Cascarita

Orlando Guerra (gayr'-rah; September 14, 1920 – March 20, 1973), better known as Cascarita, was a popular Cuban singer who specialized in guaracha and son montuno. He became one of Cuba's most famous vocalists as a member of Julio Cueva's big band and Orquesta Casino de la Playa in the 1940s.

Life and career

Early life and career Guerra was born on September 14, 1920, in Camagüey, the third-largest city of Cuba and the capital of Camagüey Province. Guerra started his professional career in his native Camagüey and Havana in the early 1940s, and made his name singing in highly successful big bands. In 1942 he joined Hermanos Palau. The same year he recorded with Pepito Torres' Orquesta Siboney in Puerto Rico, and in 1943 he and several other members of the Palau, spearheaded by Julio Cueva, founded a new big band with the arrangements of pianist René Hernández. After the departure of Miguelito Valdés, the lead singer of Orquesta Casino de la Playa, to New York in 1940, Cascarita became the main big band vocalist in Cuba. In Cueva's band, he was accompanied on vocals by René Márquez and Manuel "Puntillita" Licea.

Casino de la Playa Cascarita continued to work with Julio Cueva until 1946, when he joined Orquesta Casino de la Playa. It was through his personal recommendation that Dámaso Pérez Prado obtained the job of arranger-pianist of the orchestra. Pérez Prado had been blacklisted in Cuba from working as an arranger because his charts were "too out there". He had gone about as far as he could working for Casino de la Playa, as Cascarita was more popular than the band. The records no longer came out under the title "Casino de la Playa, featuring Cascarita", but "Cascarita accompanied by Casino de la Playa". There are nonetheless conflicting accounts on his death. According to Juan José Reinosa he died in Panama, while Helio Orovio maintains that he died in Mexico in 1975. In August 2008, Mexican writer Arturo Yáñez stated that he died in 1971 and that his remains can be found at the Panteón San Lorenzo in Tlaxcolco, Mexico.

Selected recordings Casino de la Playa (Tumbao Cuban Classics, CD, 1994) Azúcar pa'un amargao' El baile del sillón El caballo y la montura Coge pa'la cola Esto es lo último Estoy acabando Llora La pelotica Quiero un sombrero Se murió Panchita Son los bobitos Tártara La última noche Un meneíto na'ma Yo pico un pan Julio Cueva (Tumbao Cuban Classics, CD, 1990) La butuba cubana Camisa sin botones Cerebro como plancha Con la comida no se juega El cuento del sapo Desintegrando El golpecito Figurina del solar No tengo tambó' Ñéngere ñéngue Pasito pa'lante Pin pin Piru, piru, pirulí La rareza del siglo Sabanimar Sacando boniato En tiempo de mangos Hermanos Palau Acomodando Apriétame más La ola marina Mala maña Perro huevero Puntillita Rosas del pensil Sácale punta al lápiz Ta' bueno ya Tú verá' lo que tú va' ve Uampampiro Yo estoy aprendiendo inglés Pepito Torres Ladrón de gallinas Llora timbero Un brujo en Guanabacoa