Zoraida Marrero

Celebrated Cuban mezzo soprano who became known as "Cuba's lark" (La alondra de Cuba) for her magnificent voice and classy style. Born in the town of Bejucal, as a teenager in Havana she took music and voice lessons from the prestigious tenor turned pedagogue Francisco Fernández Dominicis who led an academy to develop new talents. In the late 1920's Miss Marrero started her career in earnest by winning several talent competitions on radio. Soon she was chosen by Cuba's most influential composer Ernesto Lecuona to sing his songs in recitals both on stage and on radio broadcasts. One of Miss Marrero's earliest triumphs took place in 1933 when she sang before president Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the United States Congress as part of an official Cuban delegation sent to Washington D.C. to celebrate FDR's presidential election. It was reported that the President was quite moved by Zoraida's interpretation of "Quiero tus besos" (I want your kisses) written by Mr. Lecuona, and congratulated the young singer by respectfully kissing her hand. American music critics were also impressed by the performance praising Zoraida in printed articles. Once back in Havana, Miss Marrero became a favorite of the public as the ultimate interpreter of the Lecuona repertoire which included zarzuelas, operettas and countless romantic songs which became evergreen standards in her voice. In 1939 Maestro Lecuona featured her at the Nacional Theater integrating concerts known as "The Lecuona Trios" in which she shared the stage with sopranos Georgina Du Bouchet and María Ciérvide. Soon after that Zoraida spent a month performing in San Juan, Puerto Rico with Lecuona and upon her return to Havana she starred in the film "Cancionero Cubano", her only known incursion in movies. The following year came another landmark in Zoraida's career. Her SRO concerts with Lecuosa in Buenos Aires, Argentina in which she sang zarzuela arias as well as her most popular love songs. She was also asked to sing at the influential Radio Belgrano which carried her unique voice throughout Argentina. This is when music critics started calling her "Cuba's lark", an endearment that caught on with the media and the public all over the American continent. Her success in the zarzuela genre was such that during the period 1941-1942 her work consisted mainly of zarzuelas under the direction of Miguel de Grandy. At that time, Zoraida made history once more singing in the Cuban premieres of two iconic zarzuelas from Spain, "Luisa Fernanda" (music by Federico Moreno Torroba) and "Doña Francisquita" (music by Amadeo Vives). In 1946 she sang in New York in the off-Broadway musical "Havana-Madrid" a box office success that was praised by critics. After these triumphs she went on tour again, performing as always on radio and stages in Mexico, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile, Peru and back to Argentina for a long residency of two years in that country. By the 1950's Zoraida Marrero had achieved legendary status in her country and abroad. At the advent of television in Cuba, producers could always count on her to perform in the many variety programs of that era and obtain the highest ratings. The people simply idolized her tuning in whenever she sang on radio or television, attending her stage performances and buying her recordings. People still remember those magic nights when Zoraida sang with Nat King Cole at Havana's famous Tropicana night club and casino. In 1959, life in Cuba changed dramatically due to the Cuban Revolution. A communist dictatorship was instituted and Zoraida and her family were among the first to flee the unfortunate island in 1960. They settled in New Jersey and the legendary performer tried to relaunch her career in the United States. She knew it would not be easy and said she "rather struggle in freedom than sing in slavery" as reported at the time by the media. Zoraida was soon back in the recording studios and had a hit in the U.S. Spanish market with the song "Yo volveré" (I shall return) written by fellow exile Eduardo Davison. More recordings followed as well as highly successful performances at Carnegie Hall in the musical shows "Cuban Nights". Zoraida also toured several times Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Panama and, of course, Miami where many of her Cuban fans were now residing. Time moved on and Zoraida, reaching the age of retirement, accepted a long-term contract close to home at New York City's plush Liborio night club where her recitals were always sold out. It is hard to pinpoint her exact retirement date since she continued performing for many years and was also seen sometimes on Spanish television. Truly Zoraida Marrero has remained forever present in the memories of everyone who saw her perform. She is also remembered thanks to her recordings which preserved her exquisite voice even now when the "Cuban lark" is no longer among us.