Julio Brito[1][2] was a Cuban musician, composer, orchestra conductor and singer. He achieved great popularity both in his native Cuba and internationally, thanks to compositions such as the guajira "El amor de mi bohío" or the world famous bolero "Mira que eres linda", interpreted by numerous artists around the world, even today. His way of describing the Cuban landscapes and his very careful lyrics earned him the nickname of "The melodic painter of Cuba".[3][4]
Biography
Julio Brito (Julio Valdés-Brito Ibáñez)[5] was born in Havana (Cuba) on January 21, 1908. From his earliest childhood he showed great aptitude for music.
He studied music with Pedro Sanjuán[6] (1887-1976), a famous Spanish musician and teacher, who gave him an excellent musical education.
In 1924, at the age of 16, he joined Don Azpiazu's orchestra as a saxophonist, a very successful orchestra on the island of Cuba.
In addition to the saxophone, he learned to play the guitar, drums, vibraphone, piano and studied conducting, an art in which he remained for most of his musical life.
Julio also learned to sing professionally, which allowed him to perform his compositions himself. He recorded his songs for different record labels, among others RCA Victor. Some recordings for RCA were made on the CMQ channel in Havana, in the program "Buenas noches, mi amor", where he performed.[7]
Maestro Brito was one of the first conductors of Cuban radio,[7] which began broadcasting in 1922, performing on PWX[8] (founded by the Telephone Company of Cuba) and conducting for RHC-Cadena Azul,[9] specifically for CMBF Radio Universal, which was located at 159 Prado Street in Havana.
He also conducted his orchestra at nightclubs in Havana, such as the "Cabaret Parisien" of the Hotel Nacional, the Casino Nacional, the Casino de La Playa, the Casablanca and the Encanto Theater.
In the 1940s he was President of the Society of Authors of Cuba and of the National Federation of Authors of Cuba.
The Siboney Orchestra
In the early 1930s, together with his brother, musician and orchestra conductor Alfredo Brito, Julio Brito founded and formed part of the Siboney Orchestra, in which he participated as saxophonist, drummer, guitarist and singer.[10][11]
The Siboney Orchestra made the first broadcast of popular dance music from radio station CMC (formerly PWX), broadcast by the BBC chain of stations in London and by WEAF in New York City on November 14, 1931.[12][13]
In 1932 the Siboney Orchestra toured Europe, performing in Spain, France and Portugal in the company of the Trio Matamoros, the Spanish dancer "Granito de Sal" and the rumbera Yolanda González.[14] On August 8, 1932 they embarked for Spain aboard the steamship "Reina del Pacífico". The news of the Diario de la Marina highlighted on the eve of their departure that "...they will disembark in Santander and tour the main cities of that Republic".[15]
In Spain the debut took place at the Salón Victoria, in Santander, on Sunday, August 21, 1932. The newspaper El Cantábrico, narrates the impact of the so-called Orquesta Típica Siboney, the Trío Matamoros and the dancers, Yolanda González and the Spanish "Granito de Sal". They also performed at the Teatro Iris, in Ávila, where the press described the Siboney and the Trío Matamoros as "among the best in their genre". In Oviedo, they perform at the Teatro Novedades. In September 1932 they performed at the Circo Price, in Madrid.[16]
During this tour Julio joined the SGAE and recorded some songs with his voice, together with the Siboney Orchestra, for the Spanish labelRegal. In November 1932, the Madrid newspaper La Libertad announces two records by Alfredo Brito and the Siboney Orchestra with the Regal label: DK8.714 "En el silencio de la noche" (author: Abelardo Barroso) and "La dichosa suegra" (by Julio Brito) and DK 8.715 "Adiós chamaquita" (Julio Brito) and "El panquelero" (Abelardo Barroso).[17]
In France they performed at the Montmartre, the Ambassador and the Empire. They perform with Maurice Chevalier.[18][19]
The Siboney Orchestra was an immediate success. It was one of the first Cuban orchestras to triumph in the Old Continent.[20][21]
Julio Brito "The melodic painter of Cuba"
During the decades from 1920 to 1940, Julio developed an intense activity as a composer, creating songs that would become very popular all over the world.
