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 |
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
External Sources
Wikipedia: Machito
Discogs: Machito
Allmusic: Machito
IMDb: Machito
Britannica: Machito
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Machito - https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n88156869
Wikidata: Machito - https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q462983
VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/1565571
MusicBrainz: Machito - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/8b280260-dacb-4195-a34d-16e5068de288
Fast: https://id.worldcat.org/fast/257363 - https://id.worldcat.org/fast/257363
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