One of the items in the Kenton orchestra's repertoire was an idiomatic Afro-Cuban number known as "Machito", composed by Stan Kenton with Pete Rugolo and released as a Capitol 78 in …

Machito popularized Cuban musical culture throughout the United States and the world. He helped infuse Latin music into mainstream American music, making a name for himself as the …

Nov 26, 2023 · Machito and his Afro-Cubans, one of the Palladium Big Three, helped define Latin Jazz in the 1940s, and promoted African heritage.

Mar 24, 2020 · The ebullient and effervescent Machito served as front man and maracas player and is credited with establishing the triumvirate of timbales, congas, and bongo as part of the …

Aug 8, 2025 · Machito and his Afro Cubans was an absolute powerhouse unit that lay the foundation for Latin Jazz, a seminal force in the original fusion of Cuban clave rhythms and the …

Machito became known for his clever vocal improvisations and began to write songs as well. The group soon developed a following not only in the Bronx and Harlem among working-class Latin …

For many jazz critics, Bauzá’s tune “Tanga,” one of the Machito orchestra’s hits dating to the early 1940s, was the first true example of the music that is now known as…

Another major hit was "Sopa de Pichon" (Pidgeon Soup), written by Machito himself. Now given the sobriquet 'El Rey del Mambo' (The King of Mambo), Machito went from strength to …

Everything about Machito was unique and different. He was one of the few Afro-Cuban singers who performed both coro (chorus) and inspiraciones (verses) within the same tune. He shared …

Although his father ran a restaurant, his was a musical family, and Machito grew up singing and playing with many of the leading musicians of Cuba. After playing with a few groups in …