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Artist
Monguito El Unico
12+ albums
cubasalsarumbason cubanoguajira
about
Monguito "El Unico" (b Ramón Quian, Manguito, Matanzas Province, Cuba; d May 26th 2006, NYC) Afro-Cuban sonero (extemporising salsa singer) with distinctive nasal voice, composer, bandleader, producer; dubbed "El Unico" (The Unique). Performed with Orquesta Ito and Orquesta Mazzuet in his native town before relocating to Havana, there sang with Orquesta Modernista and Conjunto Modelo; moved to Mexico '50s, there worked with Conjunto de Alejandro Sosa, Orquesta Los Brillantes, Pepé Arévalo y sus Mulatos and appeared in three movies; moved to NYC '62, began with Orquesta Broadway, made first album with Arsenio Rodríguez on Primitivo '63 on Roost. He was a member of Johnny Pacheco's band Nuevo Tumbao '64-6 (singing on Pacheco At The NY World's Fair '64, Pacheco Te Invita a Bailar '65 and Viva Africa '66, all on Fania); sessioned on Herbie Mann's Latin Mann '65 on Columbia (aka Big Boss Mann); participated in Tico All-Stars' Descargas At The Village Gate Live, Vol. 1 & Descargas At The Village Gate Live, Vol. 3 '66 on Tico; played maracas on Larry Harlow's debut Heavy Smokin' '66 on Fania and shared lead vocals on the follow-up Bajandote - Gettin' Off '67 during a year and a half stint with his orchestra. Made Fania solo debut with Pacheco Presents Monguito '67, followed by El Unico y su Conjunto '69, De Todo Un Poco '70, Escuchame / Listen To Me '71; sang "Me Gusto El Son" on Fania All Stars' debut LP Live At The Red Garter, Vol. 1 '68. Output dropped during '70s, made Yo Si …
