Paco Miranda, His Highness on the radio II

Paco Miranda, broadcaster, recognized by important musical personalities in Cuba like Cándido Fabré and Pachi Naranjo as a writer, entertainer of shows and conductor of transcendental public events in Contramaestre municipality.

Q: Did you ever imagine to dream about that award?

A: I had a good rival in the program Noche azúl (Blue Night), which won the Best Female Voiceover Award at this Provincial Festival. On the other hand, the judging panel was very competent and prestigious on the radio, chaired by comrade Ernesto Martínez Robles from Radio Manzanillo, shared with colleagues from Holguín and Las Tunas radio stations. So it was not easy to dream.

All as a whole, considered the values and the Cuban nature of the programs presented and in the case of the one I presented, it was awarded in honor of the 140 years of the danzón.

Q: How does Paco manage to make his programs original?

A: I have a habit of going to things that may not be so common in spaces of this nature. Other directors, with their forgiveness, go to danzones such as Almendra, Bodas de Oro, Angoa, Alturas de Simpson, Bombín de Barreto and others; I also treat them, but I try to provide an additional detail, precisely looking for the history of each of them, I give a touch of conversation, narration of history to detail, the narration to know who was the character of Barreto’s Bombín, who was called Julián, who was a musician of the Failde Orchestra and in short one understands that you can look a little further, do something that people are interested in.

This the reason why Paco is admired by common people as well as by important cultural personalities of local, national and international scope. From right to left Paco Miranda, Pachy Naranjo, Arnoldo Fernández, and minstrel Pachango.

Q: Why this kind of passion for danzón?

A: This kind of passion is about something that I carry very much inside of me as a Cuban: lately researching the danzón that is done in Mexico, because after Cuba it is Mexico that has had a preferential role in the taste of the danzón and one is surprised when one knows that in that country where tha music genre goes much deeper than in Cuba.

What I am clear about is that we must not let ourselves be taken away from the scepter that Cuba has always had as the creator of this 140-year-old genre.

In this sense, I am working on several themes and figures related to national dance. This is the case of Alejandro Falcón de Matanzas, young pianist of the Failde Orchestra, of the most recent things that the Chepín Chovén orchestra is doing in Santiago de Cuba and I continue to search more until I find new details and recordings that are curious and interesting to listeners.

We are constantly working on this so that “Con Cadencia”, which we humbly broadcast on Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Granma’s provincial radio station, Radio Bayamo, has that touch of interest, so that the danzón continues to attract not only the usual public but also the current generation that listens to it.

Q: An award for an artist is extremely extraordinary, but what do you think about the work for awards?

A: I’m not a prize winner or a person who says I’m going to do a program to win an award. I think the awards are coming. It all depends on what you’ve been able to prepare and what you’re capable of doing; but it also depends on whether the jury understands that what you’re doing is worthwhile. When it happens in these ways, well, welcome, let the award. But I don’t work for awards like other radio broadcasters.

I insist that the young audience is my main concern when it comes to tackling the Cuban music and themes that have always made history with the tools of today’s radio. It has been shown that it can be done, a good program well done, with dynamism, with good rhythm, that can gain in taste and attention especially from the young audience.

I don’t stop doing this because I love Cuban music as nobody can imagine. And I try to find a way to pay tribute to those who made it possible and put it in a place of national and international honor.
Q: Francisco Miranda Tasé “Paco” is one of the radio personalities today who deserves the respect of his colleagues and friends.

Personalities of current Cuban music such as Wilfredo “Pachy” Naranjo and Candido Fabré, systematically prestige him with their professional respect. It is worth expressing every time he enters the recording studios: “Bienvenido Paco Miranda, su alteza en la radio” (Welcome Paco Miranda, Your Highness on the radio).

Paco Miranda, His Highness on the radio I