Juan Bruno Tarraza(1917-2001)
- Actor
- Music Department
- Composer
Juan Bruno Tarraza was born in Cuba in 1912. Not much is known about
his beginnings but by the early 1940s he had achieved fame as a pianist
and composer. He specialized in afro Cuban rhythms and developed a
lively stage act to show off his virtuosity with the keyboard.
Sometimes he would perform by himself and other times fronting his own
band but either way he was quite popular on radio, cabaret and theaters
appearing in the best venues all over the world. As a composer he wrote
many romantic boleros which were recorded by the top vocalists of the
era and became standards of the Latin America songbook. By the mid
1940s he became very popular in Mexico and settled down in that
country. His music was featured in Mexican films and he guest starred
in many movies from 1946 through 1960. In his long career he has also
served as pianist and musical director to some of the most popular
Latin performers including including Toña la Negra, Tongolele, Pedro
Vargas and most notably Olga Guillot, Cuba's famous "queen of bolero"
with whom Mr. Tarraza has had a successful and lasting collaboration
for many years. The musician has also made an impact in recording
studios turning out some great albums such as "Piano Tropical", "Piano
Sabor" and "My Fair Lady Goes Latin." He remained active in show
business way into the 2000s.