Cuban Singer Olga Chorens Dies in Miami

September 24, 2023

Singer Olga Chorens Menéndez, who together with her husband Tony Álvarez, established herself as one of the most influential artists on radio and television in Cuba and Puerto Rico in the 1950s and 1960s, died on Friday, September 22 in Miami, according to an announcement by her family members.

"With deep sorrow we announce that our beloved mother, Olga Chorens, passed away yesterday at 6:45 p.m. in her home in the city of Miami surrounded by her loved ones. Although we are overwhelmed with sadness at having lost such a wonderful person, we will live grateful that God gave us a caring, talented and extraordinary mother. We celebrate that she lived her life to the fullest and we are grateful to have had her for so many years. Our mother left us at 99 years and seven months; on February 7 she would have turned one hundred years old. It fills us with peace to know that her admirers who followed with so much love her legendary career of more than eight decades in music, television, radio, and film accompany us in this very difficult moment," wrote her daughters Olguita and Lissette Álvarez.

Cuban singer Willy Chirino, husband of Lisette, referred to his mother-in-law as "a woman without a filter" and a "Glory of Cuba," who remained professionally active until her last days.

"Until last Sunday she was doing her radio show on La Poderosa, something that I believe could be included in the Guinness Book of Records. With an impeccable career for more than 80 years and an enviable memory until yesterday, September 22, when at 99 years old she left us. Olga Chorens, a true GLORY OF CUBA! I'm going to miss you so much, now it's your turn to fly high to reunite with your beloved Tony and together sing again… Let's Always Sing Let's Sing because when singing, misfortunes are forgotten, bitterness… we must forget," Chirino wrote.

Chorens, born in Havana in 1924, made her radio debut at age 11 and participated as a contestant in the popular program La Corte Suprema del Arte.

In her youth she combined her voice with Tony to form the popular duo that won a daily slot on radio with the program Olga and Tony and one on television with "The Show of Olga and Tony"

The duo made several recordings with the record label RCA Victor and later Panart, as well as numerous international tours, conquering the Latin American public.

Olga Chorens left her mark on film with the films Romance musical (1941) and Cuba canta y baila (1951).

With the arrival of Fidel Castro to power, they sent their daughters to the United States as part of "Operation Pedro Pan" and managed to reunite with them in 1963.

Two years later they successfully resumed their career in Puerto Rico, where they became radio and television stars.

In the 1980s they traveled to Spain and later returned to Miami, where they settled permanently.