Biography
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Years Active
1984 – present (40 years)
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Members
- Abel Gutiérrez Soto
- Adalberto Álvarez (1984 – 2021)
- Adam Gómez Portuondo
- Aldo Isidro Miranda Alvarez
- Alfredo Llanes Mesa
Like Los Van Van, Adalberto Álvarez was a major figure in Cuban popular music long before Timba began, writing hundreds of songs which were hits for his own groups, "Son 14" and "Adalberto Alvarez y su Son", and for many other artists as well, both inside and outside of Cuba. He is by all accounts one of the most important and influential figures in the history of Cuban music.
Adalberto is represented by Musicalia, which maintains an excellent website, containing lots of great information on Adalberto, and also on several other bands, such as Orquesta Revé, which are not yet adequately covered here at timba.com. Click here for the Musicalia site.
When Timba began in the 90's, Los Van Van embraced it, quickly becoming one of the leading Timba bands. Like LVV, Adalberto was also able to retain his status as one of the most popular acts in Cuba, but he did so by staying much closer to his original Son style. Nevertheless, his recent music has moved closer to Timba in many ways. He has collaborated with many key creative figures of the Timba movement, such as arranger Joaquín Betancourt, known for his work with Issac Delgado and many others, Roberto Linares, ex-pianist/arranger for Azúcar Negra, Yoel Cuesta, ex-conguero of Azúcar Negra, Aramís Galindo, who sang with Team Cuba and on Gracias Formell, and now has his own band.
Is Adalberto's music Timba or Son? You decide! Here are excerpts from two of his greatest songs of the 90's, both from the album "Jugando con candela".
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