Alfredo Brito Explained

Alfredo Brito
Birth Name:Alfredo Valdés-Brito Gamba
Birth Date:9 November 1941
Birth Place:Havana, Cuba
Known For:Musical composition
Spouse:Mercy Díaz Suárez
Children:Julio Brito Ortíz
Alvan Brito
Parents:Julio Brito Ibáñez
Antonia Gamba Cabrera
Module:
Origin:Havana, Cuba
Discography:See the Discography section of this article.
Years Active:1957 to date.
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Footnotes:Related artists

Alfredo Brito is a Cuban musician and singer, member of a family of artists of recognized prestige in the musical field. Founder and director in 1967 of the vocal quartet “Los Brito”.

Biography

Alfredo Brito (Alfredo Valdés-Brito Gamba) was born in Havana, Cuba, on November 9, 1941. He is the son of Antonia Gamba Cabrera and the well-known Cuban composer Julio Brito (Julio Valdés-Brito Ibáñez)[1] [2], author of El amor de mi bohío, Mira que eres linda, Cuando te acuerdes de mí, among many other well-known songs.

Early years

From a very early age, following in the footsteps of his father and brother Julio, he became interested in learning musical techniques, learning theory and sol-fa with the former and drums with the latter.

He took his first professional steps at the age of 16 as a drummer in Eddy Gaytán's band at the club/restaurant La Rue 19, an elegant venue located on 19th Street in the Vedado neighborhood.

From there he became part of the orchestra that accompanied the musical show at the Hotel Sevilla directed by maestro Pomares.

Later he joined his father's orchestra as a percussionist at the Parisien Club of the Hotel Nacional.

Later the Chilean accordionist Larry Godoy proposes him to join his group to perform at the Doble o Nada lounge of the Hotel Riviera, and hires him as a singer as well as a drummer, which he had been interested in for some time, so he decides to accept the offer and becomes part of the new group.

At the end of the Riviera's contract, he returns to the Parisien Club of the Hotel Nacional, this time with Yoyo Casteleiro's orchestra, replacing Walfredo de los Reyes on drums and singing with Kiko Rodríguez.

While performing there, he studied harmony and counterpoint with Professor Enrique Belver, piano with the outstanding concert pianist Rosario Franco and singing with soprano Margarita Horruitiner. He begins to make his first orchestrations, which are interpreted by the same orchestra of the hotel and also to write songs. It is then when the singer Leonora Rego records his song "Desde la eternidad de un beso" on EGREM records.

At the same time, he came up with the idea of forming a vocal quartet, for which he first counted on his brother Julio, who immediately joined the group, and they both set about the task of finding the other two members. They begin to shape the repertoire and Alfredo starts to create the vocal and instrumental parts for when the two remaining voices appear.[3] The first to join the future group is Pedro Sánchez, “El Nene” as his friends call him, later Mercy Díaz Suárez -whom he will marry in 1968- joins the quartet.[4]

Second stage

In 1967 Los Brito made their debut[5], but suddenly and unexpectedly Pedro Sánchez died a year after the group's debut, and was replaced by Abelardo Cordero.[6]

The quartet's first performance was on August 8 of that same year on Música y Estrellas, the most popular musical program on Cuban television at the time, directed by Manolo Rifat and hosted by Eva Rodríguez.[7] That night they performed a song by Alfredo entitled "Matías Pérez", which was an immediate hit.[8]

Since its inception and during its 15 years of existence, Cuarteto Los Brito always enjoyed the public's favor and topped the charts, performing on the best radio and television programs.[9]

Los Brito's repertoire consisted almost entirely of songs by Alfredo and his brother Julio, and some of them were written by both of them, such as "El Banquito", or "El 4-5-6".[10]

In 1970, the Cuban government conducted a poll to select the artists who would represent Cuba at the Varadero International Festival, and Los Brito were chosen by popular vote.[11]

When the quartet was dissolved due to the absence of Julio and Abelardo, Alfredo and Mercy created the duo of the same name, making popular Brito songs such as "Mariela", "Un hasta luego", "Tiernamente, para siempre" and others.

As musical director of both groups, Alfredo Brito was responsible for all vocal and orchestral arrangements for both groups.

Well-known artists such as Celia Cruz, Garibaldi, Maggie Carlés and Luis Nodal, Salsa Kids, Ojedita, Sylvia Pantoja, Voces Latinas, Azuquita or Los 3 Sudamericanos, among others, have recorded his songs and orchestrations.

