Header Banner Made with MyBannerMaker.com! Click here to make your own!Cuban trumpet legend Rolando "Ruso" Aguilo.
Born in 1931 in Matanzas in central Cuba, Rolando Aguilo was very young when he started his career as a trumpet player with Conjunto Casablanca joining his father bass player Mario "Chicho" Aguilo who also played with Conjunto Yumuri in the late 30s & 40s, Orquesta Saratoga, Lecuona Cuban Boys, and would back up Nat King Cole at the Tropicana in Cuba. Rolando Aguilo later went on to play 1st trumpet for Orquesta Hermanos Castro touring the world as well as the main band on Radio Progreso were he would back up some of the greatest Cuban singers like Olga Guillot, Celia Cruz, Vicentico Valdes and many more Cuban greats. During these years he played in many popular orchestras and in many of the biggest clubs in Cuba.
He later joined the "Lecuona Cuban Boys" as the band was setting off on tours around Latin America. Back to Cuba Rolando Aguilo founded his "combo" a band playing music considered as modern as it stemmed from burgeoning Jazz. Rolando is considered as one of the 1st Cuban musicians to bring elements of jazz creating Descargas (Jam Sessions) and using electric guitars. During this time he released a number of Cuban Jam Session recordings on Maype at the same time as Cachao, Walfredo de los Reyes, Chappotin, Chocolate and many more on Maype. In the early to mid 60s His band "Rolando Aguilo y su Conjunto" was the main band for radio station Radio Progreso. In 1967 Rolando moves his family to New York and starts playing with Julio Gutierrez playing in night clubs in NY and touring around Latin America. After Julio Gutierrez heart attack he takes over Julio's band and becomes musical director of Los Violines in NY. While in NY his bands open up for Willie Colon, Hector Lavoe & Fania Allstar as well as playing 1st trumpet for Carlos Barberia Y Orquesta Kubavana and Musical Director for Olga Guillot. He retires in 1992 and after 15 years comes out of retirement to play with his sons Johnny Aguilo's band Conjunto Progreso. Rolando Aguilo will be releasing a new album of "Descargas" in 2007. His old LP's have been sold on Ebay and other market across the world from $300.00 to $3000.00.]
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