Adalberto Álvarez

Adalberto Cecilio Álvarez Zayas (22 November 1948 – 1 September 2021)[1][2] was a Cuban pianist, arranger, conductor, and composer.

Adalberto Álvarez
Born(1948-11-22)22 November 1948
Camagüey, Cuba
Died1 September 2021(2021-09-01) (aged 72)
Havana, Cuba
GenresSon
Occupation(s)Composer, director
Instrument(s)Piano

Biography

Adalberto was born in La Havana on November 22, 1948, but considered himself a native of Camagüey, where he lived his early years.[3] His birth in Havana had been "accidental", as his mother was visiting the capital and gave birth to him there.[4] He began his musical career as a singer, but was admitted to the Escuela Nacional de Artes (National School of Arts) in Havana for bassoon study.[5] He was enrolled there between 1966 and 1972,[6] and also served as professor of Musical Literature at the Provincial School of Art of Camagüey during the 1970s. He founded the Cuban orchestra Son 14 in 1978, and later disbanded it in the 1980s.[7] In 1984, Álvarez started the group Adalberto Alvarez y su Son, which he directed until his death after contracting COVID-19.[8][2] Both of these groups have been cited as incredibly influential to the Cuban music scene as a whole.[9] He was one of the first people to publicly acknowledge his practice of Santería, an Afro-Cuban religion.[10] The genre of his music is son, a style of music that originated in Cuba.[1] He was also deputy to the National Assembly of People's Power between 2013 and 2018 and was elected from Camagüey municipality.

Awards and honors

In 2008, he was awarded a National Music Award. He also received several distinctions which include Distinction for National Culture, Félix Varela Order, and the Cubadisco Award several times.

Adalberto Álvarez y su Son

Adalberto Álvarez y su Son is a band founded in 1984 by Álvarez.[8]

References
  1. Navarro Torres, Jorge (17 July 1989). "Adalberto Álvarez, the gentleman of the Cuban 'son' music". Radio Cadena Agramonte. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2009.
  2. "Falleció el Caballero del Son, Adalberto Álvarez". Cubadebate (in Spanish). 1 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  3. Room, World Music Central News (1 September 2021). "Cuban Legend Adalberto Álvarez Dies at 72 | World Music Central". Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  4. Bodenheimer, Rebecca (5 September 2021). "Remembering Adalberto Alvarez, Cuba's Gentleman of 'Son,' Dead at 72 From COVID-19". Billboard. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  5. Bodenheimer, Rebecca (5 September 2021). "Remembering Adalberto Alvarez, Cuba's Gentleman of 'Son,' Dead at 72 From COVID-19". Billboard. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  6. "Cuban musician, composer and band leader Adalberto Álvarez (1948-2021)". World Socialist Web Site. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  7. Davies, Robin (22 March 2001). "¡Agua, por favor!". News & Review. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2009.
  8. Cazares, David (30 March 2001). "The Sounds of Cuba, Yesterday and Today". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2009.
  9. Room, World Music Central News (1 September 2021). "Cuban Legend Adalberto Álvarez Dies at 72 | World Music Central". Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  10. Bodenheimer, Rebecca (5 September 2021). "Remembering Adalberto Alvarez, Cuba's Gentleman of 'Son,' Dead at 72 From COVID-19". Billboard. Retrieved 20 October 2023.


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