Los Brito


Los Brito was a vocal quartet formed in 1967 in Havana, Cuba. They became one of the most popular Cuban groups in the late 1960s and maintained this status until the 1980s, when they retired from the stage. They are considered pioneers of the fusion of traditional Cuban rhythms with foreign musical styles.

Beginnings

Los Brito was born from an idea of Alfredo Brito, musical director of the quartet. Julio Brito, Alfredo's brother, joins the project and they start looking for the other two members, while both compose the repertoire and Alfredo is in charge of the arrangements.
They start rehearsing without the main voice, at the house of another singer, Abelardo Busch, who was going to be the fourth member.
In 1967, thanks to Mariana de Gonitch who introduced them to her student Mercy Díaz, the quartet was formed to start their career, but at that time, Abelardo Busch decided not to continue.
It was then when they were joined by Pedro Humberto Sánchez "El Nene", who had been part of another vocal quartet: Los Ayala.
Los Brito's first formation consisted of: Mercy Díaz, Alfredo Brito, Julio Brito y Pedro Sánchez “El Nene”.

Debut

Los Brito made their official debut in mid-1967 in the Cuban television program "Música y estrellas", directed by Manolo Rifat and hosted by Eva Rodríguez.
They performed the song "Matías Pérez", by Alfredo Brito, which tells the story of Matías Pérez, who, according to popular tradition, made a balloon trip from which he never returned. The song, in a humorous tone, compares him to a cosmonaut.
"Matías Pérez", ‘whose good rhythm did a lot for Los Brito’, is immediately accepted by the public.
Later, "Matías Pérez" is also interpreted by Yolanda Brito. Cuban television makes "a science fiction production" in which the singer ascends in a balloon.
In December 1968, when the quartet begins to consolidate its initial success, Pedro Sánchez "El Nene" dies.

Second stage

After Pedro's passing, Los Brito devoted themselves exclusively to rehearsing repertoire.
A few months later, in 1969, they were joined by Abelardo Cordero, a native of Holguín and former member of "Los Century", who at that time was doing his compulsory military service.
Given the need to rehearse, Los Brito toured the Oriente, performing for MINFAR during the two months that remained for Abelardo to finish his military service, touring the units, polishing their show and repertoire with the reactions of the audience.
For that tour they prepare several premieres: "Para los dos" and "Dame, dame" by Alfredo Brito; "Llueve" by Julio Brito Jr. The most important songs in their repertoire at that time are: "Matías Pérez" by Alfredo Brito; "Tutankamen", by Julio Brito Jr; "Rumbo al jamás" also by Julio; "Lo material" by Juan Formell and "Quisiera" by Alfredo Brito.

Radio, Television and Concerts

From 1967 to 1983, during the 16 years they remained active, Los Brito consolidated themselves as artists, maintaining a constant presence in the Cuban media.

Radio

They usually perform in radio programs and radio stations such as: Radio Rebelde, Radio Van Van, Sorpresa, Festival, El Cordón de La Habana, Radio Cadena o Nocturno.

Television

After finishing the course at the "Music Development and Programming Center", Los Brito starred in a "Recital", a Cuban television program directed by Manolo Rifat and presented by Eva Rodríguez, which was on the air for 20 years.
They become very familiar faces in Cuban television, acting in programs "that had a vast audience" such as: Buenas Tardes, De repente en TV, Pantalla Mágica, De Viernes a Viernes o Juntos a Las Nueve.
They actively participated in the children's television programs Sábado 37, Variedades Infantiles y Juguete, singing and performing songs such as El gatico Ferrufin, Carpintero o El Ratón Barrigón.

Concerts

They toured the Oriente for two months.
They perform in lodges of the sugar mills and also in the shelters of the schools as part of their presentation in the Zafra de los diez millones.
They give concerts in numerous night clubs in Havana, such as: Copa Room del Havana Riviera, Tropicana, Parisién, Habana Libre, etc.
In 1970, thanks to their popularity, Los Brito were chosen by popular vote to represent Cuba in the "II Festival Internacional de la Canción Popular Varadero 70". On the eleventh day of the festival, Wednesday, November 18, 1970, Los Brito are very well received with their song: "Con un sueño entre las manos".
In 1983, the quartet disbands.

