Manuel Perfecto Simonet Pérez

Composer, arranger, and virtuoso pianist who became a professional musician at the age of 15 in a country as musical as Cuba.

Since childhood he was very attracted to popular dance music groups. He learned percussion on the street at the age of 5, watching one of his uncles before moving on to guitar, bass, piano, and formal lessons.

Musical Career
His family has always been very son-oriented; he had an uncle who was a very good tres player, and although not all of them developed professionally, they are all very musical. His passion for music has led him to perfect mastery of multiple instruments, such as percussion, tres, guitar, bass, piano, and most recently, cello, which in his hands bring fabulous sounds to life. With his music he enriches the contemporary sound of timba without losing sight of Cubanness in his musical compositions.

It was with the Orquesta Maravillas de Florida that he became known. When he started with the orchestra, it had a style very similar to that of Aragón. At that time, charangas had elements that identified them as such. From that time on, and thanks to the help of the musicians in the group, he tried to create a new style, which completely divorced itself from others like that of the Original de Manzanillo or the Aliamén.

Although Maravillas de Florida always had its identification with the public, what was new was an imitation of brass instruments with violins; everyone did it, but each in their own way, and fortunately he achieved a way that was pleasing.

In 1993 Manolito formed his own band with the name Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco. He practices a mixture of traditional Cuban music and contemporary harmonies, blending different genres such as: Guaracha, Bolero, Cha Cha Cha, Danzón, timba, among others. The Trabuco has its own sound, it has a bit of Juan Formell, Adalberto Álvarez, charanga orchestras, and also what is made in Puerto Rico. In the end all of that manages to form a style that is the Trabuco.

The work of music producer goes beyond the keyboard he plays. He ensures that the recording turns out the best possible, and for that you have to know the sound that is consumed in the world today.

Currently he produces the new CD of Waldo Mendoza who is a great performer. He produced the phonogram tribute to Lilí Martínez Griñán, former pianist of Conjunto Chapotín, in which Mayito Rivera and Laíto participated; the album Estrellas de areíto, with various singers from groups like Van Van, Las Anacaonas, Sexto Sentido, NG La Banda and others.

He has done the same work for soloists like Virginia (former singer of Los Surik), Lázaro Miguel (former singer of Manguaré) and participated in the production of Buscando la melodía, a phonogram dedicated to Benny Moré where those from the Buscando el sonero contest sang, from the television program Mi salsa.

Abroad he collaborated with Parera, producer of Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti, on the album by Los Sabandeños from Spain, and also on the album by the group Jackie Family from Holland. He also carries out all the productions of his albums.

Manolito is a celebrity throughout Europe and is among the most prolific successful composers also in salsa music produced in the United States. In fact, in 1999, he won the prestigious Ascap Award with the song El Aguila sung by Víctor Manuel, but few people know that Manolito Simonet was also a member of the jury for the Grammy Awards from 2001 to 2004.

More compositions by this brilliant musician are El Diablo Colorao performed by the Puerto Rican Power orchestra, as well as four of Andy Montañez's hits: Todavía No, Amor Ciego, En Mi Puertorro (which is the Puerto Rican version of Locos Por Mi Habana) and Sacude La Mata, all major hits written by him.

In 2004 the album "Locos Por Mi Habana" was the best-selling Cuban album in the world. Such an irresistible success that transformed Manolito Simonet into an International Star.

His world tours are innumerable and he has performed in European countries like Italy, Spain, France, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, Holland, Norway, as well as in other parts of the world like Japan, but also in Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico and in the United States itself.

The CD Llegó el Trabuco is released under the label of the German record company En Directo and the Cuban Bis Music. It includes 12 songs fundamentally of popular dance music and among the guests is Issac Delgado.

Most Popular Songs
La parranda
El águila
Todavía no
Salidita contigo
La boda de Belén
Locos por mi Habana
El Diablo Colorao

Discography
1993 Directo al corazón
1996 Contra todos los prognósticos
1998 Marcando La Distancia
2000 Para que baile en Cuba
2001 Se rompieron los termómetros
2004 Locos por mi Habana
2007 Hablando en serio
2008 Control

Awards Received
Novel orchestra of the year in 1994
EGREM Awards
Cubadisco Festivals
1999 won the prestigious Ascap Award with the song "El Águila"
2004 the album "Locos Por Mi Habana" was the best-selling Cuban album in the world
Replica of the Machete Mambí of Generalísimo Máximo Gómez (2017), awarded by the Revolutionary Armed Forces for being a bearer in his work of the most authentic patriotism and attachment to the Revolution.