Ignacio Piñeiro

In 1906, he was a member of the Timbre de Oro coro de clave y guaguancó (a vocal group precursor of contemporary guaguancó), and later directed Los Roncos, another famous coro de guaguancó. He was taught the double bass by María Teresa Vera, and in 1926 he was a member of her band, Sexteto Occidente, which recorded in New York City. In 1927 he founded the Sexteto Nacional de Ignacio Piñeiro, later simply known as Sexteto Nacional, in which he was the director and songwriter. For financial reasons, Piñeiro quit the group in 1935. For the next two years, it was led by trumpet player Lázaro Herrera until disbanding in 1937. Piñeiro became for some years the leader and principal songwriter of Los Roncos. The Septeto Nacional was recreated several times from 1954 onwards, initially under Piñeiro's direction. It continues to perform. Piñeiro's composition "Échale salsita", written on a train to Chicago in 1930, influenced George Gershwin's later Cuban Overture. The two men met when Gershwin visited Cuba in February 1932. Many of Piñeiro's songs have been performed by other artists, such as Ray Barretto ("Don Lengua") and René Álvarez ("A la lae la la"). In 1999, Piñeiro was posthumously inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame.

• Name — Ignacio Piñeiro • Birth Name — Ignacio Piñeiro Martínez • Born — 21 May 1888 • Birthplace — Havana, Cuba • Died — 12 March 1969 • Place of death — Havana, Cuba • Instrument — Double bass • Genre — Cuban rumba, guaguancó, son cubano, afro, guajira, guaracha • Occupation — Musician, bandleader, songwriter • Years Active — 1903-1969 • Label — Columbia • Associated Acts — Timbre de Oro, Los Roncos, Septeto Nacional