Abelardo Barroso

Abelardo Barroso Dargeles (21 September 1905 – 27 September 1972) was a Cuban bandleader and singer, the first sonero mayor (lead singer of the son) to be recognized as such by the Cuban public.

Born in Havana, Cuba, he was the lead singer of the Sexteto Habanero from 1925, recorded with the Sexteto Boloña in 1926, and joined the Septeto Nacional de Ignacio Piñeiro in 1927. With each of these top bands he made a string of recordings in New York City, and for the rest of his life his voice was in demand.

In 1929–1930 he joined the stage variety group Salmerón, with whom he toured Spain. Returning to Cuba in 1931, he joined the Orquesta Ernesto Muñoz. In 1933 he founded the charanga López–Barroso with Orestes López. He appeared alternately with this band and with the Sexteto Universo, and in 1935 founded the Sexteto Pinin. There followed spells with the bands of Andrés Laferté and Everado Ordaz before, in 1939, he joined the important charanga Maravillas del Siglo and performed on Radio COCO. During the 1940s he worked at the cabaret Sans-Souci until 1948, when he directed and sang for the National Police Band. After a short hiatus, he joined Rolando Valdés' Orquesta Sensación, which would spearhead the second great charanga movement (the first wave included Antonio Arcaño y sus Maravillas and Melodías del 40). They won the Disco de Oro for a recording of "En Guantánamo" and "Arráncame la vida". With La Sensación he appeared in Miami in 1957 and in New York in 1959 and 1960. He retired in 1969.

Birth and Death Data: Born September 21, 1905 (Havana), Died September 27, 1972 (Havana)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927 - 1939

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, claves, composer, lyricist, songwriter, arranger

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 51-57 of 57 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia W96668 10-in. July 1928 Los viudos quieres ternar : Son Sexteto Nacional Vocal and instrumental ensemble vocalist, instrumentalist, claves  
Columbia W96673 10-in. July 1928 La voz de la consciencia : Bolero Abelardo Barroso ; Bienvenido León Vocal duet, with orchestra vocalist  
Brunswick B12939 10-in. 1/19/1933 El panquelero : Pregón son Estrellas Habaneras Vocal and instrumental ensemble composer  
Brunswick B12940 10-in. 1/19/1933 En el silencio de la noche : Son Estrellas Habaneras Vocal and instrumental ensemble composer  
Gramophone 0PG115 10-in. 10/10/1932 El panquelero Don Azpiazu’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia (U.K.) CL4524 10-in. 11/3/1933 El el silencio de la noche Oscar Calle ; Firmín Jova ; Oscar Calle Orchestre Cubain ; Chiquita Serrano Instrumental ensemble, with vocal duet songwriter  
Columbia (U.K.) CL4529 10-in. 11/3/1933 Triguenita Oscar Calle ; Firmín Jova ; Oscar Calle Orchestre Cubain Instrumental ensemble, with vocal duet songwriter  
(Results 51-57 of 57 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Barroso, Abelardo," accessed April 24, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111704.

Barroso, Abelardo. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111704.

"Barroso, Abelardo." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111704

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