Obdulio Morales

Born: April 7, 1910 (Havana, Cuba) Died: January 9, 1981 (Havana, Cuba) Cuban pianist, conductor, composer and ethno-musicologist, an important figure in the late afro-cubanismo movement. He learned piano from an American teacher and furthered his studies at the conservatory. At age 12 he began to play piano at the silent cinema, and a year later he was playing in private dance parties as a reserve pianist. Around the same time, while working as an apprentice for his father, who was a tailor, he began to attend black societies such as the Club Bohemio. In 1924 he joined the first lineup of Los Hermanos Martínez orchestra. Worked for the radio since 1928, specializing in Afro-Cuban music and in 1938 he premiered Batamú in collaboration with musician Julio Chappottín and choreographer Armando Borroto. In 1938 he also founded the Grupo Coral Folklórico de Cuba. At the same time, Morales was part of several successful big bands such as the eleven-piece Los Melódicos. He also played in Habana Jazz Band and in 1931 Orquesta Elegante. In 1942 the Grupo Coral Folklórico de Cuba became the Conjunto Coral Sinfónico Folklórico de Cuba, and together with Fernando Ortiz he began to give lectures about Afro-Cuban music. In the 1950s Morales was responsible for the score of several films and during the 1960s, Morales conducted a late night program at Radio Rebelde featuring vocalist Gina Martín. He also became the director and arranger of Antobal's Cuban All-Stars. In 1972 he became the director of Conjunto Folklórico Nacional de Cuba's orchestra. In 1980, while retired and ill, he founded Afrofónico, another Afro-Cuban music group. Composer Obdulio Morales represents a central figure in the dissemination of stylized Afrocuban religious music during the prerevolutionary years.