His first known songs[22] were "Tus lágrimas" and "Florecita". In 1931, his song "Ilusión china" made him very popular.
Somewhat later, in the 1930s, he composed "Mira que eres linda",[23][24] a classic bolero recorded by great interpreters, even today.[25]
The time when he composed "Mira que eres linda" coincided with the boom of the radio. In the Cuban capital, there was a succession of programs in which the most renowned singers and the most prestigious orchestras performed live. In a short time, that bolero became very popular. And when it was recorded, boleristas from other Hispanic countries included it in their repertoire.
— Manuel Román – "Bolero de amor" (Historias de la canción romántica). Editorial Milenio, 2015.
From this period are also his creations: “Acurrurrucadita”, “Trigueñita”, “Flor de ausencia” (great success in the voice of Panchito Riset), "Si yo pudiera hablarte" or "Cuando te acuerdes de mí", song that Tito Gómez interpreted at the age of 17 (1937), in his radio debut in "La Corte Suprema del Arte", Cuban radio contest destined to the discovery of new talents of which he would turn out to be winner.[26]
Julio Brito is known as “The melodic painter of Cuba”, for having been one of the musical authors who most beautifully described the Cuban countryside in his songs. He was the creator of the "guajira de salón", providing peasant music with magnificent orchestrations.[27]
Among the many compositions he dedicated to the Cuban countryside are “Rinconcito criollo”, “Serenata guajira”, “Allá en mi finquita”, “Oye mi guitarra”, “Amor Siboney”, and what would become one of his most famous creations: “El amor de mi bohío", which Julio premiered in 1937 at the Eden Concert cabaret in Havana.[28]
The great success achieved by this guajira by Julio Brito is reflected in the words of René Cabel, in an interview conducted by Don Galaor for Bohemia magazine, on June 9, 1940 (page 54)[29]
Question:
In which song could we situate the culminating moment of this evolution towards what is typically ours?
— Don Galaor - Bohemia, June 9, 1940 (page 54).
Answer:
Place it, without discussion, in the appearance of 'El amor de mi Bohío', by Julio Brito, whose formidable success gave the guideline to follow to the other authors, even to the old consecrated ones.
Julio Brito composed music for several films. Among them it is worth mentioning:
"Tam, Tam o El origen de la Rumba" (1938),[30][31] in which he can be seen as a singer of the Siboney Orchestra, around minute 00:03:57 of the film. Note: After a private screening at the Fausto theater, Germinal Barral wrote in Bohemia: “Tam, Tam is in cinematography what the poem is in literature”.[32]
"It's a Date" (1938).[33] Song “It happened in Kaloha". Lyrics in Spanish by Julio Brito.[34]
"Balalaika" (1939).[35] Song "At the Balalaika". Lyrics in Spanish by Julio Brito.[36]
"Irene" (1940). Song "Alice blue gown". Lyrics in Spanish by Julio Brito.[37]
"El amor de mi bohío" (1947),[40] film written and directed by Juan Orol, inspired by the popular love ballad created by Julio Brito. The song plays as the opening theme of the film, while the credits roll.
"Una mujer de Oriente" (1950).[41] In this film, among other compositions by Julio Brito, you can hear his song "Evocación al mar", performed by Rosa Carmina.
"El campeón ciclista" (1956).[42] This Mexican film, uses "El amor de mi bohío" as part of the soundtrack. At approximately minute 00:57:29 a fragment of the song can be heard. It is relevant to note that the scriptwriter uses "El amor de mi bohío" to identify the Cuban cycling team, which illustrates to what extent Julio Brito's creation is associated worldwide with the image of his native island.
Radio and television scripts
Julio Brito also wrote scripts for television and radio.[7]
Well, it's true. I have written several scripts for television and radio. Some for musical shows and others of humorous type, which I have titled La Familia Paz. I have some proposals from several stations and channels, but so far nothing concrete. I wish those scripts had the same acceptance as my compositions.
— Julio Brito – Avance, November 21, 1953.