Cultural legacy

Los Brito managed to consolidate themselves as a vocal group of excellence in Cuban music.
Among the many songs of the quartet that were hits of the time are: "El Banquito", "Y después se perdió", "Cabellos negros", "Poco a poco", "El 4-5-6", "Cuando llego a mi casa", "El soñador", "Noche de fiesta" or "Quiéreme un poquito". Most of the songs they performed were written by Alfredo Brito and his brother Julio Brito.
They stood out for their mixture of pop with purely Cuban rhythms. They are considered one of the pioneers of this fusion of Cuban and foreign music.
In 2016, Cuban singer Daymé Arocena covered the Los Brito song "El 4-5-6"'', within her second studio album "One takes".
On August 20, 2022, journalist Osvaldo Rojas Garay begins his article in the newspaper Vanguardia, about the Cuban volleyball team, quoting the song "El soñador" by Los Brito''.

Discography

Some song and recordings by Los Brito:
  • Matías Pérez – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • Si te nace una flor – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • Poco a poco mi compay – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • Tú lo has querido así – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • El tiempo feliz – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • Dime que sientes cuando hablas de mí – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • Tema para una noche de bodas – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • Cuando llego a mi casa – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • Quiéreme un poquito – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • Un viaje sin retorno ni partida – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • Ellos – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • El soñador – Author: Julio Brito Gamba
  • Vas a acordarte de mi – Authors: Alfredo Brito Gamba and Julio Brito Gamba
  • Canción para la que tanto amé – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • El 4-5-6 – Authors: Alfredo Brito Gamba and Julio Brito Gamba
  • Cuando te acuerdes de mí – Author: Julio Brito Ibáñez
  • Érase una vez – Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • Con un sueño entre las manos – Authors: Alfredo Brito Gamba and Julio Brito Gamba
  • Así quiéreme – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • Cabellos Negros – Author: Julio Brito Gamba
  • Ven, vamos a caminar – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • La larga espera – Author: Julio Brito Gamba
  • Y tal vez mañana – Author: Julio Brito Gamba
  • Noche de fiesta – Author: Julio Brito Gamba
  • El banquito – Authors: Alfredo Brito Gamba and Julio Brito Gamba
  • El eco de un amor – Author: Julio Brito Gamba
  • Di qué ha sido – Author: Kiko Rodríguez
  • Soy feliz si estoy junto a ti – Author: Julio Brito Ibáñez
  • Por una sola vez – Author: Julio Brito Ibáñez
  • Mariela – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • Solamente un hasta luego – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • Tiernamente, para siempre – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • Canta trovador – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • Pepilla – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • Ferrufín – Children's Song – Author: Julio Brito Ibáñez
  • El Fosforito – Children's Song – Author: Mercy Díaz
  • Guillermo Tell – Children's Song – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • Este vacío de ti – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • Otro Bossa Nova – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • Ven Ya – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • Canción de Jim Hawkins – Children's Song – Author: Julio Brito Gamba
  • El ratón Barrigón – Children's Song – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba and Julio Brito Gamba
  • Tutankamen I – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • Tutankamen II – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • El cochecito – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • Llueve – Author: Julio Brito Gamba
  • Soy un hombre – Author: Julio Brito Gamba
  • Para los dos – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • Dame, dame – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • Rumbo al jamás – Author: Julio Brito Gamba
  • Quisiera – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • Dime qué harás – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • Camino del Viejo Río – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • Me estremeces – Author: Alberto Herrero
  • Lo material – Author: Juan Formell
  • Meditación a una flor – Author: Ariel Alfonso
  • Deja – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • Mensaje – Author: Julio Brito Gamba
  • ¡Oh, cuánto tiempo! – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba
  • Y después se perdió – Author: Alfredo Brito Gamba