Discography

Music for film and TV

References

  1. Book: Orovio, Helio . Diccionario de la música cubana : biográfico y técnico . 1981 . Ciudad de La Habana : Ed. Letras Cubanas . The Archive of Contemporary Music . 9591000480 . es.
  2. Web site: Paz Alomar . Héctor E. . 2021-11-08 . Julio Brito, cantor melódico de Cuba . 2024-08-18 . Periódico Invasor - Diario online de Ciego de Ávila . es . Valle plateado de luna/ sendero de mis amores/ quiero ofrendarle a las flores/ el canto de mi montuna.../“ (Silver moon valley/ path of my loves/ I want to offer to the flowers/ the song of my montuna.../”. Thus begins the musical theme that marked for eternity the rich authorial portfolio of the outstanding Cuban composer Julio Valdés-Brito Ibáñez (1908-1968), known nationally and internationally as Julio Brito.... Among his main works stand out "Florecita", "Tus lágrimas", "Flor de ausencia", "Acurrucadita", "Mira que eres linda", "Serenata guajira" and, of course, the well-known "El amor de mi bohío"... Because of the Cubanness of his texts, Julio Brito was known as "El Pintor Melódico de Cuba" (The Melodic Painter of Cuba). "El amor de mi bohío" was recorded by singers from several countries and its preference reaches the present day..
  3. Web site: Quiroga . Orlando . 1970-06-12 . Busque a "Los Brito" para que le canten un cuento . Look for "Los Brito" to sing you a story . 2024-08-18 . Bohemia . La Habana, Cuba . 97 . es . ...Julio says... things started one morning when my brother Alfredo became infatuated with forming a quartet... I liked the idea and we started to prepare... we both composed, and Alfredo was also an arranger and I played the drums... we started rehearsing without lead vocals....
  4. Web site: Quiroga . Orlando . 1970-06-12 . Busque a "Los Brito" para que le canten un cuento . Look for "Los Brito" to sing you a story . 2024-08-18 . Bohemia . 97 . es . ...we were rehearsing without the first voice appearing. And suddenly, bang! Mariana de Gonitch found her. It was one of her students, Mercy Díaz...including the premiere of "Para los dos", which Alfredo composed for Mercy on their wedding day....
  5. Book: Díaz Ayala, Cristóbal . Música Cubana (Del Areyto ala Nueva Trova) . Editorial Cubanacan . 1981 . 0897297032 . es.
  6. Web site: Pages . Eduardo . 1969-04-11 . Cuatro voces en busca del éxito . Four voices in search of success . 2024-08-18 . dloc.com . Bohemia . 57 . es . La Habana, Cuba . Approximately two months ago, the quartet lost one of its members. Pedro Humberto Sánchez passed away, an endearing companion, "El Nene", as we affectionately called him, had been part of the quartet since its beginnings and his memory will live forever..
  7. Web site: Cuarteto Los Brito. Cultura Cubana . 2024-08-18 . en-US . Los Brito made their debut in the TV musical program Música y Estrellas, directed by Manolo Rifat and presented by one of the first ladies of Cuban animation, Eva Rodríguez..
  8. Web site: Quiroga . Orlando . 1970-06-12 . Busque a "Los Brito" para que le canten un cuento . Look for "Los Brito" to sing you a story . 2024-08-18 . dloc.com . Bohemia . La Habana, Cuba . 97 . es . Matias Perez" jokingly narrates the exploits of the first Cuban cosmonaut... his good rhythm did a lot for "Los Brito". .....
  9. Web site: Fuillerat Alfonso . Raúl . 2009-03-18 . Los Brito: una agrupación vocal de excelencia . Los Brito: a vocal ensemble of excellence . 2024-08-18 . web.archive.org.
  10. Web site: palmera . Colección Gladys . Los Brito - Los Brito . 2024-08-18 . Colección Gladys palmera . es.
  11. Web site: Cuarteto Los Brito. Cultura Cubana . 2024-08-18 . en-US . "Los Brito" entered the Varadero Festival roster in 1970, when they were chosen by popular vote, thanks to the majestic fame they had achieved..
  12. Como un relámpago (1996) - IMDb . 2024-08-18 . www.imdb.com.
  13. Web site: Como un relámpago » Premios Goya 2024 . 2024-08-18 . www.premiosgoya.com.
  14. Inquilinos (TV Series 1997–1998) - IMDb . 2024-08-18 . www.imdb.com.

Bibliography

External links

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