Isaac Oviedo
Isaac Oviedo (July 6, 1902 – June 16, 1992) was a Cuban tres player, singer and songwriter. He was the founder and leader of the Septeto Matancero for over 50 years, and the author of many famous sones such as "Engancha carretero". Throughout his long career Oviedo only recorded a handful of sessions, mostly for American record labels. He has been called "one of the greatest Cuban tres players" by other musicians such as Efraín Ríos and Pancho Amat. According to the latter, Oviedo was the pioneering and most influential tresero of the septeto format (the major type of son ensemble of the 1920s and '30s). His technical innovations include the alzapúa thumb stroke and the use of the pinky finger.
Isaac Oviedo | |
|---|---|
Oviedo playing the tres, c. 1930. | |
| Background information | |
| Born | July 6, 1902 Sabanilla del Encomendador, Unión de Reyes, Matanzas, Cuba |
| Died | June 26, 1992 (aged 89) Havana, Cuba |
| Genres | Son cubano, trova, guaracha, afro-son, bolero |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, bandleader, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Tres, guitar, laúd, vocals |
| Years active | c. 1920–1992 |
| Labels | Victor, Brunswick, Areito, Rounder |
His son Ernesto played in his band since the 1940s and became a successful bolero singer, while his other son Gilberto, known as Papi Oviedo, has also had a long career as a tresero, playing with Conjunto Chappottín, Estrellas de Chocolate and Orquesta Revé.