Macias, Orestes - Anillo De Compromiso [CD]

Presented here is one of the earliest recordings of the great Cuban bolero singer Orestes Macias, the undisputed creator of the contagious Cuban rhythm known as "Guapacha," which enriched Cuban music greatly, beginning in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Orestes Macias is a native of Bejucal, a town near the Cuban capital. In 1943, he appeared with a friend at an amateur contest, to perform "El Jinete" as a duo, obtaining, to their great surprise, the first prize. Stimulated by this event, together with a group of young boys, they founded the group "Vaz-Cane," which was known by the dancers as "Los Hijos de la Sonora Matancera." With some additional experience, he became part of another group named "Los Jovenes del Ritmo." Orestes made his formal debut on Cuban television in the program "La Revista Cabalgat," with the ensemble of Che Quintero, with whose musical support, he recorded his first album. As his reputation and popularity ascended, his services were requested by well-known musical groups such as Conjunto Casino, Orquesta de Arcano and with Los Hermanos Castro, with whom he achieved his great consecration. Orestes Macias remembered his debut with the band, so nervous his legs refused to respond, having to hold on to the microphone to avoid falling to the ground. He considers Manolo Castro, director of "Los Hermanos Castro" as his greatest teacher and mentor. Along with numerous appearances in radio, television, dances, recordings, etc., Orestes Macias pursued higher education as a nurse, a profession that he exercised in parallel to his artistic career. Orestes Macias also established himself in the public's favor for his recordings that broke sales records, such as "San Juan de Ulua," La Cama Vacia," and "Anillo de Compromiso," the title track of this full-length album.