Los Brito was a vocal quartet formed in 1967 in Havana, Cuba. They became one of the most popular Cuban groups in the late 1960s and maintained this status until the 1980s, when they retired from the stage. They are considered pioneers of the fusion of traditional Cuban rhythms with foreign musical styles.[1][2][3]
Beginnings
Los Brito was born from an idea of Alfredo Brito, musical director of the quartet. Julio Brito, Alfredo's brother, joins the project and they start looking for the other two members, while both compose the repertoire and Alfredo is in charge of the arrangements.[4]
They start rehearsing without the main voice, at the house of another singer, Abelardo Busch, who was going to be the fourth member.[4]
In 1967, thanks to Mariana de Gonitch[5] who introduced them to her student Mercy Díaz, the quartet was formed to start their career, but at that time, Abelardo Busch decided not to continue.[4]
It was then when they were joined by Pedro Humberto Sánchez "El Nene", who had been part of another vocal quartet: Los Ayala.[4][6]
Los Brito's first formation consisted of: Mercy Díaz (lead vocals), Alfredo Brito, Julio Brito y Pedro Sánchez “El Nene”.[4][6]
They performed the song "Matías Pérez", by Alfredo Brito, which tells the story of Matías Pérez, who, according to popular tradition, made a balloon trip from which he never returned. The song, in a humorous tone, compares him to a cosmonaut.[4]
“Matías Pérez”, ‘whose good rhythm did a lot for Los Brito’, is immediately accepted by the public.[4][8]
Later, “Matías Pérez” is also interpreted by Yolanda Brito[8][9] (no family relation to the Brito brothers). Cuban television makes “a science fiction production” in which the singer ascends in a balloon.[4]
In December 1968, when the quartet begins to consolidate its initial success, Pedro Sánchez “El Nene” dies.[4][6][10]
Second stage
After Pedro's passing, Los Brito devoted themselves exclusively to rehearsing repertoire.[4]
A few months later, in 1969, they were joined by Abelardo Cordero, a native of Holguín and former member of “Los Century”, who at that time was doing his compulsory military service.[4]
Given the need to rehearse, Los Brito toured the Oriente, performing for MINFAR during the two months that remained for Abelardo to finish his military service, touring the units, polishing their show and repertoire with the reactions of the audience.[4]
For that tour they prepare several premieres: "Para los dos" and "Dame, dame" by Alfredo Brito; "Llueve" by Julio Brito Jr. The most important songs in their repertoire at that time are: "Matías Pérez" by Alfredo Brito; "Tutankamen", by Julio Brito Jr; "Rumbo al jamás" also by Julio; "Lo material" by Juan Formell and "Quisiera" by Alfredo Brito.[4][10]
Radio, Television and Concerts
From 1967 to 1983, during the 16 years they remained active, Los Brito consolidated themselves as artists, maintaining a constant presence in the Cuban media (press, radio and television).[2][4]
After finishing the course at the "Music Development and Programming Center", Los Brito starred in a “Recital”, a Cuban television program directed by Manolo Rifat and presented by Eva Rodríguez, which was on the air for 20 years.[4]
They become very familiar faces in Cuban television, acting in programs "that had a vast audience" such as: Buenas Tardes, De repente en TV, Pantalla Mágica, De Viernes a Viernes o Juntos a Las Nueve.[2]
They actively participated in the children's television programsSábado 37, Variedades Infantiles y Juguete, singing and performing songs such as El gatico Ferrufin, Carpintero o El Ratón Barrigón.[2]
In 1970, thanks to their popularity, Los Brito were chosen by popular vote to represent Cuba in the "II Festival Internacional de la Canción Popular Varadero 70". [11][12][13] On the eleventh day of the festival, Wednesday, November 18, 1970, Los Brito are very well received with their song: "Con un sueño entre las manos".[14]
Los Brito managed to consolidate themselves as a vocal group of excellence in Cuban music.[2][8]
Among the many songs of the quartet that were hits of the time are: "El Banquito", "Y después se perdió", "Cabellos negros", "Poco a poco", "El 4-5-6", "Cuando llego a mi casa", "El soñador", "Noche de fiesta" or "Quiéreme un poquito". Most of the songs they performed were written by Alfredo Brito and his brother Julio Brito.[2][8]
They stood out for their mixture of pop with purely Cuban rhythms. They are considered one of the pioneers of this fusion of Cuban and foreign music.[2][8]
In 2016, Cuban singer Daymé Arocena covered the Los Brito song “El 4-5-6”, within her second studio album “One takes”.[15]
On August 20, 2022, journalist Osvaldo Rojas Garay begins his article in the newspaper Vanguardia (Villa Clara, Cuba), about the Cuban volleyball team, quoting the song "El soñador" by Los Brito.[16]
Vas a acordarte de mi - Authors: Alfredo Brito Gamba and Julio Brito Gamba (EGREM Records under Exclusive License to Sony Music Entertainment Spain, S.L.)
