Coralia López

Juana Coralia López Valdés (May 6, 1910 – 1993) was a Cuban pianist, bandleader and composer. Between 1940 and 1956 she directed her own charanga danzonera, being the first woman to direct any such orchestra in Cuba. During her career she composed many popular danzones such as "Llegó Manolo", "El bajo que come chivo", "Los jóvenes del agua fria" and the famous "Isora Club", which became a standard in the Latin music repertoire.

Life and career Juana Coralia López Valdés was born in Havana, Cuba, on May 6, 1910, into a family of musicians. In 1943, the song was recorded by Arcaño, and many other covers would follow over the years, including Cachao's (1958, 1993), Orquesta Aragón's (1960) and Rubén González's (2000).

Coralia's charanga featured flutist Edelmiro Pérez, güirist Alfredo Lazo, timbalero Armando Lazo, singer Rubén Cortada, bassist Pepito Seoani, and a violin section with Raúl Valdés, Jesús Lanza, Tomás Reisoto and Enrique Jorrín, Despite their many live performances and original compositions, the group never made a recording before their dissolution in 1956.

Coralia López died in 1993, two years after the passing of her brother Orestes.