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La engaadora
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Wikipedia article
"'La engaadora'" (translated in the US as "'Anything Can Happen When You're in Havana'", "'The Gay Deceiver'" or simply "'The Deceiver'") is a song written by violinist Enrique Jorrn and first recorded by Orquesta Amrica in March 1953. Shortly after its release it became Panart's biggest-selling single. It is widely considered the first cha-cha-cha and one of the most influential Cuban songs.
Background and composition
Born in 1926 in Pinar del Ro, Enrique Jorrn took up the violin at age 12. He later attended the Municipal Conservatory of Havana and by 1943 he was a member of Arcao y sus Maravillas, Cuba's most important charanga. The band, directed by Antonio Arcao and featuring brothers Israel Lpez "Cachao" and Orestes Lpez, who wrote most of the group's repertoire, was the main exponent of the danzn, a popular style of ballroom music. At the time, the Lpez brothers were experimenting with the last section of the danzn, in which they incorporated a montuno, giving rise to the so-called danzn nuevo ritmo, the origin of the mambo. During his time with Arcao, Jorrn grew as a danzn composer, and by the time he left the band to join Orquesta Amrica, in the late 1940s, he was a well-respected musician.
Jorrn realized that mambo was very difficult to dance compared to other ballroom styles due to its high syncopation. Thus, he decided to alter its melody to make it more danceable and accessible. Jorrn applied this principles to "La engaadora", a song he composed in Havana sometime in 1951, the year it was first performed before an audience.
Success
Between 1953 and 1954 it is estimated that Panart sold 13,000 copies of the single, something completely unprecedented for Cuba's first independent record label. On June 30, 1953 a cover was recorded by singer Miguelito Valds backed by pianist Ren Hernndez's conjunto, and billed by Seeco as a 'ritmo de cha cha ch'.Daz Ayala, Cristbal. "Miguelito Valds", '[http://latinpop.fiu.edu/discography.html,Encyclopedic Discography of Cuban Music, Volume 2 - 1925-1960]', updated fall 2013."[https://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/vicentico_valdes_con_rene_hernandez_y_su_conjunto/la_enganadora___plazos_traicioneros/ La engaadora / Plazos traicioneros]", 'Rate Your Music'. The name "cha-cha-ch" actually came from the refrain of its original B-side, "Silver Star", which also became a hit. In the original Panart issue, "La engaadora" is billed as a "mambo-rumba" and "Silver Star" as a danzn. Miguelito Valds' cover was followed by many other versions recorded in Cuba, Mexico and the US, by artists such as Ren Touzet, Tito Rodrguez and Prez Prado, establishing the song as a Cuban standard.
Aftermath
After the success of "La engaadora", the popularity of Orquesta Amrica grew as Jorrn kept writing one hit after another: "El alardoso", "Nada para ti", "El tnel"... Cha-cha-cha had eclipsed both mambo and danzn as the most popular dance style in Cuba. Jorrn claimed to be responsible for the success of Orquesta Amrica and was uncomfortable with the band's credits, which always stated "Orquesta Amrica de Ninn Mondjar". He was named the orchestra's music director in 1954, but Mondjar still insisted on receiving credit. This led to the departure of Jorrn in August 1954, forming his own band in Mexico City. In November, Mondjar also moved along with Orquesta Amrica to Mexico City. At this point, the only hit-making charanga in Cuba was Orquesta Aragn, which had briefly collaborated with Jorrn before his departure from Orquesta Amrica. However, in December 1955, some members of Orquesta Amrica returned to Havana and in January 1955 founded Orquesta Amrica del 55.
Personnel
The following musicians recorded the song during the March 1953 recording session at Panart Studios, Havana:"[https://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/orquesta_america_de_ninon_mondejar/la_enganadora___silver_star/ La engaadora / Silver Star]", 'Rate Your Music'.Daz Ayala, Cristbal. "Orquesta Amrica", '[http://latinpop.fiu.edu/discography.html,Encyclopedic Discography of Cuban Music, Volume 2 - 1925-1960]', updated fall 2013.
* Ninn Mondjar: musical director, vocals
* Enrique Jorrn: first violin
* Antonio Snchez Reyes "Musiquita": second violin
* Juanito Ramos: flute
* lex Sosa: piano
* Manuel Montejo "Camagey": double bass
* Julio Salas: tumbadora
* Augusto Barca: timbales
* Gustavo Tamayo: giro
References
Category:Cuban songs
Category:Cha-cha-cha
Category:1953 songs
Category:Panart singles
Category:1953 singles
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