The Early Years: 1988 to 1992

For the first 5 years of its existence, La Charanga Habanera was a true traditionally charanga with strings, flute, and timbales, but no trumpets or bongó. For 5 summers they played standard 1950s charanga repertoire as the house band for a major hotel in Monte Carlo.

We have two articles covering this period and the group's historic transformation in the early 1990s into one of the first, best and most influential of the timba bands.

The first, by Majela Serrano, is told from the point of view of leader David Calzado and also includes interesting biographical information about his work with Ritmo Oriental in the early 1980s.

entrevista y biografía
por Majela Serrano
español

Pianist/arranger Juan Carlos González recounts the same story in "La Historía de la Charanga":

La historía de la Charanga (1988-1997)
español - English