Antonio Abad Lugo Machín (11 February 1903, in Sagua la Grande, Cuba – 4 August 1977, in Madrid, Spain) was a Spanish-Cuban singer and musician. His version of El Manisero, recorded in New York, 1930, with Don Azpiazú's orchestra, was the first million record seller for a Cuban artist.[1][2] Although this was labelled a rhumba, it was in reality a son pregón, namely, a song based on a street-seller's cry.
Machín was a mixed-race son of a Cuban woman, Leoncia Machín, and a Spanish father, José Lugo Padrón, who emigrated to Cuba from Galicia, Spain. Machín was one of sixteen children. His early years were difficult: he was forced to work at the age of eight to help pay some of his father's numerous debts. One day, he was in the street by his house singing quietly. A priest that walked by heard him and immediately encouraged him to sing at a party. He sang Ave María by Schubert. From that day on Machín was determined to become a singer. Machín's ambition was to sing opera, but at the beginning of the 20th century this was difficult for a poor colored Cuban. Thus, he focused on singing popular music. At the age of twenty he had become the idol of the young women in his neighbourhood. Machín would sing them serenades in the moonlight. He worked as a mason, also travelling across Cuba as a singer. In 1926 he moved to Havana where he met a Spaniard who helped him get a contract to sing at a small café in Havana.
In Havana, Machín was exposed to many genres of music. He joined several trios, quartets and sextets. In 1924 Machín formed a duo with the trovador Miguel Zaballa. Later he joined the Trío Luna, with Enrique Peláez and Manuel Luna. In 1926 he was brought into Don Azpiazú's orchestra, the house band at the Havana Casino.[3] In 1930 he went to New York with Don Azpiazú's band, where El manisero (The Peanut Vendor, written by Moisés Simons) was recorded. It became the first Cuban song to become a hit in the U.S., presaging the rhumba craze of the 1930s. Machín did not return to Cuba after this tour, settling in New York City for the time.
In New York, Machín recorded approximately 200 numbers, and formed the Cuarteto Machín in 1932. The other members were the Puerto Ricans Plácido Acevedo (trumpet), Cándido Vicenty (tres) and Daniel Sánchez (second voice and guitar). Machín himself was first voice. Various other musicians substituted as needed, and eventually this became the Sexteto Machín, with the great Cuban trumpeter Remberto Lara, for whom Mario Bauzá substituted on some recordings. Machín sang with other groups such as José Escarpenter y su Orquesta, Orquesta Antillana de Rafael Hernández, Julio Roque y su Orquesta, and Armando Valldespí y su Orquesta, in addition to performing with Orquesta Machín and Cuarteto Machín.
In 1935 he moved to Europe, living in London and Paris before settling in Madrid in the late 1930s, where he would remain until his death. In Paris, he formed Antonio Machín y su Orquesta, with Simons on piano, and continued to record in the city (where Cuban music had been popular since the late twenties). After moving to Madrid he married María de los Ángeles Rodríguez, from Seville, in 1943. As the Cuarteto Machín, he made over 60 recordings in Spain, often recording the works of composers Oswaldo Farrés and Consuelo Velázquez. He also had an extensive recording career singing with various Spanish bands; the total of recordings in Europe may be as many as four hundred,[4] giving him a lifetime total of about 600 numbers recorded. If that is approximately right, he would be one of the most recorded Cuban singers of the 20th century, but behind Celia Cruz.
He died in Madrid in 1977 and was buried in the San Fernando Cemetery in the city of Seville. He is best known for singing El Manisero, Dos gardenias, Madrecita, and Angelitos negros.
^Sublette says it sold a million copies of the Marks sheet music. It is not so easy to check on record sales from those days, but a million copies of the 78rpm would seem quite reasonable. Sublette, Ned 2004. Cuba and its music: from the first drums to the mambo. Chicago. p399
^Another important source is Díaz Ayala, Cristóbal 1988. Si te quieres por el poco divertir: historia del pregón musical latinoamericano. Cubanacan, San Juan P.R. p235 et seq.
^Giro, Radamés 2007. Diccionario enciclopédico de la música en Cuba. La Habana. vol3, p49.
^Nigel Gallop, who wrote the music sections of the South American Handbook for 1992 (Trade & Travel Publications), met Machín playing piano in a Majorca hotel during the 1970s. The 400 recordings in Europe, mostly in Spain, was Machín's estimation.
