Madrid Spain.- The composer and guitarist Manuel Corona Raimundo was born on June 17, 1880 in Caibarién, Villa Clara, and moved to Havana at a very young age.
Upon his arrival in the capital, he worked at the La Eminencia cigar workshop, but very soon he began to pursue music. The supervisor of the tobacco factory had taught him the first chords of the guitar.
He participated in gatherings and family clubs where he played the guitar and showed his compositions. Already in 1900, at the age of 20, he had composed the bolero “Doble inconsciencia”.
He related to other composers of the time through responses: songs as a response to other songs. From there came the popular theme “Animated”.
Among his hundreds of songs also stand out “Mercedes”, “Aurora”, “Santa Cecilia”, “A look”, “Counterpoint”, “My chest and my soul” and, fundamentally, “Longina”. The latter, composed in 1918, was inspired by the actress Longina O’Farrill, with whom he fell in love as soon as he met her at the house of the troubadour María Teresa Vera. In her honor, the “Longina” Troubadour Festival is celebrated in Cuba.
Among the musical genres that he cultivated are guaracha, habaneras, bolero, and even tango and blues.
His talent would lead him to be considered one of the four greats of Cuban troubadour song, along with Sindo Garay, Alberto Villalón and Rosendo Ruiz from Santiago.
Nevertheless, died forgotten and in poverty. Manuel Corona died on January 9, 1950, at the age of 69, in a room at the back of the Jaruquito bar, in Marianao, Havana.
Bus drivers on Route 32 in the capital made a collection to watch over him at the San José funeral home. The Society of troubadours moved him to its headquarters and on January 10, 1950 the funeral took place. The farewell duel was in charge of the renowned musician Gonzalo Roig.
His remains were in the Havana cemetery until 1968, the year in which they were transferred to his native Caibarién.
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