Los Zafiros
Encyclopedia
Los Zafiros were a Cuba
n close-harmony vocal group working from 1961–1970. The group was part of the filín
(feeling) movement, inspired by American doo-wop
groups such as The Platters
. Their music was a fusion of Cuban genres, such as the bolero
, with doo-wop
, ballad
s, R&B, calypso
, Bossa Nova
and rock.
in 1961, by Néstor Milí Bustillo, with the members:
The group was highly successful from the start, with high record sales and popular tours at home and abroad. However, some members of the group were self-destructive and undisciplined, with heavy drinking and other activities. Two died young: Ignacio died in 1981 at the age of 37 from a brain hemorrhage. Kike died in 1983 from cirrhosis of the liver. El Chino, beset by vision, speech and drinking problems, lived alone in Cayo Hueso until his death on 8 August 1995 at age 56. Today only two members are alive, Manuel Galban and Miguel Cancio. Cancio lives in Miami, http://www.loszafirosfilm.com/historical%20notes.htm. http://www.lorenzodestefano.com/zafiros.htm
Manuel Galbán and his wife still live in the same house in Havana as in the heyday of Los Zafiros. He is still active on the Cuban music scene through his work in The Buena Vista Social Club and as a recording artist for World Circuit
records. In 2001, World Circuit arranged a special recording session for Galbán and Cancio at EGREM
. Along with Orlando Lopez (Cachaito), Roberto Garcia and Bernardo Garcia (Chori), Cancio and Galbán recorded two of their old songs. This session plays a central role in the film and marks the first time that Galbán and Cancio recorded together in over thirty years.
The song, "He Venido," sung by Los Zafiros, took the spotlight in 2011 as a featured musical theme in the AMC television series Breaking Bad
.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n close-harmony vocal group working from 1961–1970. The group was part of the filín
Filín
Filin was a Cuban, but US–influenced, popular song fashion of the late 40s to the early 60s. The word is derived from feeling, and is sometimes spelled feelín or even el feeling. It describes a style of post-microphone jazz-influenced romantic song .The Cuban roots of filín were in the bolero...
(feeling) movement, inspired by American doo-wop
Doo-wop
The name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
groups such as The Platters
The Platters
The Platters were a vocal group of the early rock and roll era. Their distinctive sound was a bridge between the pre-rock Tin Pan Alley tradition and the burgeoning new genre...
. Their music was a fusion of Cuban genres, such as the bolero
Bolero
Bolero is a form of slow-tempo Latin music and its associated dance and song. There are Spanish and Cuban forms which are both significant and which have separate origins.The term is also used for some art music...
, with doo-wop
Doo-wop
The name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
, ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
s, R&B, calypso
Calypso music
Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from African and European roots. The roots of the genre lay in the arrival of enslaved Africans, who, not being allowed to speak with each other, communicated through song...
, Bossa Nova
Bossa Nova
Bossa Nova may refer to:*Bossa nova, a style of music*Bossa Nova , a dance form associated with the music*Bossa Nova , a 2000 film*Bossa Nova - album by John Pizzarelli...
and rock.
History
Los Zafiros were formed in Cayo Hueso, HavanaHavana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
in 1961, by Néstor Milí Bustillo, with the members:
- Leoncio Morúa (Kike)
- Miguel Cancio (Miguelito)
- Ignacio Elejalde, a counter-tenor, in high register.
- Eduardo Elio Hernández (El Chino)
- Néstor Milí Bustillo, musical director and guitar.
- later, Manuel GalbánManuel GalbanManuel Galbán was a Grammy winning Cuban guitarist, pianist and arranger, most notable for his work with Los Zafiros, Ry Cooder and the Buena Vista Social Club...
(guitar) became musical director, and at times Oscar Aguirre (guitar) substituted. - In 1987 another group formed as Los Nuevos Zafiros.
The group was highly successful from the start, with high record sales and popular tours at home and abroad. However, some members of the group were self-destructive and undisciplined, with heavy drinking and other activities. Two died young: Ignacio died in 1981 at the age of 37 from a brain hemorrhage. Kike died in 1983 from cirrhosis of the liver. El Chino, beset by vision, speech and drinking problems, lived alone in Cayo Hueso until his death on 8 August 1995 at age 56. Today only two members are alive, Manuel Galban and Miguel Cancio. Cancio lives in Miami, http://www.loszafirosfilm.com/historical%20notes.htm. http://www.lorenzodestefano.com/zafiros.htm
Manuel Galbán and his wife still live in the same house in Havana as in the heyday of Los Zafiros. He is still active on the Cuban music scene through his work in The Buena Vista Social Club and as a recording artist for World Circuit
World Circuit (record label)
World Circuit is a world-music record label that specializes in Cuban and West African recording artists, among other international music stars. World Circuit celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2006 by releasing World Circuit Presents..., a 2-disc retrospective compilation album...
records. In 2001, World Circuit arranged a special recording session for Galbán and Cancio at EGREM
EGREM
is the oldest Cuban record label, it is located in Havana. It was founded in 1964 following the Cuban Revolution...
. Along with Orlando Lopez (Cachaito), Roberto Garcia and Bernardo Garcia (Chori), Cancio and Galbán recorded two of their old songs. This session plays a central role in the film and marks the first time that Galbán and Cancio recorded together in over thirty years.
The song, "He Venido," sung by Los Zafiros, took the spotlight in 2011 as a featured musical theme in the AMC television series Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad is an American television drama series created and produced by Vince Gilligan. Set and produced in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Breaking Bad is the story of Walter White , a struggling high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with advanced lung cancer at the beginning of the series...
.
Discography
- Bossa Cubana CD (1963–1967, re-released 1999)
- Los Zafiros Story CD (2006)
- Los Zafiros: Music from the edge of time. DVD
External links
- Los Zafiros "Music from the Edge of Time" Documentary Film Website