CHUITO (EL DE BAYAMóN)
EL DECANO DE LOS CANTORES VOL.4 (ANSONIA)
This is a reissue of the original 1963 album El Decano De Los Cantores 4. Chuíto el de Bayamón (Jesús Sánchez Erazo) was a legendary Puerto Rican troubadour and one of the earliest jíbaro singers to appear on the radio, also known as "el decano de los cantores" (the dean of the singers).
Known for his witty décimas and lively improvisation, he helped popularize traditional Puerto Rican music.
His work influenced generations, including salsa greats like Héctor Lavoe. In the 1940s, he became the lead-singer for cuatro player and composer Ladislao "Ladí" Martínez's Conjunto Típico Ladí, created in New York City.
With Ladí, he recorded "Un jíbaro en Nueva York," a controversia with Ernestina Reyes "La Calandria." It was actually Ladí who baptized him as "Chuíto el de Bayamón".
From 1949 to 1977 Chuíto collaborated with Abelardo Díaz Alfaro, the famous Puerto Rican author, in the radio program "La vida de Teyo Gracia y su mundo" aired in WIPR.
In addition, Chuíto participated in the films "La trulla" (1951), "Preciosa" (1965), and "El otro camino" (1959).
Throughout his career Chuíto recorded more than 40 LPs and performed in New York, Boston, Chicago, New Jersey, Hawai'i, Spain, Cuba and other Latin American cities.
His repertoire is characterized by its witticism and sense of humor, and sophisticated musical arrangements.
Along with Flor Morales Ramos "Ramito", Odilio González and Daniel Santos, he had a huge influence in the singing style of Puerto Rican salsa star Héctor Lavoe.
In 1975 and 1976 he was recognized with the "Agüeybaná Gold Album" award. This is the forth edition of Ansonias Chuito reissue series.