El seis de febrero/February 6th
¡Feliz cumpleaños a ... María Teresa Vera! (1895-1965)
A Cuban singer, guitarist, and composer whose signature song, Veinte Años, has been interpreted and performed by many artists, Vera is considered one of the all-time greats of Cuban music. The granddaughter of slaves and the daughter of a servant in a wealthy household (whose father, a Spanish military man, didn't stick around to meet her), Vera became interested in music from the trova groups that used to visit the mansion where her mother worked. She eventually learned from Manuel Corona himself, one of Cuba's trova greats, and formed a successful duo with Rafael Zequeira (photo above). The two performed in Havana for the first time when Vera was only 16. In 1918, they travelled to New York City, were they performed in the Apollo Theater. Zequeira passed away in 1924, and Vera performed solo and with several different musicians before forming the Sexteto Occidente, with whom she also found great success. Cuban singer-songwriter Pablo Milanés (1943- ) has said, "María Teresa is for me the embodiment of Cuban song" (Hear him sing her praises (in Spanish, and talking, not literally singing) in this vintage clip, HERE).
For resources for teaching Spanish, Level 1 through AP, CLICK HERE.
Other February 6th birthdays:
Camilo Cienfuegos (1932-1959): A Cuban revolutionary alongside Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, he was from an anarchist family that left Spain during the Civil War (1936-1939). Of the 82 revolutionaries on the boat that attacked Cuba in 1956, only 12 survived, and he was one of them. Immensely popular, his mysterious death in 1959 caused an outpouring of grief (schoolchildren in Cuba still throw flowers into the sea on the anniversary of his death). Cuban expatriates blame Fidel for the death, though it was never solved (read more HERE).
Ramón Novarro (1899-1968): A Mexican-American actor, singer, and director. His family moved to Los Angeles in 1913 to escape the Mexican Revolution. At right, he is with Greta Garbo in the 1931 film Mata Hari.
Claudio Arrau (1903-1991): Chilean pianist and composer who is considered "one of the greatest pianists of all time." His father died when he was one years old, and his mother gave piano lessons to help support the family. Arrau could read music before he could read words, and he gave his first public performance at age 5. Read more in his 1991 New York Times obituary (click HERE).
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| Both photos from gladyspalmera.com Click HERE |
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For resources for teaching Spanish, Level 1 through AP, CLICK HERE.
Other February 6th birthdays:
Camilo Cienfuegos (1932-1959): A Cuban revolutionary alongside Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, he was from an anarchist family that left Spain during the Civil War (1936-1939). Of the 82 revolutionaries on the boat that attacked Cuba in 1956, only 12 survived, and he was one of them. Immensely popular, his mysterious death in 1959 caused an outpouring of grief (schoolchildren in Cuba still throw flowers into the sea on the anniversary of his death). Cuban expatriates blame Fidel for the death, though it was never solved (read more HERE).
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| Photo from wikipedia. |
Claudio Arrau (1903-1991): Chilean pianist and composer who is considered "one of the greatest pianists of all time." His father died when he was one years old, and his mother gave piano lessons to help support the family. Arrau could read music before he could read words, and he gave his first public performance at age 5. Read more in his 1991 New York Times obituary (click HERE).
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