In today’s Mambo we’ll kick off the first of two episodes devoted to the Cuban singer Monguito.
Monguito was already his nickname, but he also had an honorary title: El Único, meaning “the unique one”. Monguito was born near Matanzas in Cuba, where he began singing with various bands at a young age. When he moved to the capital, Havana, he found his way as a singer into several orchestras, including the famous Conjunto Modelo.
Read more below the playlist
Playlist
1 Conjunto Modelo – Igualita Que Tu – 3:02
2 Monguito – Mayari – 2:44
3 Monguito – Salsa – 2:57
4 Monguito – El Mundo – 2:58
5 Monguito – Guajira Controversial – 1:31
6 Monguito – Camina Y Prende El Fogon – 3:17
7 Monguito – Los Tres Juanes – 3:00
8 Monguito – Nunca Vayas A Pensar – 3:33
9 Monguito – Me Voy Contigo – 3:15
10 Fania All Stars – Me Gusta El Son – 8:04
11 Orquesta Monguito – Donde Esta Tu Montuno – 4:01
12 Orquesta Monguito – Lindo Guaguanco – 4:05
13 Orquesta Monguito – Ave Maria Morena – 5:07
14 Monguito – Chambelon – 3:53
15 Monguito – El Diablo – 2:24
But he made a real name for himself as an improvisational singer due to his distinctive voice. In 1962, he eventually settled in New York City, where he performed with, among others, Orquesta Broadway, Arsenio Rodríguez and Johnny Pacheco. He would go on to work closely with the latter.
Monguito also made his mark at New York’s Red Garter, where he performed as one of the Fania All Stars. This was the first time the stars of the Fania label appeared together on stage.
