Cándido Fabré Fabré: Cuban musician, known as the King of the Repentismo of the danceable music; with his hoarse voice, his voice is one of the most singular voices of Cuba, in the way in which he assumes the song and the creation of lyrics to make the people dance.
He is the only singer on the island who begins at a party to sing at 12 p.m. and ends at dawn (el amanezco), as he is known to dancers in the eastern zone.
Cándido Fabré was born on September 20, 1959, in the municipality of San Luis, in the province of Santiago de Cuba.
Cándido is among the three most recorded composers in Cuba and abroad, along with Juan Formell (Van Van) and Adalberto Álvarez. Figures of the calado of Celia Cruz, Marvin Santiago, El Canario, Oscar de León, Johnny Fernández, Jerry Medina, Joe Arroyo and many other Latin salseros have in their repertoire works by Fabré and in Cuba: Isaac Delgado, the Orquesta Aragón and the Karachi ensemble have also performed their music. Without a doubt, Cándido Fabré is a true guardian of the Caribbean, defender of the Cuban, of the best dance music.
He began his renowned work with the Original de Manzanillo Orchestra, to which he contributed his compositions, his tone, his improvisation, his leading voice.
Then the big hit of the Original began with songs by Cándido Fabré: “El guardián del Caribe” (his first single), “Abran paso que aquí viene la Original”, “A la hora que me llamen voy”, “Córranse ahí caballeros”, “Deja que Roberto te toque”, “La Habana quiere guarachar contigo” and many more that were heard in the middle of the Cuban salsa boom at the end of the 20th century.
After ten years in the Original, Cándido separated from the big orchestra and founded the orchestra “Cándido Fabré y su Banda”.
Performances
Cándido Fabré has actively participated in the open tribunes of the Revolution, has sung his songs of profound revolutionary content in different provinces of this country, including the Anti-Imperialist Tribune and the Revolution Square, both in Havana City.
He took part with extraordinary success in the Cantata por la Patria that took place in the Anti-imperialist Tribune on the occasion of the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the birth of the Commander in Chief, Fidel Castro Ruz.
He has performed in different countries, putting the name of Cuba and its music very high, as they have been: the former Soviet Union, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Finland, Portugal, France, Mexico, Canada, Guadeloupe, Nicaragua, etc.
In Colombia, in 1990, when he was still in the Original orchestra of Manzanillo, he attended the Cartagena de Indias Festival, the most important meeting of popular music held in that country. There they won the “Caracol del Caribe” award, which is the highest recognition offered at this event.
He returned to Colombia in 1993 to participate again in the Cartagena de Indias Festival, this time with his own band repeating the “Caracol del Caribe” Award.
His music is performed outside and inside Cuba, by the reknown Oscar de León, José Alberto (El Canario), El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, etc.
In Cuba, by the Aragon Orchestra, Van Van Orchestra, Elito Revé y su Charangón, Pedrito Calvo y la Justicia, Manguaré, Jóvenes Clásicos del Son, Yumurí y sus Hermanos, Adalberto Álvarez y su Son, Manolito Simonet y su trabuco, among others.
As an author, Cándido has a quite extensive work in which more than 2000 numbers are registered to his name. He has participated in important international events such as the WOMAD Festival in Holland, the Duvargan Festival in Ireland, the Amsterdam Root Festival in Holland, the Zabkowice Slaskie in Poland, ULM Festival in Germany. He is still at the head of his band.
Acknowledgements
- Distinction for National Culture.
- Alejo Carpentier Medal.
- National UJC Abril Award.
- Replica of Benny Moré’s Walking Stick and Hat by the ICRT, Cándido being the first artist to receive it.
- National Vanguard for several consecutive years.
- Neighborhood Prize awarded by the National Directorate of CDRs.
- Barbados Martyrs Medal for being a worthy defender of Cuban sports.
- He was declared Adoptive Son of the cities of Camaguey and Ciego de Ávila.
- Recognition by the UJC Bureau for his contribution to the tasks that the organization has within the field of recreation.
- Distinction of the Effort The victory, maximum award granted by Granma province.
- He was nominated for the 2001 Music Award by the Cuban Institute of Music, which is a high recognition of his outstanding artistic career.
- Raúl Gómez García Medal.