Canción para la que tanto amé - Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba (EGREM Records under Exclusive License to Sony Music Entertainment Spain, S.L.)
El 4-5-6 - Authors: Alfredo Brito Gamba and Julio Brito Gamba (EGREM Records under Exclusive License to Sony Music Entertainment Spain, S.L.)
Cuando te acuerdes de mí - Author: Julio Brito Ibáñez (ICRT Orchestra)
Érase una vez - Alfredo Brito Gamba (ICRT Orchestra)
Con un sueño entre las manos - Authors: Alfredo Brito Gamba and Julio Brito Gamba (Areito)
Así quiéreme - Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba (EGREM Records)
Cabellos Negros - Author: Julio Brito Gamba (EGREM Records under Exclusive License to Sony Music Entertainment Spain, S.L.)
^ abcdefghijklmnopqQuiroga, Orlando (1970-06-12). "Busque a "Los Brito" para que le canten un cuento" [Look for “Los Brito” to sing you a story.] (PDF). George A. Smathers Libraries » UF Libraries » University of Florida (in Spanish). Havana, Cuba: Bohemia. p. 50 (of the PDF). Retrieved 2024-08-30.
^"Yolanda Brito". Radio Cadena Habana (in Spanish). 2024-08-22. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
^ abcPages, Eduardo (1969-04-11). "Cuatro voces en busca del éxito" [Four voices in search of success] (PDF). George A. Smathers Libraries » UF Libraries » University of Florida (in Spanish). Havana, Cuba: Bohemia. p. 29 (of the PDF). Retrieved 2024-08-30.
^Quiroga, Orlando; Del Cueto, Mario G. (1970-11-13). "Bohemia presente en Varadero"(PDF). George A. Smathers Libraries » UF Libraries » University of Florida (in Spanish). Havana, Cuba: Bohemia. p. 25. Retrieved 2024-08-31. At the Cocktail-Homage to the "28 of Cuba", some of those you selected with your vote are smiling for Bohemia: Ariel, Mirta and Raúl... one of "Los Brito"...
^"Cuarteto Los Brito | Cultura Cubana". Retrieved 2024-08-31. ...Los Brito were on the list of the 1970 Varadero Festival, elected by popular vote, thanks to the majestic fame they had achieved...
^"RadioCentroMiami - La buena radio otra vez". www.radiocentromiami.com. Retrieved 2024-08-31. ...At the First International Song Festival of Varadero 1970, on the beach of the same name, it was the only quartet chosen by popular vote to represent Cuba...
^Le Maintec, Yannick (2016-07-12). "One Takes : un jour à La Havane". Mundo Latino (in French). Retrieved 2024-08-30. …Daymé gives her heart and soul to it. EL 456, an adaptation of a Cuban song by Los Brito…
^Rojas Garay, Osvaldo (2022-08-20). "El voleibol me ha puesto a soñar" [Volleyball has got me dreaming] (PDF). George A. Smathers Libraries » UF Libraries » University of Florida (in Spanish). Villa Clara, Cuba: Vanguardia. p. 7. Retrieved 2024-08-30. I remember the musical quartet Los Brito, who in the 70s of the last century performed a song called Un soñador...
^palmera, Colección Gladys. "Los Brito - Los Brito". Colección Gladys palmera (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-10-29.
^"Bibliografía Cubana Tomo II (1979)" [Cuban Bibliography Volume II (1979)] (PDF). University of Florida (in Spanish). La Habana, Cuba: Ministerio de Cultura (Biblioteca Nacional "José Martí"). 1982. p. 73. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
Bibliography
Díaz Ayala, Cristóbal (1981). Música Cubana (del Areito a la Nueva Trova) [Cuban Music (from Areito to Nueva Trova)] (in Spanish). Puerto Rico: Editorial Cubanacan. ISBN0897297032.
Quiroga, Orlando (1970-06-12). "Busque a "Los Brito" para que le canten un cuento" [Look for “Los Brito” to sing you a story.] (PDF). Bohemia (in Spanish). Havana, Cuba. p. 50 (of the PDF). Retrieved 2024-08-30.
Pages, Eduardo (1969-04-11). "Cuatro voces en busca del éxito" [Four voices in search of success] (PDF). Bohemia (in Spanish). Havana, Cuba. p. 29 (of the PDF). Retrieved 2024-08-30.
"Bibliografía Cubana Tomo II (1979)" [Cuban Bibliography Volume II (1979)] (PDF). Bibliografía Cubana Tomo II (1979) (in Spanish). La Habana, Cuba: Ministerio de Cultura (Biblioteca Nacional "José Martí"). 1982. p. 73. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
