Monguito El Unico

b. Ramón Quian, Manguito, Matanzas Province, Cuba. Titled ‘El Unico' (The Unique), this Afro-Cuban vocalist, composer, band leader, producer Monguito, sings in a typical Cuban style with an instantly recognizable, nasal voice. He performed with various bands in Cuba, and then Mexico, where he also worked in three films. In 1962, Monguito El Unico relocated to New York and initially joined Orquesta Broadway. The following year he made his album debut with Arsenio Rodríguez. In 1964, Monguito shared lead vocals with Pete ‘El Conde' Rodríguez and sang coro (chorus) on Pacheco At...