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Elena Burke

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Elena Burke
Background information
Born(1928-02-28)February 28, 1928
Havana, Cuba
DiedJune 9, 2002(2002-06-09) (aged 74)
Havana, Cuba
GenresBolero, romantic ballads
Years active1940s-2002

Elena Burke (born Romana Elena Burgues Gonzalez on February 28, 1928, in Havana, Cuba – June 9, 2002 in Havana, Cuba) was a revered and popular Cuban singer of boleros and romantic ballads.[1][2][3][4]

Biography

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She started her career by working in radio in the 1940s but also began to work with smaller groups and appearing in nightclubs accompanied at the piano by Dámaso Pérez Prado.[5]

In 1948 she accompanied the Cuban dancers known as "Las Mulatas de Fuego" (The Mulatas of Fire) to Mexico City,[6][4] where she performed in the movie Salón México, directed by Indio Fernández.[5]

In 1952, pianist and arranger Aida Diestro organized the vocal quartet called Cuarteto d'Aida. The original members were Elena Burke, Moraima Secada, Omara Portuondo and Haydée Portuondo.[7][4] After she got some attention, she went solo. By the time of the Cuban Revolution she was a top solo artist performing in elegant cabarets in Havana. Her voice seemed to become stronger with age, as her subtle yet sophisticated technique graced every song she sang with an emotional weight.

Over the years she performed with top Cuban dance bands such as Orquesta Aragón, and with highly acclaimed singer-songwriters, including Pablo Milanés. She certainly could "take a sad song and make it better", piercing the emotional veil of her audience with an almost palpable sincerity, winning the moniker "Señora Sentimiento" (Lady Feeling).[8][2]

In 1978 she performed with the Orquesta Aragón at New York's Lincoln Center to great acclaim.[8]

Though she mostly interpreted classic Cuban boleros and Son, her versions were distinct, supported by top-notch musicians and arrangements.

She is the mother of Malena Burke and grandmother of Lena, also well known Cuban singers.[9][10]

References

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  1. ^ "Elena Burke" Allocuba.com. Retrieved 2010-02-12.
  2. ^ a b "Elena Burke Remembered on the 8th Anniversary of her Death". Cuba Headlines. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  3. ^ PÚBLICO (12 June 2002). "Morreu a cantora Elena Burke". PÚBLICO (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  4. ^ a b c Redacción, La (2002-06-19). "MUSICA/CANTO RODADO: "Adiós a Elena Burke (1928-2002)"". Proceso Portal de Noticias (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  5. ^ a b "Elena Burque, The Cuban Music Lady Of The Feeling". Tradicionales de los 50. 2016-05-04. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  6. ^ "Elena Burke la señora sentimiento de la musica cubana". Sabías que (in Spanish). 2017-09-25. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  7. ^ "Cuban Diva Omara Portuondo Feels As Strong As Ever On 'Last Kiss' World Tour". Northwest Public Broadcasting. 2019-05-13. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  8. ^ a b dice, Carlos Ramón Casasayas Calafell (2016-12-25). "Elena Burke". Sabías que (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  9. ^ An evening of Cuban Boleros and more featuring Malena Burke with special guest Lena Burke (PDF), Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture presents, March 30, 2019.
  10. ^ "Shows for NYC Theatre Tickets | Broadway Plays & Musicals". tdf.org. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
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