Havana – Cuban singer-songwriter Pio Leyva, a part of the internationally acclaimed Buena Vista Social Club project, died here Thursday of a stroke, sources close to his family told EFE. He was 88.
Leyva had been receiving treatment at Havana’s naval hospital over the past few days due to problems with his arterial blood pressure, said Salvador Repilado, son of the late legendary Cuban singer Compay Segundo, who was a friend and musical colleague of the just deceased singer-songwriter.
Known by the nickname “Montunero of Cuba” for his performances of traditional Cuban “son montunos,” which feature melodic solos with a mambo section, Leyva is also famous for composing the song “Francisco Guayabal,” which became a big hit when sung by Beny More.
Last year, Leyva contributed to the recording of the tribute album to Spanish singer-songwriter Joan Manuel Serrat – titled “Cuba le canta a Serrat” (Cuba Sings to Serrat) – with his interpretation of the song “Me gusta todo de ti” (I Like Everything About You).
Leyva, considered one of the legendary stars of Cuban music, was born May 5, 1917, in the eastern city of Moron. He began his career as a bongo player in the Siboney orchestra and, after singing in trios and other ensembles, made his professional debut in 1932 as a singer with Juanito Blez’s group, Caribe.
He quickly became a major figure in the golden era of the big bands, performing alongside artists such as Beny More, Francisco Repilado (Compay Segundo) and Roberto Faz. He also sang with, among other groups, the Aragon orchestra, the Mariano Merceron big band, the Conjunto Caney and Havana-Riverside orchestra.
Leyva’s music reached a wider international audience as a result of the Wim Wenders-Ry Cooder project “Buena Vista Social Club,” which brought together forgotten Cuban greats, including Ibrahim Ferrer, Compay Segundo and Omara Portuondo.
