Olga Guillot
Encyclopedia
Olga Guillot was a Cuba
n singer who was known to be the "queen of bolero". She was a native of the Cuban city of Santiago
.
Guillot and her family moved to Havana, Cuba when she was a small child. As a teenager, she and her sister, Ana Luisa, performed as a duo, named the "Duo Hermanitas Guillot".
singer would be discovered, when Facundo Rivero, an influential man in the Cuban music industry of the era, heard her sing for the first time, and helped her make her professional singing debut, at a famous Havana night club. Soon after, Guillot met Miguelito Valdés
, who took her to New York City, where Guillot was able to record her first album, with the Decca
label.
Guillot traveled to Mexico in 1948. There, she established herself as an international singer and actress, participating in various films and making her second album. In Mexico, Guillot began to enjoy much popularity for the first time in her career.
In 1954, she recorded her song "Mienteme" ("Lie to Me"), which became a hit across Latin America, and earned her three consecutive awards back home in Cuba as Cuba's best female singer.
1958 proved to be an important year for Guillot, as she toured Europe for the first time, including stops in Italy, France, Spain and Germany. She sang alongside the equally legendary Édith Piaf
during a concert held in Cannes
.
Olga Guillot kept a house in Cuba as she travelled around the world with her music, apart from her house in Mexico. But Guillot opposed Fidel Castro
's Government, and, in 1961, she decided to leave Cuba for good and establish herself in Venezuela
. Not long after that, she left Venezuela, making Mexico her only permanent residence country.
Meanwhile, she kept touring around the world, singing in places such as Israel
, Japan, Hong Kong
and many others. In 1963, Guillot was given the Golden Palm award as "best bolero singer of Latin America". She received the award in Hollywood, California. Guillot sang in 1964 at New York's famed Carnegie Hall
becoming the first Latin artist to sing there.
Guillot continued on touring for the next forty years, releasing over fifty albums and winning numerous awards for her activity in the music world. She was very good friends with Celia Cruz
, to whom she often referred to as "(her) sister". When Cruz died from cancer
, Guillot was very bereaved over the loss of her close friend and compatriot. She was the godmother of the iconic singer José José
.
Her albums and music are prohibited in Cuba. Guillot was a quiet but strong critic of Castro and his policies towards Cuban residents. Guillot lived mainly in Mexico and had another home on Miami Beach, Florida
.
at the age of 87 in the city of Miami Beach. She is survived by one daughter, Olga Maria Touzet-Guillot, born from her relationship with pianist and composer, René Touzet
.
With Puchito Records
With Musart Records
With CBS Records
With Orfeon Records
With Interdisc Records
With Warner Records
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 singer who was known to be the "queen of bolero". She was a native of the Cuban city of Santiago
Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city of Cuba and capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province in the south-eastern area of the island, some south-east of the Cuban capital of Havana....
.
Guillot and her family moved to Havana, Cuba when she was a small child. As a teenager, she and her sister, Ana Luisa, performed as a duo, named the "Duo Hermanitas Guillot".
Biography
It wasn't until 1945 that her talent as a boleroBolero
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...
singer would be discovered, when Facundo Rivero, an influential man in the Cuban music industry of the era, heard her sing for the first time, and helped her make her professional singing debut, at a famous Havana night club. Soon after, Guillot met Miguelito Valdés
Miguelito Valdés
Miguelito Valdés, born Miguel Ángel Eugenio Lázaro Zacarias Izquierdo Valdés Hernández , also called Mr. Babalú, was a Cuban popular singer of high quality...
, who took her to New York City, where Guillot was able to record her first album, with the Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
label.
Guillot traveled to Mexico in 1948. There, she established herself as an international singer and actress, participating in various films and making her second album. In Mexico, Guillot began to enjoy much popularity for the first time in her career.
In 1954, she recorded her song "Mienteme" ("Lie to Me"), which became a hit across Latin America, and earned her three consecutive awards back home in Cuba as Cuba's best female singer.
