Laito Jr.

To many, the name Jose de Jesus Hernandez Boza (Laito Jr.) mat not ring a bell. But to those that love music, as do all Cubans, the name Laito is synonymous to music, tradition, rhythms, and melodies with strong Cuban roots. This is the reason why both Laito and Jose (Laito Jr.) are among the great singers that popular Cuban music has produced.

Born in the southern city of Cienfuegos on October 13, 1938, Laito Jr. made his debut performance in 1956 singing with the Conjunto Union Fraternal at a time when Cuban music was developing and broadening its frontiers like never before. The "conjunto", an instrumental format that has been popular since the forties, proved to be ideal for son and bolero interpretation.

From 1957 to 1961, Laito Jr. sang with Efrain Loyola's orchestra and also with Revelacion de Cienfuegos. Both bands followed the instrumental format of "Charanga Francesa" which was an excellent son medium for danzon and cha cha cha interpretations. The Charanga distinguishes itself from the conjunto in its sound rendered by 2 or 3 violins and a flute, as opposed to the conjunto's trumpet sounds. It was during this period that Laito Jr. worked with the Conjunto 'Guanaroca' in the well-known Hotel Jagua. Towards the end of 1962, he moved to the province of Camaguey where he began singing with the reknown and successful Orquestra Maravillas de Florida, with which he sang a fruitful nine years.

In 1971, the experienced singer traveled to the nation's capital with the popular Combo de Senen Suarez. With this band he not only sang, but he also played the flute, thus, revealing to his fans his diverse talent and musical versatility. Having recorded two albums with Senen Suarez, Laito Jr. returned to Camaguey and resumed working with Orquestra Maravillas de Florida. In 1993, he joined the outstanding musician and director Manolito Simonet in the creation of the group "Trabuco". During his time with Maravillas and Manolito, Laito Jr. not only recorded 13 albums, but also toured exstensively throughout Europe, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.

It is 1996 that marked a milestone in Laito Jr.'s musical career, for it is in this year that three generations came together; Laito, Laito Jr., and his son, Eduardo (piano) to form the group "Laito & Su Sonora". The instrumental format selected for this group was "Sonora", which is a sound that had been popularized decades earlier during the time when Laito sang with Sonora Matancera.

"Laito & Su Sonora" experienced immediate acceptance nationally and internationally. Their album "Sonaron los Canonazos" was among the 5 best selling albums in Cuba from 1998 to 1999 and had similar acclaim overseas. Soon after the group recorded this album, they set off on a four month tour throughout Colombia, a country where the "Sonora" is enormously embraced and appreciated. Of this album, the song "Idilio" hit the top of the charts of all Cuban music stations, and this music video was awarded first place in the "Premios Lucas" for the best Cuban music video of 1998.

Among the many stellar performers that sang with Laito & su Sonora are Rolo Martinez and El Muso, but none can compare to the legendary Laito who passed away in 1999. Today, his son Laito Jr., Jose, continues to carry his father's legacy through the groups new name, "Laito Jr. & La Sonora Sonora".

The group's latest album titled "Sarandonga!" possesses the previous album's musical spirit and character, though the group's increased level of professional maturity, achieved through 3 years of uninterrupted work, is most evident in "Sarandonga!". The repertoire consists of anthologized popular music interpreted with the distinct Cuban essence and flavor that has become the unparalleled trademark sound of Laito Jr's Sonora Sonora.