Ela Calvo, the singer, dies in La Habana

September 8, 2021

Singer Ela Calvo passed away in Havana in the early morning of September 7 as a result of pneumonia stemming from illnesses common to her advanced age.

Ela Calvo was born on February 18, 1932. She began singing in 1952 as a member of a musical group directed by Facundo Rivero.

In 1959 she presented herself professionally as a solo vocalist at the Saint John club, leading to numerous performances on radio and television programs, national and international music magazines and at the Tropicana cabaret.

In 1965 she gave her first recital at the National Museum of Fine Arts and two years later conducted her first international tour through Germany and Czechoslovakia.

In 1968 she obtained 2nd place at the International Song Festival Sopot, Poland and the Performance Prize at the Festival Man and the Sea, in Rostock, Soviet Union. She also participated in other festivals such as the Lira de Oro in Bratislava, the Limasol, in Cyprus and the Song Festival, in Dresden, the international Golden Boleros and the Agustín Lara.

Possessing a warm and emotional voice, Ela had great acceptance in her artistic tours through Latin America, Africa and Europe. Her repertoire was nourished by diverse musical genres.

She held, among other recognitions, the Distinction for National Culture and was a member of the National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC).