Augusto Coen

Puerto Rican musician and orchestra leader (Ponce, Puerto Rico, 1895 - 1970) Born into a Jewish and and Afro-Puerto Rican family, Coén played in municipal bands in Puerto Rico. After moving to New York, Coén worked in Broadway pit bands and played with the Cubanacáns. In 1934 he formed Augusto Coen Y Sus Boricuas, the first true Latin-style big band, and became the first important Puerto Rican band leader in the New York scene. He recorded with Columbia in 1936. After briefly switching to Decca (1937), he recorded dozens of titles with Victor (1938-1940).