Singer.
Estanislao Sureda Hernández, known as "Laíto" and considered one of the Cuban music legends, was born in Cienfuegos City on May 7, 1914 and died in Havana on September 7, 1999.
His career as singer began more than seven decades ago at the CMHJ local radio station performing with the "Cienfuegos Jazz Band" orchestra led by Master Periquín and composed by key Cuban musicians like trombonist Generoso Jiménez and flutist Rafael Ondina. During this period, Laíto learned how to play the güiro, the maracas, the claves and the tumbadora. Some time later, he joined "Los Melodiosos de Ramito" group as singer.
In 1944, he settled down in Havana and then joined the Cheo Marquetti Septet with whom he popularized the guaracha "Dónde va María". Afterwards he became member of the Conjunto Kubavana and shared the stage with another prominent bolero singer, Orlando Vallejo. More than once, Laíto Sureda mentioned how much he learned from Alberto Ruiz in that ensem
ble: Laíto, Faz, Mario Recio and Orlando Vallejo had in Alberto Ruiz, the group leader, a school for singers of that kind of group.
In 1948, Laíto joined the Ernesto Grenet`s group, the hosting orchestra at the famous Tropicana Cabaret. Laíto`s extraordinary charisma and increasing popularity among music lovers in the island opened the doors for him to sing together with the Hermanos Castro orchestra, which was considered the number one orchestra in Havana at that time and the main attraction in the National Hotel show.
On December 14, 1950, Laíto joined the Conjunto Senén Suárez (which was the same Grenet ensemble who gave the group to the Matanzas guitar player, Senén Suárez). During that time, Laíto recorded his first acetate with the Conjunto Senén Suárez for the "Puchito" label. For that occasion, he selected "Guaguancó callejero" by Ignacio Piñeiro, theme that meant the instant recognition of Laíto. He also recorded hits like "Soy hijo del siboney", "En opuestas regiones", "Eres sensacional", "Algo de ti", and many more.
In 1953, during a short season, he formed part of La América Orchestra led by Niñón Mondéjar "one of the most popular charangas at that time- and recorded many pieces for four voices. In June 1954, still performing with La América orchestra, Laíto called the attention of Don Rogelio Martínez, who proposed him to join the Sonora Matancera orchestra as a singer. With this orchestra he recorded some popular hits like "Can Caneíto Can", "Cañonazos", "Cualquiera resbala" and "Nocturnazo". With La Matancera, he traveled to Colombia and Venezuela together with Celia Cruz and successfully performed in Tropicana too.
In 1955, Laíto joined Espí, Faz and Rolo, as singer in the Conjunto Casino. During that same year, he recorded for Panart the guajira by Rosendo Ruíz Suárez entitled "Junto al cañaveral". The following year, he joined the Conjunto de Roberto Faz and, between 1959 and 1960, he also participated in the legendary jam sessions organized by "Cachao" López.
By the end of 1960, he retired on pension from the artistic section and devoted himself to other jobs. It should be mentioned that Laíto was one of the founders of the land artillery in the Rebel Army.
During the 1980s and 1990s, he returned to music as part of the Gloria Matancera Orchestra. In 1994, after 39 years of absence, he traveled to Colombia to perform with "Los del Caney", probably one of the most popular and loyal interpreters of the Cuban son in that country. The prominent Colombian musicologist César Pagano asked him to return to that country for presentations in Bogotá and Laíto established his own group made up by outstanding musicians. In 1997, "Laíto y su Sonora" made an impressive tour across Colombia. He was so successful that he recorded his CD "Sonaron los cañonazos", a phonogram that includes 12 pieces covering his artistic career: sones, boleros and guarachas. The experience of listening to "Laíto y su Sonora" is unique for it allows us to get closer to the most authentic sound of the Cuban music during the 1940s and 1950s.
By the end of the 1990s, Laíto made several records and videos and international tours, above all with "Idilio", an impressive hit included in "Sonaron los cañonazos".
