Pablo Valenzuela

José Pablo Valenzuela García (2 March 1859 – 25 December 1926) was a leading Cuban cornetist, composer and bandleader.

García was born in San Antonio de los Baños. After taking his first lessons in music under his father Lucas, he moved to Havana. There he first joined the orchestra of Manuel Espinosa, before joining La Flor de Cuba, the leading band of the day. This had come under the direction of his brother Raimundo after the death of its founder, and at some stage the name was changed to Orquesta Valenzuela.

Raimundo died in his fifties in 1905, after which the band was under Pablo's direction. Now it was possible for Cuban bands to record their music, and the Orquesta Valenzuela was one of the earliest to take advantage of the opportunity: they recorded about 120 numbers. In 1906 there were 40 recordings on Edison cylinders; in 1909 23 numbers for Columbia Records, and 56 numbers with Victor Records. The last recordings were in 1919; there were about 120 numbers in all, most of which were danzones. Of his compositions, some became lasting hits: Coco seco, El congo libre, La frita, La niña, La Patti negra, María Teresa, El garrotín.

The band dispersed after Pablo died, aged 67, in Havana in 1926.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 2, 1859, Died December 25, 1926

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1909 - 1919

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, cornet, guitar, composer, arranger

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 51-75 of 88 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor L-171 10-in. 9/7/1913 Las Isabelas Estudiantina Chalaca Instrumental quartet instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor L-172 10-in. 9/7/1913 Curro cuchares Estudiantina Chalaca Instrumental quartet instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor R-257 10-in. 2/8/1909 Zapateo y punto cubano Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra instrumentalist, cornet, leader  
Victor A-259 [Latin America 'A-' series] 12-in. 2/8/1909 La Nautilus Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor A-260 [Latin America 'A-' series] 12-in. 2/8/1909 El gallo y el arado Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra instrumentalist, cornet, leader  
Victor A-263 [Latin America 'A-' series] 12-in. 2/8/1909 Cuba tus hijos Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra instrumentalist, cornet, leader  
Victor R-265 10-in. 2/8/1909 Las bribonas Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra instrumentalist, cornet, leader  
Victor R-266 10-in. 2/8/1909 Napoleón Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra instrumentalist, cornet, leader  
Victor K-2721 12-in. 5/9/1919 La niña Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra composer, instrumentalist, cornet, leader  
Victor G-2722 10-in. 5/9/1919 Andando por Altamira Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra instrumentalist, cornet, leader  
Victor K-2723 12-in. 5/9/1919 Si me muero en la carretera Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra instrumentalist, cornet, leader  
Victor G-2724 10-in. 5/9/1919 La recholata Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra instrumentalist, cornet, leader  
Victor G-2725 10-in. 5/9/1919 Chacho Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra instrumentalist, cornet, leader  
Victor G-2726 10-in. 5/9/1919 Mi chamalaco Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra instrumentalist, cornet, leader  
Victor G-2727 10-in. 5/9/1919 Preciosidad Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra instrumentalist, cornet, leader  
Victor G-2728 10-in. 5/9/1919 Trina Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra instrumentalist, cornet, leader  
Victor G-2729 10-in. 5/9/1919 Rosalía Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra instrumentalist, cornet, leader  
Victor K-2730 12-in. 5/9/1919 La mora Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra, with vocal chorus instrumentalist, cornet, leader  
Victor [Vi cat 68020[b]] 12-in. approximately February 1909 Ras de mar Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor [Vi cat 68020[a]] 12-in. approximately February 1909 No me digas más Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor [Vi cat 68033[a]] 12-in. approximately February 1909 El rey de Carnaval Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor [Vi cat 68033[b]] 12-in. approximately February 1909 Maria Luisa Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor [Vi cat 68035[a]] 12-in. approximately February 1909 La Toja Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra instrumentalist, cornet  
Victor [Vi cat 68035[b]] 12-in. approximately February 1909 Mi mulata Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Orchestra instrumentalist, cornet  
Columbia 37769 10-in. approximately 1909 or 1910 Mamá Teresa : Danzón Orquesta de Pablo Valenzuela Instrumental ensemble leader, composer  
(Results 51-75 of 88 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Valenzuela, Pablo," accessed November 7, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/100873.

Valenzuela, Pablo. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/100873.

"Valenzuela, Pablo." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 7 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/100873

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