The origins of Charanga Habanera date back to 1988 when Sergio David Calzado Almenares decided to gather a group of ten of the strongest players in Cuba to play classical pieces of Cuban music. David was a violinist in the Cabaret Tropicana and was determined to work hard to form an orchestra to carry in a European Tour.
So since 1990 the history of Charanga Habanera is full of successes: during this period the Band opened concerts for great international Stars such as Charles Aznavour, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Ray Charles, Kool and the Gang, Barry Manilow, Donna Summer and Whitney Houston.
David Calzado was among the forerunners of new sounds in Cuba, renewing the repertoire of salsa by introducing the first "rap" and creating a fusion of all contemporary rhythms, from hip hop, soul, funky... which then evolve in timba that we can hear now and that, according to Calzado, should be called "Danceable Cuban Popular Music".
Among the first successful albums of Charanga Habanera we should remember "Hey, You, Loca" in 1994 which won the award for "Best Danceable Record in Cuba", and also the CD "Pa' Que Se Entere La Habana" which reached the top of the charts and was loved by young Cubans.
In 1998 the CD "Tremendo Delirio" became a worldwide success in the world of Latin music, the boys of Charanga wrote lyrics that expressed with humor, sometimes biting, the "everyday of CUBA". But that same year, the group split because of disagreements between Calzado and musicians who will form a new group called Charanga Forever, but David Calzado with his international experience combined with his boundless energy, replaces them with younger musicians just out of conservatory and manages to recreate a successfull formation, with a fresh sound, even younger, irresistible and irrepressible that allow it to run always in step with the times and continues his journey with the album "El Charanguero Mayor" released in 2000.
The rivalry between the two orchestras after the split was inevitable, but the public chose as "winner" David Calzado y su Charanga Habanera, recognized as authentic.
In the following years the band has definitely established itself as one of the most recognized Cuban Orquestras around the world thanks to the strength of their live shows as well as the remarkable record productions. In 2001 their released the new album "Chan. Chan. Charanga" and toured in 2002 in the U.S. released their stunning live CD "Live in USA". Following their success the U.S. Charanga returned with more energy than ever with the best-selling CD "Soy Cubano, Soy Popular!" 2003, and "Charanga Light" in 2004. La Charanga Habanera has played all over the world and a lot in Italy, where for example all the concerts of the festival "Fiesta" in Rome and "Latinoamericando" in Milan are always "sold out".
Now, finally, the songs of Charanga Habanera are published officially in Europe, of course, by Planet Records!
In January 2006 Planet Records released the world premiere of the album "El Ciclon De La Habana", a CD different from previous ones, which marks the return of Calzado to the Salsa Cubana 100% genre. Following the 2009 "No Mires La Caratula" was distributed all around the world (including USA) by Planet Records, the CD contains the hit "Gozando En La Habana" and this magical situation launched a consequencial and spectacular tour "live" in the U.S.A.
And after 22 years of life, in 2011, the band released the fifteenth album, "Acabaito de Nacer", ten of the eleven tracks were written and arranged by David Calzado and produced together with the maestro Juan Manuel Ceruto.
2015: the track “Arriba De Lo Mal Hecho” is the new single produced by Osmany Espinosa, published under the label Planet Records. It is included in the new musical work of David Clazado & la Charanga, now in recording process. The video “Arriba De Lo Mal Hecho” has been nominated for the Lucas Awards 2015 in Cuba.
The Charanga Habanera is one of the most representative bands of the new course of Cuban music called "Timba".
Last Updated: October 27th, 2015
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