Sexteto Occidente

Cuban Traditional Sextet Ensemble

Cuban music group founded in 1926 by María Teresa Vera, in 1927 converted into "Sexteto Nacional with Ignacio Piñeiro as owner and leader and Septeto Nacional in 1928 with the addition of a trumpet player. They reduced their activity in the 1930s and stopped activity in early 1940s. After the Cuban revolution of 1959, the group played again and is still playing as Septeto Nacional De Ignacio Piñeiro. The group was created in 1926 by María Teresa Vera, promoted by the Columbia record company, to put it in competition with the famous Sexteto Habanero, hired by RCA Víctor, a rival company. This sextet was made up of Miguel García (second voice); Manolo Reynoso (bongos); Julio Viart (tres); Francisco Sánchez (maracas, backing vocals) and Ignacio Piñeiro (double bass). Later they had Miguelito Valdes on lead vocals. This group of soneras enjoyed great success and popularity in Cuba and abroad with presentations on different stages, from theaters to the most famous dance academies in La Havana. The sextet traveled to the United States, a trip where the group recorded several songs with the Columbia Records in New York with songs like "Cabo De La Guardia" and "No Me Engañes". She also fulfilled contracts with label Brunswick and Odeon. In 1933 María Teresa transferred the sextet to Ignacio Piñeiro, bassist of that group, who, from then on, named him Septeto Nacional.