Hollywood-- specifically at the Crescendo nightclub. Graciela and the band were also a favorite of the famous dee-jay Symphony Sid
who had them on his weekly program several times a year, and was broadcast coast to coast in the 1940s and '50s. They were also the summer headliners in the Concord Resort Hotel
, in Catskills Mountains, for more than 20 years.
They recorded sorts of albums in which her best-known songs include "Esta es Graciela", "Intimo y Sentimental" and "Esa Soy Yo, Yo Soy As ".
and pulmonary failure., She was cremated as per her wishes. Graciela left behind a niece who has two adult children. They reside in Queens, New York.
Latin jazz
Latin jazz is the general term given to jazz with Latin American rhythms.The three main categories of Latin Jazz are Brazilian, Cuban and Puerto Rican:# Brazilian Latin Jazz includes bossa nova...
, known as The First Lady of Latin Jazz.
Biography
Graciela Pérez-Gutiérrez was born in Havana, Cuba and raised in the Afro-CubanAfro-Cuban
The term Afro-Cuban refers to Cubans of Sub Saharan African ancestry, and to historical or cultural elements in Cuba thought to emanate from this community...
Jesús María neighborhood. A pioneer in music, as a black Cuban woman, in a so-called man's world, she opened doors for all those who followed her. She performed around the world, recording and sharing the stage with her adoptive older brother, Frank "Machito" Grillo
Machito
Machito , born as Francisco Raúl Gutiérrez Grillo, was an influential Latin jazz musician who helped refine Afro-Cuban jazz and create both Cubop and salsa music...
who encouraged her to sing. They played along Mario Bauza
Mario Bauza
Mario Bauzá was an important Cuban musician. He was one of the first to introduce Latin music to the United States by bringing Cuban musical styles into the New York jazz scene...
(originator of the genre Afro-Cuban Jazz
Afro-Cuban jazz
Afro-Cuban jazz is an early form of Latin jazz that mixes Afro-Cuban rhythms with harmonies and musical timbre typical of Bebop. It was developed in the early 1940s by both Cuban musicians and Jazz musicians, with Dizzy Gillespie, Mario Bauza, Machito and Stan Kenton among some of the most notable...
) in the world renowned orchestra Machito and the Afro-Cubans. Graciela was primarily known for her tremendous voice, risque and sassy stage presence and sexy double entendre lyrics. She could sing a jazzy guaracha
Guaracha
The guaracha is a genre of Cuban popular music, of rapid tempo and with lyrics. The word had been used in this sense at least since the late 18th and early 19th century. Guarachas were played and sung in musical theatres and in low-class dance salons. They became an integral part of Bufo comic...
as easily as handling the most romantic boleros. Though her last name was Perez-Gutierrez, she was only known by her first name, "Graciela", long before doing so became widely fashionable among musicians.
She was summoned to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1943 by Mario Bauza
Mario Bauza
Mario Bauzá was an important Cuban musician. He was one of the first to introduce Latin music to the United States by bringing Cuban musical styles into the New York jazz scene...
, when Machito
Machito
Machito , born as Francisco Raúl Gutiérrez Grillo, was an influential Latin jazz musician who helped refine Afro-Cuban jazz and create both Cubop and salsa music...
was drafted into the army. She joined the orchestra as lead singer until Machito
Machito
Machito , born as Francisco Raúl Gutiérrez Grillo, was an influential Latin jazz musician who helped refine Afro-Cuban jazz and create both Cubop and salsa music...
returned in 1944 and from then on the three shared the stage together until their untimely split in 1975. For 32 years they were on top of the charts and were the orchestra not only to beat, but to emulate. Not only did they travel the USA and the rest of the world, but they were leaders and reigned supreme during the heyday of the Palladium (where blacks, whites, Jews, Italians and Latinos, and celebrities would converge to dance), from 1946 until its closing. Besides the Palladium, they would perform at the Royal Roost
Royal Roost
-History:Ralph Watkins originally opened the Royal Roost as a chicken restaurant. After a difficult start, Watkins was persuaded by Sid Torin to try presenting modern jazz at the club. Beginning in 1948 the club began to showcase the likes of Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Fats Navarro, Dexter...
, Birdland
Birdland
Birdland may refer to:In music:* Birdland , a club in New York City* Birdland, a jazz club in Vienna founded by Joe Zawinul* "Birdland" , an instrumental composed by Joe Zawinul, originally recorded by his band Weather Report...
, the Park Palace, the Corso and the Apollo Theater
Apollo Theater
The Apollo Theater in New York City is one of the most famous, and older, music halls in the United States, and the most famous club associated almost exclusively with Black performers...
on a yearly week-long gig—and many other clubs and theatres in New York. Graciela and the orchestra also performed on a yearly basis in Hollywood-- specifically at the Crescendo nightclub. Graciela and the band were also a favorite of the famous dee-jay Symphony Sid
Symphony Sid
Sid Torin was a long-time jazz disk jockey in the United States. Many critics have credited him with introducing jazz to the mass audience.-Early life:...
who had them on his weekly program several times a year, and was broadcast coast to coast in the 1940s and '50s. They were also the summer headliners in the Concord Resort Hotel
Concord Resort Hotel
The Concord Resort Hotel was a world-famous destination for visitors to the so-called Borscht Belt part of the Catskills, known for its large resort industry in the 1950s, '60s, and '70s. Located in Kiamesha Lake, New York, the Concord was the largest resort in the region until its closing in 1998...
, in Catskills Mountains, for more than 20 years.
They recorded sorts of albums in which her best-known songs include "Esta es Graciela", "Intimo y Sentimental" and "Esa Soy Yo, Yo Soy As ".
Death
Graciela Perez-Gutierrez died at the age of 94 at New York Cornell-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City at 7:58 am, Wednesday, April 7, 2010. She had renalRenal failure
Renal failure or kidney failure describes a medical condition in which the kidneys fail to adequately filter toxins and waste products from the blood...
and pulmonary failure., She was cremated as per her wishes. Graciela left behind a niece who has two adult children. They reside in Queens, New York.
Album discography
- 1952 - Arthur Murray mambo - ¿Dónde estabas tú? - Graciela con Machito y su Orquesta Afro-Cubana
- 1963 - Esta es Graciela - Graciela con Machito y su Orquesta
- 1965 - Íntimo y sentimiental - Graciela con Machito y su Orquesta
- 1972 - Yo soy así
- 1999 - Sí sí no no - Graciela y Mike Young
- 2000 - Cubop city - Graciela con Machito and his Afro-Cubans, Howard McGhee, Brew Moore, Flip Phillips