Enrique Jorrín – (1926 – 1987)

Violinist, composer and orchestral director, Enrique Jorrín, who was creator of Cha cha chá, one of the most acclaimed Cuban rhythms all over the world.

Jorrín was born on December 25, 1926 in Candelaria, Pinar del Río Province. His father was tailor and clarinetist from a popular orchestra. He moved together with his family to Havana when he was eight. Around these epoch he was studying musical technique and being twelve he composed the first part of his danzón Osiris. When he was fifteen, Enrique Jorrín evinced his great interest in studying and composing music because he spent many hours at piano. In 1941, he attended a free test at the Félix Alpizar Municipal Conservatoire of Music, choosing the violin as instrument because according to his own words, its sound was the one he liked the most. He studied classic violin.

His first public presentation as musician was with the ''Hermanos Contreras'' Orchestra when he had to substitute his brother Miguel who was violinist of the above mentioned orchestra. He entered afterwards diverse orchestras until he was asked to be part of América Orchestra directed by Ninon Mondejar in which he starts to establish the Cha cha chá bases.

At the end of the same decade there`s an important landmark in Jorrín`s artistic career. As musical director of América Orchestra he included his danzón La Engañadora in this group`s repertoire and it had great acceptance among the dancers. Regarding to this creation Jorrínj said once: ''It was pure fiction. When my mother listened to this composition she criticized it, but my musicians were fascinated and managed to convince her it would surely be a great success.

On December 12, 1987 in Havana died this prestigious violinist, creator of Cha cha chá, one of the most distinctive rhythms in Cuban music.

See discography of this artist in Cuban Music Shop.