Date: 2022-12-30
Time: 06:44:47 UTC
Title: Copacetic Music Hour Preview, 12/30/22: Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros
Another week has passed, which means it's time for another episode of the
copacetic music hour! This week's featured artist is the famous Cuban trumpeter
Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros, arguably Cuba's Louis Armstrong. Alfredo gained
his nickname "Chocolate" from being mistaken for the champion Cuban boxer Kid
Chocolate (Eligio Sardinas Montalvo). He was born April 4, 1928 in Santa Clara,
Cuba, but would move to New York, where he lived until he passed away. He first
performed in the band Conjunto Los Astros led by sonero Rene Alvarez, but he
would soon after perform with Arsenio Rodriguez of "Bruca manigua" fame. In his
later career, Armenteros would become a key part of Fania, playing with greats
like Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, and Johnny Pacheco. That said, he had diverse
collaborations with artists ranging from Wynton Marsalis to Beny More, Jose
Fajardo, and Israel "Cachao" Lopez. In addition to a successful solo career,
from 1977 to 1980 he was part of the long lived Cuban dance band La Sonora
Matancera, which also included the otherwise notable Celia Cruz, Ismael
Miranda, and Justo Betancourt.
Tonight, as always, we will enjoy a sampling of Alfredo's sones cubanos
alongside a fireside IRC chat at tilde.chat channel tilderadio (#tilderadio).
Join us!
