Manuel Galbán (January 14, 1931[1] – July 7, 2011)[2] was a Grammy-winning Cuban guitarist, pianist and arranger, most notable for his work with Los Zafiros, Ry Cooder and the Buena Vista Social Club. He died on July 7, 2011, of cardiac arrest at his home in Havana, Cuba.
Manuel Galbán was born on January 14, 1931, and grew up in the small fishing town of Gibara in the Holguín Province of eastern Cuba. After playing guitar and tres in various local youth groups, he got his first professional gig at the age of 14 playing guitar with the Orchestra Villa Blanca. In 1956, he moved to Havana, where he spent seven years playing in bars and clubs and making frequent appearances on radio.
In 1963, he joined the legendary vocal group Los Zafiros, after a mutual friend had recommended him to them. His playing proved to be a such hit with Los Zafiros that he was told by singer Miguel Cancio "Galbán, from now on you're working with us; you're exactly what we're looking for". Galbán was considered an integral part of Los Zafiros by many people, including Cuban pianist Peruchin, who had once said "to replace Galbán you would need two guitarists". Galbán had left the group in 1972 after working to allay the personal problems that various members were struggling with.
Thereafter, he spent three years with Cuba's national musical ensemble, Dirección Nacional de Música. Furthermore, he then joined the Grupo Batey as a guitarist, vocalist and pianist, touring extensively across four continents over the course of 23 years.
In 1998, he joined the traditional Cuban group Vieja Trova Santiaguera, with whom he toured and released two highly acclaimed albums. He had also appeared in the Wim Wenders film Buena Vista Social Club, filmed with Ry Cooder, during the sessions for the debut solo album by Ibrahim Ferrer. Later he recorded with Ferrer and Buena Vista Social Club bassist Cachaíto Lopez, leading to his engagement as the featured guitarist with the touring ensemble named after the film.
In 2001, he recorded Mambo Sinuendo with Ry Cooder, which won the 2003 Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album. Cooder had commented on their inspiration to create the album, "Galbán and I felt that there was a sound that had not been explored, a Cuban electric-guitar band that could re-interpret the atmosphere of the 1950s with beauty, agility, and simplicity."[3]
Galbán died from a heart attack on July 7, 2011, at the age of 80.[4]
Style and equipmentedit
Galbán's distinctive electric guitar sound makes liberal use of reverb, tremolo, diminished arpeggio runs and palm mutes. Using a Fender Telecaster with heavy gauge strings, he references the tone of Duane Eddy and the early surf guitarists whilst playing the melodic runs and chordal patterns associated with traditional Cuban music.[5] He has been pictured using Fender Twin, Roland JC120 and Fender Bassman amps, as well as a Dunlop TS-1 stereo tremolo pedal.
Referencesedit
^Manuel Galbán, pride of Cuban music, star of the Buena Vista Social Club 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine from Granma 3 March 2011
^"Buena Vista Social Club guitarist Galban dies". Yahoo News. Retrieved July 8, 2011.[permanent dead link]
^"RY COODER - MANUEL GALBAN - MAMBO SINUENDO". Music Direct. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
^Ulaby, Neda (8 July 2011). "Manuel Galban, Cuban Guitarist, Has Died". NPR. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
^"Interview - Ry Cooder". ABC. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
manuel, galbán, january, 1931, july, 2011, grammy, winning, cuban, guitarist, pianist, arranger, most, notable, work, with, zafiros, cooder, buena, vista, social, club, died, july, 2011, cardiac, arrest, home, havana, cuba, background, informationbirth, namebo. Manuel Galban January 14 1931 1 July 7 2011 2 was a Grammy winning Cuban guitarist pianist and arranger most notable for his work with Los Zafiros Ry Cooder and the Buena Vista Social Club He died on July 7 2011 of cardiac arrest at his home in Havana Cuba Manuel GalbanBackground informationBirth nameManuel GalbanBorn 1931 01 14 January 14 1931DiedJuly 7 2011 2011 07 07 aged 80 Habana CubaGenresSon cubano bolero guajiraOccupation s Musician guitarist arrangerInstrument s Electric guitar tres piano acoustic guitarYears active1944 2011 Contents 1 Biography 2 Style and equipment 3 References 4 External linksBiography editManuel Galban was born on January 14 1931 and grew up in the small fishing town of Gibara in the Holguin Province of eastern Cuba After playing guitar and tres in various local youth groups he got his first professional gig at the age of 14 playing guitar with the Orchestra Villa Blanca In 1956 he moved to Havana where he spent seven years playing in bars and clubs and making frequent appearances on radio In 1963 he joined the legendary vocal group Los Zafiros after a mutual friend had recommended him to them His playing proved to be a such hit with Los Zafiros that he was told by singer Miguel Cancio Galban from now on you re working with us you re exactly what we re looking for Galban was considered an integral part of Los Zafiros by many people including Cuban pianist Peruchin who had once said to replace Galban you would need two guitarists Galban had left the group in 1972 after working to allay the personal problems that various members were struggling with Thereafter he spent three years with Cuba s national musical ensemble Direccion Nacional de Musica Furthermore he then joined the Grupo Batey as a guitarist vocalist and pianist touring extensively across four continents over the course of 23 years In 1998 he joined the traditional Cuban group Vieja Trova Santiaguera with whom he toured and released two highly acclaimed albums He had also appeared in the Wim Wenders film Buena Vista Social Club filmed with Ry Cooder during the sessions for the debut solo album by Ibrahim Ferrer Later he recorded with Ferrer and Buena Vista Social Club bassist Cachaito Lopez leading to his engagement as the featured guitarist with the touring ensemble named after the film In 2001 he recorded Mambo Sinuendo with Ry Cooder which won the 2003 Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album Cooder had commented on their inspiration to create the album Galban and I felt that there was a sound that had not been explored a Cuban electric guitar band that could re interpret the atmosphere of the 1950s with beauty agility and simplicity 3 Galban died from a heart attack on July 7 2011 at the age of 80 4 Style and equipment editGalban s distinctive electric guitar sound makes liberal use of reverb tremolo diminished arpeggio runs and palm mutes Using a Fender Telecaster with heavy gauge strings he references the tone of Duane Eddy and the early surf guitarists whilst playing the melodic runs and chordal patterns associated with traditional Cuban music 5 He has been pictured using Fender Twin Roland JC120 and Fender Bassman amps as well as a Dunlop TS 1 stereo tremolo pedal References edit Manuel Galban pride of Cuban music star of the Buena Vista Social Club Archived 2011 07 14 at the Wayback Machine from Granma 3 March 2011 Buena Vista Social Club guitarist Galban dies Yahoo News Retrieved July 8 2011 permanent dead link RY COODER MANUEL GALBAN MAMBO SINUENDO Music Direct Retrieved 2008 08 04 Ulaby Neda 8 July 2011 Manuel Galban Cuban Guitarist Has Died NPR Retrieved 22 August 2022 Interview Ry Cooder ABC Retrieved 2008 08 04 External links editManuel Galban at IMDb NPR feature and interview Montuno Productions biography interview with Ry Cooder on Manuel Galban interview with Ry Cooder on Manuel Galban Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Manuel Galban amp oldid 1133932696, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
