Monguito
Monguito "El Único", was a Cuban vocalist. He was born Ramón Sardiñas Quián, in Matanzas Province, Cuba; and died in 2006, in New York City. An Afro-Cuban sonero, he had a simple improvising style with a distinctive nasal voice.
Monguito performed with Orquesta Mazzuet in his native town before relocating to Havana, where he sang with Orquesta Modernista and Conjunto Modelo. In the 1950s, Monguito el Único moved to Mexico. There he worked with Pepe Arévalo y Sus Mulatos and appeared in three movies. In 1962, Monguito moved to New York City, and began singing with Orquesta Broadway. He made his first recording, the album "Primitivo", with Arsenio Rodríguez in 1963 for the Roost Records label. Monguito el Único was a member of Johnny Pacheco's conjunto in the mid-1960s, alternating lead vocals with the Puerto Rican singer Chivirico Dávila. In 1967, he made his Fania solo debut with "Johnny Pacheco Presents Monguito". His debut on SAR Records, produced by Roberto Torres, was the album "Yo No Soy Mentiroso" in 1979. This recording went gold.
Much like Ismael Rivera, Monguito el Único embodies an earthy, pragmatic aesthetic in the tradition of the son montuno, forged in the streets of Cuba.
Discography
- Pacheco Te Invita a Bailar (1965)
- Bajándote (with Orchestra Harlow) (1966)
- Viva África (with Johnny Pacheco) (1966)
- Fania All-Stars - Live at the Red Garter - Vol. 1 (1968)
- Pacheco Presents Monguito (1967)
- El Único (1968)
- De Todo Un Poco (1969)
- Escúchame (Listen To Me) (1971)
- Latin Mann (with Herbie Mann) (1966)
- Sabrosura (with Johnny Pacheco)
- La Crema (with Johnny Pacheco)
- Yo No Soy Mentiroso