Bienvenido Granada
Bienvenido Rosendo Granda Aguilera, known professionally as Bienvenido Granda and affectionately nicknamed "El Bigote que Canta" (The Singing Moustache), was a renowned Cuban singer and musician. Born on August 30, 1915, in Havana, Cuba, Granda became a prominent figure in the world of Latin music. He was orphaned at the age of six and discovered his talent for singing various Cuban rhythms and tango as a child, performing for spare change on buses in Cuba.
Granda began his professional music career in the 1930s, making his first recordings in 1936 with the Septeto Nacional de Ignacio Piñeiro. He gained significant exposure by performing on several Cuban radio stations. In 1942, he became the lead singer of the legendary Conjunto Sonora Matancera, a position he held until 1954. During his time with the group, he became the most recorded singer in its history, contributing to around 217 recordings.
After leaving La Sonora Matancera due to a dispute over pay, Granda embarked on a successful solo career. He traveled extensively throughout Latin America, performing in countries such as Guatemala, Honduras, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil. He eventually settled in Mexico, where he continued to perform and record music.
Granda was known for his performances in genres such as guaracha, rumba cubana, and bolero. Some of his popular solo hits include "Mala mujer," "En la orilla del mar," and "Total." He passed away in Mexico City on July 9, 1983, leaving behind a legacy as one of the great voices in Cuban and Latin American music.