Discography
Some performers who have recorded versions of his songs:[43][44]
^Alomar, Héctor E. Paz (2021-11-08). "Julio Brito, cantor melódico de Cuba". Periódico Invasor – Diario online de Ciego de Ávila (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-08-17. Valle plateado de luna/ sendero de mis amores/ quiero ofrendarle a las flores/ el canto de mi montuna.../" (Silver moon valley/ path of my loves/ I want to offer to the flowers/ the song of my montuna.../". Thus begins the musical theme that marked for eternity the rich authorial portfolio of the outstanding Cuban composer Julio Valdés-Brito Ibáñez (1908–1968), known nationally and internationally as Julio Brito.... Among his main works stand out "Florecita", "Tus lágrimas", "Flor de ausencia", "Acurrucadita", "Mira que eres linda", "Serenata guajira" and, of course, the well-known "El amor de mi bohío"... Because of the Cubanness of his texts, Julio Brito was known as "El Pintor Melódico de Cuba" (The Melodic Painter of Cuba). "El amor de mi bohío" was recorded by singers from several countries and its preference reaches the present day.
^"Se funda la emisora PWX" [The PWX station is founded]. Portal del ciudadano de La Habana (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-07-19.
^Rensoly, Ismael. "Recuerdos del aire: RHC-Cadena Azul". Radio Rebelde (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-07-19. The list of orchestra conductors who performed for radio in Cuba is completed with illustrious names such as Rodrigo Prats, Leonardo Timor, (who conducted the Casino Habana orchestra), and maestro Julio Brito, who conducted at CMBF Radio Universal which was located at Prado 159.
^"Orquesta Siboney". Radio Gladys Palmera (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-08-17. On August 8, 1932, Alfredo Brito and his Orquesta Siboney embarked for Spain on board the steamship Reina del Pacífico... With Alfredo go, Armandito Romeu, Mario Álvarez, Francisco Isla, Julio Brito, Ángel Mercado, Armando López, Luis Fernández, Enrique Aparicio, René Patzi and Manuel Godínez. Also traveling with them are the popular Trio Matamoros and the famous singer Yolanda Gonzalez (Rayito de Sol).
^"Orquesta Siboney". Radio Gladys Palmera (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-08-13.
^Rensoly, Ismael. "Recuerdos del aire: RHC-Cadena Azul". Radio Rebelde (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-08-17. Another of the first conductors with baton in hand who acted on behalf of a radio station was Alfredo Brito, who, at the head of his Orquesta Siboney, and from the CMC radio station, formerly PWX, made for the first time a special transmission of Cuban music, to be broadcast by the BBC radio station chain.
^Román Fernández, Manuel (July 2015). "Bolero de amor (Historias de la canción romántica)" (in European Spanish). Milenio Publicaciones. Retrieved 2024-08-16. ...It happens in songs like "Mira que eres linda", which was premiered in the 30's... Here in Spain it was known in 1949 thanks to Antonio Machin...
^Garcia "musicuba", Roberto (2017-03-01). "Musicuba: Julio Brito". Musicuba (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-07-03.
^Caparrós, Ernesto, Tam, Tam o El origen de la Rumba (Short, Musical), Chela Castro, Yolanda González, Sergio Miró, Noticiario Royal News, retrieved 2024-08-19
^Archivos, Consejería de Empleo, Turismo y Cultura. Dirección General de Bellas Artes, del Libro y de. "Biblioteca Digital de la Comunidad de Madrid". bibliotecavirtualmadrid.comunidad.madrid (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2024-07-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Schünzel, Reinhold (1939-12-29), Balalaika (Musical, Romance), Nelson Eddy, Ilona Massey, Charles Ruggles, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), retrieved 2024-08-20
Lagarde, Guillermo (1953-11-21). "Julio Brito habla sobre su obra y su vida en la prensa cubana" [Julio Brito talks about his work and life in the Cuban press.] (PDF). Diario Avance, la Habana, Cuba (Pág 45). (in Spanish): 4 (of the PDF). Retrieved 2024-07-18.
External links
Canción de Julio Brito: “El amor de mi bohío" interpretada por: Pedro Vargas
Canción de Julio Brito: “Mira que eres linda" interpretada por: Antonio Machín
Canción de Julio Brito: "Flor de ausencia" interpretada por: Panchito Riset
Canción de Julio Brito: "Acurrucadita" interpretada por: Pedro Vargas
