# Rolando Laserie Rodríguez

**Date of birth:** August 27, 1923

**Date of death:** November 22, 1998

**Categories:** Arts, Musician, Singer

He was born in Matas, Santa Clara, and was the youngest of eight siblings. At nine years old, his older brother, Luis M. Laserie, taught him to play the timbales, and although during his career he "learned some music theory," his musical talent was intuitive; Rolando immediately showed his interest in music.

"Whenever a musician was missing from the orchestras, they would call me," Laserie said in a 1995 interview. "I was always wearing my guayabera and my little bow tie in case they came looking for me. When the companies came to Teatro La Caridad, the orchestra played in the lobby and they put a chair and a little box for me to play the timbales with the musicians from the municipal band of Santa Clara; I was about 10 years old."

In the early stages of his professional life, he alternated his condition as a musician with the trade of shoemaker.

He performed sporadically as a percussionist in the Municipal Band of Santa Clara. There, at 20 years of age, he performed with the orchestra of Arcaño y sus Maravillas replacing Miguelito Cuní.

In 1946 he traveled to Havana, and worked as a percussionist in the orchestra of the Hermanos Palau and occasionally collaborated with different groups. Some time later, he became a timpani player and chorus member in Benny Moré's Banda Gigante.

Ernesto Duarte together with the Álvarez Guedes brothers, who at that time were owners of the Gema record label, produced a collection of boleros for him that did not achieve the expected projection. The album was arranged by Duarte, with the characteristic sound of Cuban jazz band. In 1957 he made recordings for the Gema label and, now established as one of the best, he continued his dizzying career of performances, recordings, and applause.

Mentiras tuyas, recorded in 1957 and authored by Mario Fernández Porta, was defining in his singing style, with colloquial incursions and dialogues. Throughout his career he recorded more than thirty albums.

In 1960, he left Cuba and worked in Mexico, Argentina, and throughout Latin America; he lived in Venezuela and New York, and later arrived in Miami in the mid-1970s. He was the only Cuban singer who achieved popularity equal to Beny Moré. During his musical career, he was known as one of the greatest exponents of Cuban son, as well as of guarachas, salsa, and even tangos, which he performed in his own style. He was known by his followers as "El Guapo de la Canción."

"I think Rolando is another victim of the injustices that Cuban musicians suffer, who do not receive the recognition they deserve," according to Cuban filmmaker based in Miami Nat Chediak. He explained that Laserie was the only Cuban singer who achieved popularity equal to Beny Moré. But when he arrived in Miami, he never received the attention he deserved.

During his musical career, Laserie was known as one of the greatest exponents of Cuban son, as well as of guarachas, salsa, and even tangos, which he performed in his own style. His brother Jorge Laserie says "He was always happy." "He was a man who lived a life full of jokes, and I never saw him upset."

In addition to his musical talents, Laserie is remembered for always wearing a little cap, and for popularizing the phrase "¡De Película!" which he used when referring to something outstanding or out of the ordinary.

Laserie, who never had children, was at the time of his death awaiting open heart surgery. A few months earlier he suffered a stroke, and from then on his health began to deteriorate. He died at Doctor's Hospital in Coral Gables, Miami due to cardiac complications. He was 75 years old.