Candita Batista, Cuban Singer

Описание: A tribute to Candita Batista (October 3, 1916 – April 1, 2016) who was a Cuban singer, known internationally as an exponent of Afro-Caribbean music. In the course of her career she traveled worldwide and appeared with Nat King Cole, Charles Aznavour, Lola Flores and other stars.

Candita Batista was born in Camagüey, and began her musical career in 1932 at the age of 16, becoming the first woman in the city to join a male band. In 1937 she moved to Havana and in 1941 she travelled with her band to Mexico City where she appeared at the Teatro Lirico.

In 1948 she toured Latin America as part of a group visiting Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama and Colombia. During this period she had to struggle against racism.

In 1959 she toured Europe, appearing in front of King Farouk of Egypt in a concert in Rome. She spent eleven years in Europe before returning to Cuba. She continued to sing professionally up to the age of 94. Towards the end of her career she founded the Mokekeré Orchestra.

She won numerous awards, including Hija Ilustre de la Provincia de Camagüey (Illustrious Daughter of the Province of Camagüey, the Alejo Carpentier Medal, and the Distinción por la Cultura Nacional. In 2011 she received a special award for lifetime achievement from the Association of Musicians of the National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC).

She died in hospital in her home town of Camagüey, aged 99.

In 2003, she was the subject of a short documentary film, Candita Batista, la vedette negra de Cuba (26 minutes), made by Manuel Jorge Pérez.

Candita Batista inició su carrera artística en 1932 actuando con la orquesta La Especial, dirigida por Víctor Agüero Boza y Aurelio Cedé, en la sociedad Victoria de su ciudad natal, siendo la primera mujer que se integró como solista a una orquesta masculina en la provincia de Camagüey.

En 1937 Candita Batista se trasladó para La Habana, donde formó parte de la orquesta de Obdulio Morales, que se presentaba con una compañía de artistas negros en el Teatro Martí.

En 1941, Candita Batista integra de la compañía Batamú, canta en el Teatro Lírico de Ciudad de México, México junto a Yolanda Montes (Tongolele), Rosa Carmina, María Antonieta Pons y Mary Esquivel. A México regresó en 1948 y 1960.

En 1946 Candita Batista sustituyó en Radio Cadena Suaritos a Merceditas Valdés; aprendió lengua yorubá, lo que le permitió interpretar obras de Teté Vergara, así como Los afros Asoyí y Moquegeré, del compositor matancero José Claro Fumero, y Angelitos negros de M. y Blanco.

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video: Stephen Smith
reporter: Ilona Kauremszky
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