Isaac Oviedo

Isaac Oviedo (July 6, 1902 – June 16, 1992) was a Cuban tres player, singer and songwriter. He was the founder and leader of the Septeto Matancero for over 50 years, and the author of many famous sones such as "Engancha carretero". Throughout his long career Oviedo only recorded a handful of sessions, mostly for American record labels. He has been called "one of the greatest Cuban tres players" by other musicians such as Efraín Ríos and Pancho Amat. According to the latter, Oviedo was the pioneering and most influential tresero of the septeto format (the major type of son ensemble of the 1920s and '30s). while his other son Gilberto, known as Papi Oviedo, has also had a long career as a tresero, playing with Conjunto Chappottín, Estrellas de Chocolate and Orquesta Revé.

Life and career Isaac Oviedo was born on July 6, 1902, in the village of Sabanilla del Encomendador (now known as Juan Gualberto Gómez) in the municipality of Unión de Reyes, Matanzas, Cuba. His family was poor and his mother worked as a sugarcane cutter. By his late teens he was playing in Pepito López's orchestra, and also formed his own band, Los Unionenses. They recorded "Engancha carretero", Oviedo's most successful and critically acclaimed song, noted for its creole character. During their stay, Oviedo taught Guillermo "Piliche" Ayala how to play the tres, thus becoming the first Puerto Rican tres player. Back in Havana the Sexteto Matancero became a septeto with the addition of cornettist Serafín Terry and recorded four songs in June 1930 for Brunswick. The association between Oviedo and Gómez under various names (Matancero, Típico, Selecto) lasted until the early 1970s, when Gómez retired. Oviedo continued to perform, recording an album for Areito in 1984.

Now I'm 82 years old. I've been retired for 5 years, but I can't live without music. I have to continue playing. — Isaac Oviedo, 1984. The "rediscovery" of Oviedo's music was however followed by his death on June 16, 1992, aged 89. as well as the use of the pinky finger. Oviedo is considered the first virtuoso of the tres due to his varied and complex style, which was imitated by many.

Discography Studio albums Isaac Oviedo y los Timberos del Caribe (Areito, 1984) Routes of Rhythm Vol. 3 (Rounder, 1992)