Monguito

Monguito "El Único", was a Cuban vocalist. He was born Ramón Quian, in Matanzas Province, Cuba; and died in 2006, in New York City. An Afro-Cuban sonero, he had a simple improvising style with a distinctive nasal voice.

Performed with Orquesta Mazzuet in his native town before relocating to Havana, there sang with Orquesta Modernista and Conjunto Modelo. In the 50's moved to Mexico, there worked with Pepé Arévalo y sus Mulatos and appeared in three movies. In 1962 moved to New York, and began with Orquesta Broadway. He made first album with Arsenio Rodríguez on Primitivo '63 on Roost. In 1967 made Fania solo debut with Johnny Pacheco Presents Monguito. His debut on SAR, produced by Roberto Torres, "Yo No Soy Mentiroso" de 1979 went gold.

Much like Ismael Rivera, he embodies an earthy, pragmatic aesthetic in the tradition of the son montuno, forged in the streets of Cuba.