Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

ARAGON, Orquesta

Charanga founded in Cienfuegos, Cuba, '39 by bassist Oreste Aragon; composer/violinist/arranger Rafael Lay (b Rafael Felipe Lay Apezt‚guia, 17 Aug. '27, Cienfuegos; d 13 Aug. '82, Cuba, in an auto accident) joined '40, mus. dir. '48--82; succeeded '82--4 by flautist/composer/arr. Richard Eg]auu[es (b Eduardo Eg]auu[es Martinez, 26 Oct. '24, Santa Clara, Cuba), who joined '54 as a replacement for Rolando Lozano (b Jos‚ Calazan Lozano, 27 Aug. '31, Cienfuegos), the band's flautist '50--54; Lay's son, violinist Rafael Lay Bravo, took over leadership after Eg]auu[es's '84 departure. They rose to international prominence during '50s cha cha ch  era; made recording debut on RCA Victor '53; relocated to Havana '55; remained in Cuba after the revolution; have toured in over 30 countries incl. USA and Japan. Their many albums incl. reissues '92--3 in RCA Tropical Series That Cuban Cha Cha Ch  ('56), The Heart Of Havana Vol. 1 ('56--7) '92 and Vol. 2 ('57--8), plus various reissues on Discuba, a Monitor LP recorded live in NYC '83, and on Areito (Cuban state label) incl. two vols made live in Paris '84; and Future '94 on Candy (aka Segunda Generacion on Kubaney). Eg]auu[es also plays reeds and has recorded with other outfits, incl. Cuban jam sessions on Panart and Areito.