Félix Reina
Félix Reina | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Félix Rafael Herrera Altuna |
| Born | May 21, 1921 Panart, EGREM |
Félix Rafael Herrera Altuna (May 21, 1921 – February 10, 1998), better known as Félix Reina, was a Cuban violinist, arranger, music director and composer. Since the mid-1940s, he was a member of many popular charangas, including Arcaño y sus Maravillas, Orquesta América and Fajardo y sus Estrellas. In 1959, after Fajardo went into exile, he became the leader of his orchestra, the Estrellas Cubanas, which he directed until his death. A prolific composer, his most performed danzones include "Angoa", "Los jóvenes del silencio" and "El niche".[1] In the 1950s, he primarily wrote chachachás and his bolero "Si te contara" became a standard of the genre.[2]
Life and career
Born in Trinidad, Sancti Spíritus, Cuba, Félix Reina began his musical studies with his father and with violin teacher Isidro Cintra.[1] After playing in local orchestras for some time, he moved to Havana in 1946, joining the charanga directed by flutist José Antonio Díaz.[1] Soon, he joined Arcaño y sus Maravillas, which was very popular at the time. Directed by flutist Antonio Arcaño, cousin of Díaz, the orchestra featured musicians such as Israel López "Cachao", Orestes López and Ulpiano Díaz, which were responsible for the development of the danzón-mambo in the late 1930s. At the time of Reina's arrival, the Maravillas were a mainstay of Havana's Radio Mil Diez, earning the nickname "La Radiofónica". Reina soon contributed several danzones to the group's repertoire including "Angoa", "Los jóvenes del silencio" and "El niche".[3] The latter was covered by Machito and many other bands thereafter.
In 1950, Reina became a member of the newly formed Fajardo y sus Estrellas, he then directed his own orchestra for a short period of time before joining
Reina died on February 10, 1998, in Havana's Calixto García Hospital, having suffered a stroke in the Habana Cafe, known as Benny's corner, located in the Melia Cohiba Hotel in Vedado. The Estrellas Cubanas continued performing, now under the direction of violinist Gilberto Valdés.
References
- ^ ISBN 9780822385219.
- ^ Díaz Ayala, Cristóbal (Fall 2013). "Félix Reina" (PDF). Encyclopedic Discography of Cuban Music 1925-1960. Florida International University Libraries. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
- ^ a b Suárez Hernández, Senén (March 30, 2007). "Félix Reina". Cubarte (in Spanish). Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
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