John Lennon
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was in awe of the vocal talents of Ignacio Elejalde, lead singer of Cuban quintet Los Zafiros, a vocal group who were something more than just a Hispanic version of Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers. Their music moved effortlessly from bolero and rumba to rhythm and blues and doo-wop, driven by their pianist/guitarist Manuel Galban. They were, however, Cuban - this resulted in them being regarded as heroes when they happened to be touring in Moscow on *that* weekend in 1962, but did rather lessen their American fan base.
While their music was good enough for them to deserve to be remembered, it was as drinkers, fist-fighters and destroyers of hotel rooms that they were truly world class. A Los Zafiros tour repair bill would probably have made The Who or Led Zeppelin blush. Manuel Galban couldn't take any more by 1972, and left. from then it was downhill rapidly, before they finally called it quits in 1975. Ignacio died of a brain haemorrhage in 1982 aged 39. Within the year fellow vocalist "Kike" Morua had followed him to the grave.
Their fame was brief, but spectacular.
Comments (3)
This is their take on the Platters' "My Prayer", here given its Spanish title "Mi Oracion"
The post's title is a clever one. This was a great group, if these two cuts are representative. I've never heard this blend of Cuban and American rock & roll, but this group really knew what they were doing. Was that weekend the Cuban missile crisis?
This is my wife and the 13 year old's album of the year - and it was given to me - me! - as a Chrstmas present last year. I'm irate because they've kept it in the car the entire year and I've barely heard it. The few times I have, it's fantastic. No-one can do wrong with this album. Maybe I'll get to hear it next year.