T. Curet Alonso died yesterday. The name may not mean anything to most of you, but he was one of the great Latin songwriters, and probably one of the great popular songwriters of the last century.
I'm not at home (near my CDs), so this is going to be a short list, but some of his songs include:
Periodico de Ayer
Las Caras Lindas
Anacaona
Juanito Alimana
La Cura
― Al Andalous, Wednesday, 6 August 2003 13:52 (twenty-two years ago)
This man was the master songwriter of salsa music. It is with great shame that I bring up that Puertorican radio stations cannot even pay proper tribute to him, because of legal troubles with his publishing company. It borders on vulgar, quite frankly, that a man who has upwards of 700+ songs out there, not only died penniless, but will not recieve a fitting epitaph. ARGGGHHH!!!! I'm ragin', maaaaan! Even the local radio DJs were seen crying on TV! DAMN YOU, ASCAP (OR WHOEVER) FOR RUININ' MORE PEOPLE'S LIVES!
― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Thursday, 7 August 2003 04:16 (twenty-two years ago)
Bands, Fans Pay Homage to Tite Curet
SANDRA IVELISSE VILLERRAEL
Associated Press
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Musicians gathered in Puerto Rico's capital on Sunday to croon a final goodbye to late composer Catalino "Tite" Curet Alonso on the eve of his burial.
Thousands of people viewed Curet's body at the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture in Old San Juan. Two interior patios of the historic building were used for bands to play some of Curet's 2,000 dance songs and ballads.
Curet's body was in a golden coffin and he was wearing his characteristic straw hat and traditional multicolored shirt.
The composer, who despite his success continued working at a post office in San Juan for three decades, died Aug. 5 of respiratory failure at age 77.
Veteran singer and former Sen. Ruth Fernandez said one of Curet's legacies was "giving elegance to salsa."
Many came from far-flung corners of the island to see Curet for the last time and dance to his songs. "I have his complete repertoire," said Adelina Rodriguez Sanabria, a 58-year-old teacher from south-coast Salinas, as she waited in line to see Curet's body.
Curet died in a hospital in Baltimore where he had been visiting his daughter, Ilda. His body arrived to this Caribbean island on Saturday, when a private viewing was held.
On Monday, the body was to be taken to San Juan's City Hall, and later that day buried in the Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis cemetery in Old San Juan.
Since Thursday, local radio stations have been allowed to play Curet's music for a week after being banned from airing it by a 1996 federal court order. A music association and corporation filed a lawsuit demanding royalties from more than 30 radio stations.
At the news of his death, the Association of Composers and Editors of Latin American Music and the Latin American Music Corp. allowed the radio stations to play his music.
Curet, born in 1926 in southeastern Guayama, wrote in many genres including Latin musical styles like samba, salsa and danza. His best known songs include "The Pretty Faces" and "By All Means, Rosa," both popularized by salsa great Ismael Rivera.
Curet is survived by a son, Eduardo, and wife, Ilda Velazquez.
― Al Andalous, Monday, 11 August 2003 12:21 (twenty-two years ago)
one year passes...
I almost forgot to announce this, not that I'm expecting much interest, but this Saturday night on "El Viaje" (on
WRTI, which you can listen to over the web), David Ortiz is going to be featuring Curet Alonso songs. He has a reputation for being one of the best Puerto Rican song writers of the last fifty years, and it's no joke.
― RS, Tuesday, 8 February 2005 15:18 (twenty years ago)