Pablo Valenzuela

José Pablo Valenzuela García (2 March 1859 – 25 December 1926) was a leading Cuban cornetist, composer and bandleader.

García was born in San Antonio de los Baños. After taking his first lessons in music under his father Lucas, he moved to Havana. There he first joined the orchestra of Manuel Espinosa, before joining La Flor de Cuba, the leading band of the day. This had come under the direction of his brother Raimundo after the death of its founder, and at some stage the name was changed to Orquesta Valenzuela.

Raimundo died in his fifties in 1905, after which the band was under Pablo's direction. Now it was possible for Cuban bands to record their music, and the Orquesta Valenzuela was one of the earliest to take advantage of the opportunity: they recorded about 120 numbers. In 1906 there were 40 recordings on Edison cylinders; in 1909 23 numbers for Columbia Records, and 56 numbers with Victor Records. The last recordings were in 1919; there were about 120 numbers in all, most of which were danzones. Of his compositions, some became lasting hits: Coco seco, El congo libre, La frita, La niña, La Patti negra, María Teresa, El garrotín.

The band dispersed after Pablo died, aged 67, in Havana in 1926.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 2, 1859, Died December 25, 1926

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1909 - 1919

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, cornet, guitar, composer, arranger

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 88 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor G-1 10-in. 6/27/1914 Clavelitos Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor K-2 12-in. 6/27/1914 La niña de los besos Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor G-3 10-in. 6/27/1914 Pesares del alma Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor K-4 12-in. 6/27/1914 El pescado Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor K-5 12-in. 6/27/1914 Eva Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor K-6 12-in. 6/27/1914 No te mueras sin ir á España Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor H-8 10-in. 1/6/1911 Quien fuera pajarito Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor H-9 10-in. 1/6/1911 El testamento del rubio Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor H-10 10-in. 1/6/1911 Chantecler Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor H-11 10-in. 1/6/1911 El garrotín Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor H-12 10-in. 1/6/1911 Mira el mundo Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor H-13 10-in. 1/6/1911 Amalia Molina Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor H-14 10-in. 1/6/1911 Perjura Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor H-15 10-in. 1/6/1911 Testamento de Boloña Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor H-16 10-in. 1/6/1911 La viuda alegre Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor G-38 10-in. 7/1/1914 Sombrero favorito Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor G-39 10-in. 7/1/1914 Mucha mostaza Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor G-40 10-in. 7/1/1914 El chino del Alhambra Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor G-41 10-in. 7/1/1914 Cleopatra Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor K-42 12-in. 7/1/1914 Llegada del hombre fuerte Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor K-43 12-in. 7/1/1914 Con-con Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor G-44 10-in. 7/1/1914 Cierra la colombina Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor J-45 12-in. 1/9/1911 La cañandonga Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor J-46 12-in. 1/9/1911 Conde de Luxemburgo Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, cornet, arranger  
Victor J-47 12-in. 1/9/1911 Conde liborio Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, cornet, arranger  
(Results 1-25 of 88 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Valenzuela, Pablo," accessed April 17, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100873.

Valenzuela, Pablo. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 17, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100873.

"Valenzuela, Pablo." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 17 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100873

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