Antonio María Romeu
Antonio María Romeu Marrero was a Cuban pianist, composer and bandleader. His orchestra was Cuba's leading charanga for over thirty years, specializing in the danzón. Throughout his career he was known as El Mago de las Teclas.
Life and career
Romeu studied music in 1884 with Joaquín Mariano Martínez and practiced piano at a local church in Jibacoa. At twelve he played his first dance and composed his first piece. In 1899 he moved to Havana and performed in cafés, later joining the Orquesta Cervantes — one of the earliest charangas founded at the start of the 1900s. These new ensembles, pitched brighter than the típicas, replaced brass with flute and added the new pailas criollas. Orquesta Cervantes was the first charanga known to include piano.In 1910 he founded his own orchestra. Its initial line-up featured Romeu, Feliciano Facenda, Alfredo Valdés, Rafael Calazán, Remigio Valdés and Juan de la Merced. By the 1920s the group had expanded considerably and included his son Antonio María Romeu Jr. on violin. In the 1930s it briefly functioned as a big band. During World War II, tourism declined and the band contracted again.
By 1927, vocalists were added to the danzón. Romeu’s ensemble featured Fernando Collazo and later Barbarito Díez. He maintained racially integrated bands throughout his career — a Cuban tradition since the 19th century.
After Romeu’s death in 1955, his orchestra was directed by his son Antonio María Romeu Jr., then by Barbarito Díez. It continued performing traditional danzón as the Orquesta de Barbarito Díez.