Elito Revé has directed one of the heavyweights of popular music in Cuba for 17 years. He inherited the Charangón from his father, who founded it almost six decades ago. This band has been a school for many renowned Cuban artists.
The Charangón’s music conveys authentic musical genres such as changüi, which is combined with other contemporary genres and places it in the preference of dancers.
Last June 14, in the Peruvian capital, Lima, Elito Reve and the Charangon celebrated the 58th anniversary of the band. Kala Entertainment, a renowned producer of international events, organized a show with the special participation of the Charangon and other Cuban artists as for instance, Pedrito Calvo, César “Pupy” Pedroso, Tania Pantoja, Manolín, Manolín and Michel Maza, Cuban singer living in Peru. The South American nation was represented by Bum Bum Mezclao, Team Salsa and La Constelación, directed by Alain Almeida Manzanares.
The next performance of the Charangon will take place next June 22, at the Salón Rosado in La Tropical, in Havana.
In both performances they will interpret songs from two albums, recorded with Bis Music: La aplanadora de Cuba and Homenaje a Elio Revé. ElitoRevé explained OnCuba these albums comprise the current musical work by the band.
“La aplanadora de Cuba includes the songs El Jalajala and Esa soy yo, which are already a hit. This CD will come out first than the other one.For the second one, the band invitedGilberto Santa Rosa, José Alberto “El Canario”, Pablo Milanés, Paulito FG, Haila María Mompié, Buena Fe, Isaac Delgado, Sixto Llorente (El Indio), los Muñequitos de Matanza, Mayito Rivera and Gente D’ Zona…
“It is an album from my father’s epoch. It comprises hit songs from the 90’s. People have been awaiting this album because it will show the current generations the work carried out by the Charangon 20 years ago.”
Elito announced this second album will be released in DVD, “it will be shot in a live concert, though we don’t know yetif it will be shot in Cuba or abroad. We are planning to have all the artists invited as well.”
About the quality of this piece, he noted: “it is really interesting because it includes national and international remarkable artists as Gilberto Santa Rosa, El canario, and Pablo Milanés”.
Reve also said that the second album includes a version of La celosa interpreted by El Canario, Muévete pa aquí in the voice of Gilberto Santa Rosa, La ruñidera by Pablo Milanés, and Esa mujer by Buena Fe (Israel Rojas andYoel Martínez).
The Charangon has been a strong champion of popular music and has always respected its changüi tradition. According to the leader of the band, the secret is in its young members with defined goals and lyrics that convey the feelings of the youth today.
