Isolina Carrillo Estrada

Cuban musician and composer. From a very young age, she was part of several Cuban musical groups, with which she conducted numerous tours throughout the American continent. As a composer, her theme Dos Gardenias immortalized her, as it became one of the Latin classics of all time.

She was born in La Habana. She studied at the Municipal Conservatory of La Habana. In 1917 she began working as a substitute pianist for the Orquesta de Calixto Allende, which performed at the silent cinema Strand; later she would do so at the Hisperia and the Favorito.

Subsequently, she founded the septeto Las Trovadoras del Cayo, where in addition to conducting, she played the trumpet; she joined as a pianist in a trio with Vicente González Rubiera (Guyún) on guitar, and Marcelino Guerra (Rapindey), vocalist; the Quinteto Siboney, with Joseíto Núñez, Alfredito León, Facundo Rivero and Marcelino Guerra (Rapindey); the Conjunto Tropicuba and the Trío Sepia.

In 1938 she worked at CMQ radio, and later at the RHC, Cadena Azul, of Amado Trinidad Velazco, until 1952; in the latter she created a giant orchestra of danzones, made jingles, was a repertoire pianist and accompanist. In Mexico she was awarded the Premio Ariel in 1952, for her song Dos gardenias remaining in public preference for two consecutive years.

Other radio stations also benefited from her services: La Voz de Oro and Cuban Telephone Co. André Kostelanetz asked her for a work created especially to be performed by his orchestra, from which Miedo de ti emerged. In addition, she played guitar, Tres (musical instrument), bongos, organ, which she studied with Rafael Palau at the Cathedral of La Habana, and trumpet, which she studied with Lázaro Herrera; as a singer she performed boleros, tangos, guarachas, as well as works by Ernesto Lecuona and on occasions she did so in English.

She was a singing teacher. She conducted tours through Venezuela, Panamá, Puerto Rico, República Dominicana, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Santiago de Chile, Lima and México.

Works
Acuarela tropical
Canción sin amor
Castillo de ensueño
Como yo jamás
Cuando me faltas tú
Cuando menos lo pienses
Dos gardenias
Fiesta de besos
Increíble
Ironía
Lejos de ti
Mi lamento
Mi paraíso
No creo en ti
Miedo de ti
Parte de mi vida
Qué mal te portas
Rumor de vida
Sé que lo sabes
Sed de ti
Sombra que besa
Soy tu destino
Te lo advertí
Viviré para quererte