Antonio Machín at Allmusic.com
Cuando salí de La Habana; 1898-1997: Cien años de música cubana por el mundo by Cristobal Diaz Ayala, (Fundación Musicalia. San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1998). (in Spanish)
Machin, toda una vida by Eduardo Jover. (La Esfera de los Libros. Madrid, 2002). (in Spanish)
Calle Antonio Machin. El recuadro by Antonio Burgos, (El Mundo de Andalucía. 2001). (in Spanish)
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Antonio Abad Lugo Machin 11 February 1903 in Sagua la Grande Cuba 4 August 1977 in Madrid Spain was a Spanish Cuban singer and musician His version of El Manisero recorded in New York 1930 with Don Azpiazu s orchestra was the first million record seller for a Cuban artist 1 2 Although this was labelled a rhumba it was in reality a son pregon namely a song based on a street seller s cry Antonio MachinBornAntonio Abad Lugo MachinFebruary 11 1903Sagua la Grande CubaDiedAugust 4 1977Madrid SpainResting placeCemetery of San Fernando Seville SpainSpouseMaria de los Angeles Rodriguez m 1943 wbr Children1Biography editMachin was a mixed race son of a Cuban woman Leoncia Machin and a Spanish father Jose Lugo Padron who emigrated to Cuba from Galicia Spain Machin was one of sixteen children His early years were difficult he was forced to work at the age of eight to help pay some of his father s numerous debts One day he was in the street by his house singing quietly A priest that walked by heard him and immediately encouraged him to sing at a party He sang Ave Maria by Schubert From that day on Machin was determined to become a singer Machin s ambition was to sing opera but at the beginning of the 20th century this was difficult for a poor colored Cuban Thus he focused on singing popular music At the age of twenty he had become the idol of the young women in his neighbourhood Machin would sing them serenades in the moonlight He worked as a mason also travelling across Cuba as a singer In 1926 he moved to Havana where he met a Spaniard who helped him get a contract to sing at a small cafe in Havana In Havana Machin was exposed to many genres of music He joined several trios quartets and sextets In 1924 Machin formed a duo with the trovador Miguel Zaballa Later he joined the Trio Luna with Enrique Pelaez and Manuel Luna In 1926 he was brought into Don Azpiazu s orchestra the house band at the Havana Casino 3 In 1930 he went to New York with Don Azpiazu s band where El manisero The Peanut Vendor written by Moises Simons was recorded It became the first Cuban song to become a hit in the U S presaging the rhumba craze of the 1930s Machin did not return to Cuba after this tour settling in New York City for the time In New York Machin recorded approximately 200 numbers and formed the Cuarteto Machin in 1932 The other members were the Puerto Ricans Placido Acevedo trumpet Candido Vicenty tres and Daniel Sanchez second voice and guitar Machin himself was first voice Various other musicians substituted as needed and eventually this became the Sexteto Machin with the great Cuban trumpeter Remberto Lara for whom Mario Bauza substituted on some recordings Machin sang with other groups such as Jose Escarpenter y su Orquesta Orquesta Antillana de Rafael Hernandez Julio Roque y su Orquesta and Armando Valldespi y su Orquesta in addition to performing with Orquesta Machin and Cuarteto Machin In 1935 he moved to Europe living in London and Paris before settling in Madrid in the late 1930s where he would remain until his death In Paris he formed Antonio Machin y su Orquesta with Simons on piano and continued to record in the city where Cuban music had been popular since the late twenties After moving to Madrid he married Maria de los Angeles Rodriguez from Seville in 1943 As the Cuarteto Machin he made over 60 recordings in Spain often recording the works of composers Oswaldo Farres and Consuelo Velazquez He also had an extensive recording career singing with various Spanish bands the total of recordings in Europe may be as many as four hundred 4 giving him a lifetime total of about 600 numbers recorded If that is approximately right he would be one of the most recorded Cuban singers of the 20th century but behind Celia Cruz He died in Madrid in 1977 and was buried in the San Fernando Cemetery in the city of Seville He is best known for singing El Manisero Dos gardenias Madrecita and Angelitos negros References edit nbsp Cuba portal Sublette says it sold a million copies of the Marks sheet music It is not so easy to check on record sales from those days but a million copies of the 78rpm would seem quite reasonable Sublette Ned 2004 Cuba and its music from the first drums to the mambo Chicago p399 Another important source is Diaz Ayala Cristobal 1988 Si te quieres por el poco divertir historia del pregon musical latinoamericano Cubanacan San Juan P R p235 et seq Giro Radames 2007 Diccionario enciclopedico de la musica en Cuba La Habana vol3 p49 Nigel Gallop who wrote the music sections of the South American Handbook for 1992 Trade amp Travel Publications met Machin playing piano in a Majorca hotel during the 1970s The 400 recordings in Europe mostly in Spain was Machin s estimation Antonio Machin at Allmusic com Cuando sali de La Habana 1898 1997 Cien anos de musica cubana por el mundo by Cristobal Diaz Ayala Fundacion Musicalia San Juan Puerto Rico 1998 in Spanish Machin toda una vida by Eduardo Jover La Esfera de los Libros Madrid 2002 in Spanish Calle Antonio Machin El recuadro by Antonio Burgos El Mundo de Andalucia 2001 in Spanish External links editAntonio Machin recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Antonio Machin amp oldid 1140320117, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
