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Machito

Frank Grillo (born Francisco Raúl Gutiérrez Grillo; December 3, 1909 – April 15, 1984) known professionally as Machito (previously as Macho), was a Latin jazz musician who helped refine Afro-Cuban jazz and played a key role in the creation of both Cubop and salsa music. He was raised in Havana with his foster sister, the singer Graciela.

In New York City, Machito formed the Afro-Cubans in 1940, and with Mario Bauzá as musical director, brought together Cuban rhythms and big band arrangements in one group. He made numerous recordings from the 1940s to the 1980s, many with Graciela as singer. Machito changed to a smaller ensemble format in 1975, touring Europe extensively. He brought his son and daughter into the band, and received a Grammy Award in 1983, one year before he died.

Machito's music had an effect on the careers of many musicians who played in the Afro-Cubans over the years, and on those who were attracted to Latin jazz after hearing him. George Shearing, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Cab Calloway and Stan Kenton credited Machito as an influence. An intersection in East Harlem is named "Machito Square" in his honor.

Birth and Death Data: Born New York City (most populous city in the United States) , Died April 19, 1984 (London (capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1938 - 1958

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, vocalist, composer

Notes: Frank Grillo is known by his nickname, "Machito."

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 77 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-033621 10-in. 2/9/1939 Desencanto Cuarteto Caney ; Johnny López ; Machito Male vocal duet, with instrumental ensemble vocalist  
Victor BS-033622 10-in. 2/9/1939 Calientico Cuarteto Caney ; Johnny López ; Machito Male vocal duet, with instrumental ensemble vocalist  
Victor BS-033624 10-in. 2/9/1939 La chiquita me gusto Cuarteto Caney ; Johnny López ; Machito Male vocal duet, with instrumental ensemble vocalist  
Victor BS-033625 10-in. 2/9/1939 Visión Cuarteto Caney ; Johnny López ; Machito Male vocal duet, with instrumental ensemble vocalist  
Victor BS-033626 10-in. 2/9/1939 En la jungla Cuarteto Caney ; Johnny López ; Machito Male vocal duet, with instrumental ensemble vocalist  
Victor BS-033928 10-in. 3/2/1939 El perro y el gato (O jau-jau, miau) Cuarteto Caney ; Doroteo ; Johnny López ; Machito Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal trio and sound effects vocalist  
Victor BS-033929 10-in. 3/2/1939 El pastelillero Cuarteto Caney Instrumental ensemble, with vocal trio vocalist  
Victor BS-033930 10-in. 3/2/1939 Cariño de madre Cuarteto Caney ; Doroteo ; Johnny López ; Machito Instrumental ensemble, with vocal trio vocalist  
Victor BS-033931 10-in. 3/2/1939 Como la luz de la mañana Cuarteto Caney Instrumental ensemble, with vocal duet vocalist  
Victor BS-033932 10-in. 3/2/1939 Por ti Cuarteto Caney ; Doroteo ; Johnny López ; Machito Instrumental ensemble, with vocal trio vocalist  
Victor BS-033933 10-in. 3/2/1939 Cundunga Cuarteto Caney ; Doroteo ; Johnny López ; Machito Instrumental ensemble, with vocal trio vocalist  
Victor BS-036689 10-in. 5/22/1939 El santo Boricuas ; Augusto Coén ; Machito Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo, vocal group, and talk vocalist  
Victor BS-042741 10-in. 9/27/1939 Negro aresa Machito ; Xavier Cugat Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble vocalist  
Victor BS-042742 10-in. 9/27/1939 Calientito Machito ; Xavier Cugat Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble vocalist  
Victor BS-042743 10-in. 9/27/1939 Auto-conga Machito ; Xavier Cugat Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor CU-1107 10-in. before 11/17/1943 Sopa de pichón Orquesta Antonio M. Romeu Instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor CU-1340 10-in. before 6/26/1945 Paella Orlando Guerra ; Orquesta Hermanos Palau Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia CO22745 10-in. 4/18/1938 Veinte años Cuarteto Caney ; Machito Vocal and instrumental ensemble vocalist  
Columbia CO22746 10-in. 4/18/1938 Arrepentido Cuarteto Caney ; Machito Vocal and instrumental ensemble vocalist  
Columbia CO22749 10-in. 4/18/1938 Duerme Cuarteto Caney ; Machito Vocal and instrumental ensemble vocalist  
Columbia CO22750 10-in. 4/18/1938 Nostalgias Cuarteto Caney ; Machito Vocal and instrumental ensemble vocalist  
Columbia CO24153 10-in. 2/24/1939 Desesperanza : Bolero son Elio y su Conjunto Moderno Vocal and instrumental ensemble vocalist  
Columbia CO24154 10-in. 2/24/1939 Ha sido mi destino : Son Elio y su Conjunto Moderno Vocal and instrumental ensemble vocalist  
Columbia CO24155 10-in. 2/24/1939 Vereda tropical : Bolero son Elio y su Conjunto Moderno Vocal and instrumental ensemble vocalist  
Columbia CO24156 10-in. 2/24/1939 Maldita droga : Son Elio y su Conjunto Moderno Vocal and instrumental ensemble vocalist  
(Results 1-25 of 77 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Machito," accessed December 24, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105915.

Machito. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 24, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105915.

"Machito." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 24 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105915

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