Graciela

Born on August 23, 1915, Graciela Peréz Grillo was raised in a musical environment; her foster brother, Frank Grillo, became better known as Machito, and just across the street from the family home in Havana lived Mongo Santamaría. She first sang professionally in the late '20s, and among the bands with which she worked were those fronted by Maria Teresa Vera, who was a family friend, and Ignacio Piñeiro. In addition to singing, Graciela -- who would become known as a performer by her given name without her surname attached -- also played maracas and claves, and it was largely...