The musician Dignó Marcelino Pérez, who was the singer of the Septeto Habanero for three decades, died at the age of 86, as reported this Friday by the group on his Facebook profile.
“Our legendary singer Dignó Marcelino Pérez Martínez has just passed away in Havana at the age of 86.”
Marcelino Pérez, of whom no other biographical information has been disclosed, was part of the Septeto Habanero as second voice and keys from 1993 to 2023.
Their work was recorded on the album for which the group was nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2010.
“One of the emblematic names of the legendary Havana Septet in his current formation. Her unmistakable voice always brought us the best heritage of our traditional Cuban son”, wrote the musicologist Rosa Marquetti on his Facebook profile.
The Septeto Habanero, originally formed as a Sextet, was created at the beginning of the 20th century.
Musicians such as Félix Chapottin, Guillermo Castillo Bustamante and Guillermo Castillo García, Manolo Furé Zerquera and Germán Pérez Ibáñez passed through the group.
Its members were also other talents such as Abelardo Barroso, Vicentico Valdés, Pío Leyva, Pachito Riset, Cheo Marqueti, Arsenio Rodríguez and Chocolate Armenteros,
The Septeto Habanero was the first ensemble of its kind to perform works by Ernesto Lecuona, pieces he composed expressly for the group.
Septeto Habanero sets course for the United States and Puerto Rico
In 2010 they were nominated for the Latin Grammy Award in the Traditional Tropical Music category for their double album 90 years, Pride of the soneros.
In this record work some of his classics are heard such as “Papá montero”, “A la Loma de Belén” and “Aurora”.
