Lately, a video clip about the Cuban struggle for independence is repeated on television at the end of the newscast, accompanied by the beautiful and well-known melody -El mambí- composed by Luis Casas Romero from Camagüey.

A Cuban who was my beauty, and whom the night saw crying, the next day with her horse, she looked for my footprints and followed me…

The musician, composer, and notable flutist, was born in the city of Camagüey on May 24th, 1882. He is recognized for his great contributions in favor of culture, for example: being the creator of the Creole as a genuinely Cuban musical genre, and initiator of radio broadcasts in our country.

Other creations: the Children’s Music Band

His passion for music did not separate him from his independence ideals; when he was barely 15 years old, he joined the ranks of the Liberation Army under the command of General López Recio. In the battlefield, he was appointed bugler of order. He was hurt on his leg, an injury that accompanied him for the rest of his life.

At the end of the struggle, in his native Camagüey, the young Casas Romero founded the Children’s Music Band and with it began to give public concerts in the parks.

The Children’s Band was made up of 45 minor students, all fourteen years old; with it they began to give public concerts in Agramonte Park, playing in processions and parties. To form the aforementioned musical group and with the cooperation of several orchestra companions, on Sundays they went out into the streets to collect money, to buy the necessary instruments and thus they were strengthened.

His double legacy

According to many intellectuals, Luis Casas Romero has a double paternity in our culture. For having been the founder of Cuban Radio and also creating the Creole musical genre, merits that stood out when composing many other genres of Cuban origin, such as danzones and zarzuelas.

With the creation of radio in Cuba that August 22nd, 1922 by the musician and patriot from Camagüey with his son, Luis Casas Rodríguez, the first signal on the air from the capital the 2LC would also play his music and that of other notable Cubans.

The magic flute man from Camagüey who was born on Padre Olallo Street or also Pobre Street, No. 95, near the Tío Perico alley, bequeathed us about 500 scores, many of which have disappeared over time.

His work contributed a lot to our growth as a country. That is why 139 years after his birth, when we remember him, the mambisa soul and musical inspiration merge in a hug, forge of a means of dissemination, which is a pride and part of our national identity.

Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García