1958 proved to be an important year for Guillot, as she toured Europe for the first time, including stops in Italy, France, Spain and Germany. She sang alongside the equally legendary Édith Piaf
Édith Piaf
Édith Piaf , born Édith Giovanna Gassion, was a French singer and cultural icon who became widely regarded as France's greatest popular singer. Her singing reflected her life, with her specialty being ballads...
during a concert held in Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
.
Olga Guillot kept a house in Cuba as she travelled around the world with her music, apart from her house in Mexico. But Guillot opposed Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
's Government, and, in 1961, she decided to leave Cuba for good and establish herself in Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. Not long after that, she left Venezuela, making Mexico her only permanent residence country.
Meanwhile, she kept touring around the world, singing in places such as Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Japan, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and many others. In 1963, Guillot was given the Golden Palm award as "best bolero singer of Latin America". She received the award in Hollywood, California. Guillot sang in 1964 at New York's famed Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
becoming the first Latin artist to sing there.
Guillot continued on touring for the next forty years, releasing over fifty albums and winning numerous awards for her activity in the music world. She was very good friends with Celia Cruz
Celia Cruz
Celia Cruz was a Cuban-American salsa singer, and was one of the most successful Salsa performers of the 20th century, having earned twenty-three gold albums...
, to whom she often referred to as "(her) sister". When Cruz died from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, Guillot was very bereaved over the loss of her close friend and compatriot. She was the godmother of the iconic singer José José
José José
José Rómulo Sosa Ortiz , known by his artistic name José José, is a Mexican singer.Referred in the entertainment world as "El Príncipe de la Canción" , José José is best known for his romantic ballads and renowned for his vocals...
.
Her albums and music are prohibited in Cuba. Guillot was a quiet but strong critic of Castro and his policies towards Cuban residents. Guillot lived mainly in Mexico and had another home on Miami Beach, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
Death
On July 12, 2010, she died of an infarctionInfarction
In medicine, infarction refers to tissue death that is caused by a local lack of oxygen due to obstruction of the tissue's blood supply. The resulting lesion is referred to as an infarct.-Causes:...
at the age of 87 in the city of Miami Beach. She is survived by one daughter, Olga Maria Touzet-Guillot, born from her relationship with pianist and composer, René Touzet
René Touzet
René Touzet y Monte was a Cuban-born American composer, pianist and bandleader.-Career as bandleader:...
.
Discography
With Panart Records- 3105 Sus Primeros Exitos (1946)
With Puchito Records
- MLP-509 Olga Guillot (1954)
- MLP-515 Romance y Melodia (1956)
- MLP-525 Olga Guillot (1957)
- MLP-526 Intimidades (1958)
- MLP-530 Creaciones de la Guillot (1958)
- MLP-538 Olga en Mexico (1959)
- MLP-555 Olga de Cuba (1960)
- MLP-559 Comunicando (1961)
- MLP-564 Lo mejor de Olga Guillot (1963)
- MLP-580 La Insuperable Olga (1964)
With Musart Records
- DM-672 Olga(1961)
- DM-751 Canciones de Maria Grever (1962)
- DM-855 Temperamental (1963)
- DM-935 Añorando el Caribe (1964)
- DM-959 12 Exitos Romanticos (1964)
- DM-1060 Mas Exitos Romanticos (1965)
- DM-1180 Y siguieron los Exitos (1966)
- DM-12561 Bravo (1967)
- DM-1280 Adoro & Celoso (1967)
- DM-1312 Olga le canta a America (1968)
- DM-1360 Olga Guillot interpreta a Manzanero (1968)
- DM-1423 Olga Guillot Volumen 14 (1969)
- DM-1572 La mujer que te ama (1970)
- DM-1507 Quien da mas? (1971)
- DM-1576 Y ahora....Olga (1972)
With CBS Records
- 1479 Se me olvido otra vez (1976)
With Orfeon Records
- 11473 Lo nuevo de Olga (1978)
With Interdisc Records
- 526066 Para mi publico (1982)
With Warner Records
- 87844-2 Faltaba yo (2001)
External links
- Contactomagazine.com, in Spanish
- Enrique Hernandez, "Sunset on a Golden Age", The Miami Herald, October 8, 2007