Cuban musicians pay tribute to Pancho Alonso

August 28, 2021

Musicians from Cuba are preparing an album about Pancho Alonso, a phonogram recognized by its creators as the greatest tribute made to that notorious representative of bolero, guaracha, son and pilón in the country.

The artists also recalled that Pascasio Alonso Fajardo, his full name, died on August 27, 1982 and reported that the album brings together 14 songs inspired by the origins of those rhythms of the Caribbean nation, especially during the 1950s and 1960s.

According to its musical producer Emilio Vega, the recording also highlights the imprint of composer Enrique Bonne through the talent of figures and groups such as: Alain Pérez, Manolito Simonet, la Orquesta Aragón, Vania Borges, Ángel Bonne and Issac Delgado.

Produced under the Bis Music label and recorded at Trabuco Récords, Homenaje a Pacho Alonso. Como te siento yo —a title selected by his son Pachito Alonso— constitutes, in the opinion of producer Saul Valdés, the sound and popular history of Pacho with songs chosen by the author's family.

This is how his son and his grandchildren Cristian and Rey Alonso proposed the emblematic songs Dame la mano, Rico Pilón, Ya tú sabes mucho de la vida and Niebla de riachuelo; as well as other compositions typical of genres such as bolero, pilón and guaracha.

The album also features Paulo FG, Haila María Mompié, Beatriz Márquez and la Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional and, according to Cristian, they included the musicians closest to his grandfather's work and those most identified with his style and narrative.

'The idea, which arose in a family conversation, resulted in a unique phonogram, and one of the most beautiful gifts for lovers of Cuban music and those familiar with Pacho Alonso. Likewise, it is a gift intended for Santiago de Cuba, the town that saw him born', he affirmed.