The Cuban Sonero with a distinct voice...

In this posting, I will be writing about one of Cuba's greatest, if not the greatest sonero they ever produced, Abelardo Barroso. He was born in Havana on September 21, 1905, and from an early age showed a prodigious talent for singing (according to author Pablo Emilio Delvalle Arroyo in his encyclopedic-sized book, "Arsenio Rodriguez, Padre de la Salsa" ) . His voice sounds a bit raspy, nasal, and the phrasing or pace of his lyrics would be best described as being laid back. Abelardo joined the Charanga group, Orquesta Sensacion back in 1955.
The album of his that I'm suggesting for collectors here would be "Orquesta Sensacion, Cumbancha En Cha." There are 18 tracks in total, they are:

1. La Reina Del Guaguanco
2. Bombon Cha
3. La Cumbancha
4. Rico Vacilon
5. Los Carnavales Del Oriente
6. Elube Chango
7. Caumbia
8. Aprendiendo El Chachacha
9. A La Pelota Con Carlota (Aaagghh!!! This song is damn-near genius! Just listening to the first 30 seconds gets you moving. And if you would just get this album for this track & track 15 alone it would still be worth it! It would later be covered by the Puerto-Rican Conguero Ray Barretto)
   
10. Cero Codazos, Cero Cabezazos
11. Seven Voy
12. Arinanara
13. El Manisero (check out Barroso's effortless take on this standard in Afro-Cuban music)
    
14. En Vano
15. El Huerfanito (Classic must have-Barroso song about being an orphan, later covered by Henry Fiol)
    
16. El Panquelero
17. Hagan Juego
18. Salud, Dinero Y Amor

Hopefully you can find this specific album, as most of Abelardo Barroso's albums are impossible to find in most mega-chain stores. Check out www.edenmusicalrecords.com for it as I know that the owner there carries a large selection of Abelardo Barroso material.