Ernesto Bacallao, Iconic Singer of Orquesta Aragón, Dies

August 22, 2022

Ernesto Bacallao Serrano, lead vocalist of the legendary Orquesta Aragón, a musical icon of Cuba, died on the island at 6 in the morning on Monday, August 22, according to a report by the group on its social networks.

He was the son of another figure in Cuban music, Rafael Bacallao Hernández, known as Felo, a singer, composer and outstanding dancer, who was the main attraction of the sixty-year-old Orquesta Aragón for 34 years, in addition to being one of its founders.

In 1993, following his father's tradition, Ernesto joined this orchestra as a singer, whose fundamental musical format is the charanga.

Ernesto Bacallao performed on the world's greatest stages and shared the stage with international music stars such as Rubén Blades, Andy Montañez, Gilberto Santa Rosa and Tito Puente, among others.

Among his achievements with Orquesta Aragón, he was nominated for Grammy Awards in 2001 and 2002.

He also participated in the recording production "Cuba Canta a Serrat," nominated for Latin Grammy Awards in 2006.

His name is in the Hall of Fame of Salsa in New York.

In Barranquilla he received in 1992 the Golden Congo award from the Carnival, and in 2005 he received the Pablo Picasso medal awarded by UNESCO.

His daughter, Laritza Bacallao, is part of the new figures in Cuban music.