Song:Ya Llego La Hora
Album:The Very Best Of Beny More & His All Star Cuban Big Band Vol. 2
Bandleader singer Beny More was as popular in Cuba as someone like Frank Sinatra or Nat King Cole was everywhere else. He was huge in the 50s and is still revered today. He was born Bartolome Maximiliano More Aug. 24, 1919 in Santa Isabel de las Lajas, Cuba the eldest of eighteen children. He moved to Havana at age 16 and did odd jobs and sang in the street. His big break came when he won a radio contest and started performing on radio station CMZ in 1944. He was spotted by Ciro Rodriguez of the popular group Conjunto Matamoros and was hired as lead singer. The group moved to Mexico and More began his long relationship with RCA Records when the group moved back to Havana but he remained in Mexico. He moved back to Havana in 1950 and worked in bands with Bebo Valdes (Chucho Valdes' dad) and Ernesto Duarte. More split with Duarte and went to RCA and told them he wanted to form his own band. It was called Banda Gigante (Giant Band) with over 40 members. The band was extremely popular in Cuba and other Latin American countries through the 50s. He even played the Oscar ceremonies once. More was afraid of flying and didn't like to travel far. RCA has been reissuing his recordings on CD. He didn't record for anyone else. More remained in Cuba after the revolution and died of cirrhosis on Feb. 19, 1963 at age 43. Beny More is still revered in Cuba and an annual festival is held each year in September to honour his memory. But you've never heard of him. Here's your chance to check him out. Here's Beny More performing Batanga No. 2 in 1953.
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