José Fajardo (musician) explained

José Antonio Fajardo Ramos (October 18, 1919 – December 11, 2001)[1] was a Cuban charanga bandleader and flautist, who played the traditional five-keyed wooden flute.[2]

Born in Guane, Pinar del Río Province, Fajardo learned the flute from his father, before moving to Havana in the 1930s. He played with the band of Antonio María Romeu and formed his own charanga band in 1949.[3] [4] He defected to the United States in 1961 while touring Japan and reformed his band in New York City with new musicians.

Fajardo died on December 11, 2001, in New York, at the age of 82.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: José Fajardo | Biography & History. AllMusic. 26 August 2021.
  2. George Torres, Encyclopedia of Latin American Popular Music, 2013, p. 164 "Other well—known charanga flutists include Melquiades Fundora, Jose Fajardo, Nestor Torres, Richard Egües, Orlando “Maraca” Valle, and Eduardo Rubio."
  3. Book: Miller . Sue . Cuban Flute Style: Interpretation and Improvisation . 30 October 2013 . Scarecrow Press . 978-0-8108-8442-7 . 15-16 . en.
  4. Encyclopedia of Latino Popular Culture, Cordelia Candelaria, Peter J. García, Arturo J. Aldama, 2004, p. 125 "Following several important musical tours during the late 1950s by Jose Fajardo and Orquesta Aragon, New York City's charanga heyday actually began in 1960 and was led by Charlie Palmieri's charanga, La Duboney, with Johnny Pacheco ..."
  5. Web site: José Fajardo, 82, Flutist And Bandleader, Is Dead. Jon. Pareles. 20 December 2001. 26 August 2021. The New York Times.