Cándido Fabré Fabré

Cuban musician, known as the King of Improvisation in dance music; with his hoarse, sonorous and fiery voice, he is one of the most singular voices in Cuba, in the way he approaches the song and the creation of lyrics to make the people dance.

Fabré is a distinguished singer, arranger, bandleader and composer; his creative work has relevance both nationally and internationally. He is the only singer on the island who begins singing at a party at 12 at night and finishes when dawn breaks. That is why dancers in the eastern zone call him El Amanezco.

He was born into a musical family: his father played the tres, a brother was a singer and in his environment many bembés (Afro-Cuban parties where people sang and enjoyed themselves) were heard.

He began singing as a child, at seven years old, in his own school, where he was already managing to improvise songs that caught the attention of his teachers. Later he joins his brother's orchestra and trains himself in the world of song.

He was born and grew up listening to charangas: la Unión Sanluisera, los Hermanos Salazar, Maíz y sus Muchachos, the Tropicuba combo (which played in the style of la Aragón) and the congas and serenades of San Luis, a rumbero and festive town. This allowed him to develop his ear and very soon he surprised himself harmonizing and creating vocal arrangements.

At only 15 years old he joined Los Hermanos Salazar and sang in some Santiago carnivals. Later he moved to Palma Soriano and joined Los Samuráis, a small combo that was fashionable in the 1960s. When they performed for the public, people would break down the doors to hear Cándido's improvisations, which brought joy to the town's musical atmosphere. He was in this combo for a little more than five years.

In 1975 he answered the call of Military Service, which in some way prevented him from demonstrating his interpretive qualities; although he never stopped singing, it ran in his blood.

Upon leaving military life he rejoined music and began again in his brother's orchestra, at a dance where the Rumbabana ensemble also performed with the voice of Raúl Planas, a guide of son for the young singers of that time. Fabré shone so brightly that day that Planas praised him and was surprised that such a promising sonero prospect existed who would give people something to talk about in the not-too-distant future. This inspired and encouraged Cándido, who from then on knew he would make it.

In 1963 the Original orchestra of Manzanillo, directed by Pachy Naranjo, an excellent composer, orchestrator and musical guide, premiered. On the 20th birthday of La Original (in 1983), the orchestra performs in San Luis, then Cándido shows Pachy the song titled "Coge el camarón". He sings the song for him and the Manzanillo musician realizes he was dealing with a singer with great potential.

Cándido recalls: Pachy is a musician who knows how to look deep inside, he understood my message, he knew what I could do and he told me that I could record that song myself. In short, he recorded it on August 3, 1983, on the Granma radio station in Manzanillo. He saw me off and told me I was on the right path, that there are few who defend son like I do.

After recording his first musical number with La Original de Manzanillo, Cándido left for his hometown unaware that he was about to achieve his great dream. A few days later Pachy called him to work in the Santiago de Cuba carnivals.

The Santiago public was amazed by the improvisational style of the San Luis singer; it was something that hadn't been seen in a long time and it was the great opportunity of his life, his dream come true: to be with the most sought-after orchestra in the eastern zone and in which he made history for ten years.

The musicians were surprised by this decision of Pachy Naranjo, but it was a good time since a new era was beginning for La Original de Manzanillo, which had lost its main singer, Manolo del Valle.

Cándido brings to the orchestra the Son in the San Luis style: clave, tres, maracas and the trovador essence. This enriches the Manzanillo Son, which comes out a bit repetitive from the eastern organ. Then began the great hits of La Original with songs by Cándido Fabré:

El guardián del Caribe (his first single),
Abran paso que ahí viene la Original,
A la hora que me llamen voy,
Córranse ahí, caballeros,
Deja que Roberto te toque,
La Habana quiere guarachar contigo
and many more that were heard during the boom of end-of-century Cuban salsa.

Fabré left the orchestra in 1993 and immediately founded what constitutes for him his best work: the orchestra Cándido Fabré y su Banda.

Cándido Fabré is among the three most recorded composers in Cuba and abroad, along with Juan Formell (Van Van) and Adalberto Álvarez.

International figures of the caliber of

Celia Cruz,
José Alberto (El Canario)
Oscar D'León,
Joe Arroyo,
El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico,
Johnny Fernández,
Jerry Medina,
Marvin Santiago
and many other Latin salseros have Fabré's works in their repertoire.

Within Cuba they are sung by:

Isaac Delgado,
Elito Revé y su Charangón,
Pedrito Calvo y la Justicia,
the Grupo Manguaré,
los Jóvenes Clásicos del Son,
Yumurí y sus Hermanos,
Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco,
la Orquesta Adalberto Álvarez y su Son,
la Orquesta Van Van,
la Orquesta Aragón and
la Orquesta Karachi,
among others.

Without a doubt, Cándido Fabré is a true guardian of the Caribbean, defender of Cuban music, of the best dance music. He has performed with his band throughout the island during all these years.

He has performed in different countries bringing great honor to the name of Cuba and its music, such as: Soviet Union, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Finland, Portugal, France, Mexico, Canada, Guadalupe, Nicaragua, etc.

In Colombia he attended, in 1990, when he was still in the Original orchestra of Manzanillo, the Cartagena de Indias Festival, the most important popular music gathering celebrated in that country. There they obtained the Caracol del Caribe award, which is the highest recognition offered at this event.

He returned to Colombia in 1993, to again participate in the Cartagena de Indias Festival, this time with his own band, repeating the Caracol del Caribe award.

As an author, Cándido has quite an extensive body of work with more than 2000 numbers registered under his name.

He has participated in important international events such as the WOMAD Festival (in the Netherlands), the Amsterdam Root Festival (in the Netherlands), the Duvargan Festival in Ireland, the Zabkowice Slaskie (in Poland), the Ulm Festival (in Germany).

Awards and Recognition Received
Distinction for National Culture.
Alejo Carpentier Medal.
Abril Prize from the National UJC.
Replica of Benny Moré's Cane and Hat by the ICRT, with Cándido being the first artist to receive it.
National Vanguard for several consecutive years.
Neighborhood Award granted by the National Directorate of the CDR.
Martyrs of Barbados Medal for being a worthy defender of Cuban sports.
Declared an Adopted Son of the cities of Camagüey and Ciego de Ávila.
Recognition from the UJC Bureau for his contribution to the tasks that the organization carries out in the field of recreation.
Distinction of the Effort La Victoria, the highest award granted by the province of Granma.
He was nominated for the 2001 Music Award by the Cuban Institute of Music, which constitutes high recognition for his outstanding artistic career.
Raúl Gómez García Medal.

Cándido Fabré treasures the best wealth of our rhythms, and with his cracked, sensual and joyful voice, he is master of a singular interpretive style that is based on the best Cuban sonero tradition.