Remberto Bécker Márquez

The longest-lived of Cuban composers. He contributed his talent to Cuban popular music with boleros, guajiras and guarachas.

He was born on 14th and 11th Street, Vedado, La Habana. He worked as a painter and decorator, and also practiced boxing.

In 1943 he formed the Becker quartet, together with Orlando Vallejo, Carlos Querol and Elías Castillo; with Carlos Patato Valdés on percussion.

Author of boleros, sones and guarachas, among his compositions are: the boleros "Llegaron las golondrinas" and "Qué belleza de mujer"; the bolero mambo "De ti enamorado"; the guajira "Mi linda casita"; the guarachas "A toda Cuba le gusta", "Bailadores" and "Como cambian los tiempos"; the son "Aquí nacen los soneros", and other popular pieces.

He began his career as a composer in 1943, with the work "A toda Cuba le gusta", recorded that same year by Orlando Guerra (Cascarita).

In 1943-44 he created the "Bécker" quartet with Elías Castillo, first guitar; Carlos Querol, rhythm guitar and second voice, Orlando Vallejo, maracas and first voice plus Bécker himself. With this author's music they recorded good records for a Puerto Rican company and achieved great success in their performances on the radio, cabarets and other nightclubs.

During his successful career he contributed his talent to Cuban popular music with boleros, guajiras and guarachas.

He walked the streets of La Habana daily to sing his numbers, still interesting and very coherent, to performers who received him warmly.

He died on January 9, 2012 in La Habana at the age of 101 as a result of a sudden illness.

Most Relevant Works
A toda Cuba le gustan – 1943. Recorded by Orlando Guerra (Cascarita) and Willy Rosario (Puerto Rico)
Llegaron las Golondrinas– 1943. Recorded by Barbarito Diez and Clara and Mario
El guardia con el tolete – 1945. Recorded by Machito and his Afrocuban who was based in Nueva York
Como cambian los tiempos – 1962. Recorded by Los Compadres. Lorenzo and Reinaldo Hierrezuelo
Aquí nacen los soneros – 1976. Recorded by Adalberto Álvarez and Celina González and in España by Caridad Hierrezuelo
Nuestro cielo azul – 1945. Recorded by Ibrahím Ferrer and Carlos Querol, together with Los Bocucos
Cuidado con el guao – 1987 authors: Beker and Chucho Valdés. Recorded by the group Irakere
De ti enamorado – 1965. Recorded by Carlos Argentino and Oscar De León

Awards and Distinctions
As a creator with the Buena Vista Social Club he obtained a Grammy in 1998 with the work "A toda Cuba le gusta" in the Traditional Music category.

He also received an invitation in April 2003 from the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Music in España for having been a finalist in the Bar awards ceremony of the VII Iberoamerican Edition with the work "De qué parte de España" from the album El balcón del adiós, recorded by the old trova santiaguera.

He obtained the Author Prize from the Cuban Agency for Musical Copyright (2010).