Francisco Céspedes pays tribute to Benny Moré on the centenary of his birth

October 13, 2019

Francisco Céspedes paid tribute to the legendary Cuban composer, orchestra conductor and vocalist Benny Moré (1919 – 1962).

On the centennial of the most transcendental figure in Cuban popular music of all time. Bolero singer and son singer who imposed his style in the dance halls of the Greater Caribbean Island with international projection. 'Sonero Mayor' and maximum exponent of the conformities of Afro-Caribbean cadences: mambo, guaracha, guaguancó, son montuno, plena, son, bolero, mambo cha, guaracha son, guajira… Benny Moré: legend and metaphor embodied in popular worship.

"Benny Moré is Cuban; but he also belongs to us: do not forget that he began his career in Mexico, which is why we have decided to pay him this tribute at the Salón Los Ángeles where he sang many times during his years living among us. They say it was at the Salón Los Ángeles where he was inspired and composed 'Bonito y sabroso', that mambo that says 'how beautiful and tasty the Mexicans dance the mambo'. Benny of Cuba, of Mexico and of the Caribbean", commented in an interview with La Razón the journalist, musicologist and founding director of the magazine Bembé, Ernesto Márquez, executive producer of the gala.

The show was performed with the Big Band of pianist Irving Lara and the participation as guests of vocalist Elizabeth Meza and the ensemble Son 14 of Santiago de Cuba. "The night of this Saturday, October 12, was the space for a nostalgic and festive journey to the golden age of mambo and bolero in an intimate setting in remembrance of the atmosphere of the cabaret from the 1950s of the last century", added Márquez.

"I am performing for the first time at the Salón Los Ángeles and I do so to pay homage to the great Benny. An iconic place of Mexican dancing where I perform with the investiture of the greatest Cuban popular musician, in the celebration of the 100 years of his birth. Happy and joyful nostalgia in an evening of singing, dancing and outpouring of love", expressed the interpreter of "Vida Loca".

A ritual of drum tapping in offering to the vocalist of "Cómo fue" flooded the night with the ancestral magic of the Afro-Cuban religious tradition. "It is a prayer, a kind of musical oratorio for Benny, who was a faithful believer in those liturgies originating from Africa", explained Tito Morales, member of Son 14 and organizer of this ceremonial.

"I am grateful for the invitation to sing to Benny, whom I listened to when I was very young in my house in Veracruz by tuning into the Cuban radio stations of that time. I am a bolero singer more than anything and I am going to immerse myself in the cosmos of the great Benny Moré accompanied by Pancho Céspedes. Emotion overwhelms me. It will be a unique reception", Elizabeth Meza had declared.

"I agree on many things with Benny: my songs reiterate the word life: many of Benny's themes do so as well; I became known in Mexico, here my career had the push it needed: Benny also became known in Mexico. I have a great desire to enter his universe, to make changes to his vocalizations. I know that after this my career will be enriched: Benny is Benny and singing the songs that he immortalized is a great commitment", added Céspedes.

"Cómo fue", "Santa Isabel de las Lajas", "Bonito y sabroso", "Mucho Corazón", "Mata Siguaraya", "Pachito Eché", "Me voy pal pueblo" and "Oh, vida", among other boleros and sons, thundered in the mythical Salón Los Ángeles. Benny Moré more alive than ever in an affectionate tribute from Mexico and its people.