He was born in Yareyal, Holguín, Cuba on December 4, 1927 and died in Havana on December 4, 2000 after a short illness.
''Puntillita'' was one of the front-line singers in Juan De Marcos`s Afro Cuban All Stars.

Juan De Marcos himself suggested he appear on the first Afro Cuban record, A todo Cuba le gusta and it is his voice that so brilliantly opens this record with the theme Amor Verdadero. This was to become Puntillita`s featured song on all tours rigth up to his final appearance in Las Vegas just three weeks before his death. In the last two months of his life he also played at scenes in Japan and Australia, including Sydney Opera House during the Olympics.

Puntillita began singing at the age of seven with local bands in his native province and afterwards in Camagüey, moving to Havana in 1945, where he joined trumpeter Julio Cuevas`s Orchestra, one of the most popular bands in Cuba around these years. Working with Cuevas, he gained the nickname of Puntillita thanks to his favorite song: Son de la Puntillita which became his signature tone.

In the early 50s, he was one of the many singers to solo with the leyendary Sonora Matancera, where the luminary Celia Cruz was also performing, Manuel Licea became a very revered star in Cuba around the 50s due to his brilliant work on TV, radio and at clubs and festivals.

Together with others of the best singers from that Cuban music's gold epoch, his voice was much in demand and he was featured with a lot of bands famous in that era, highlighting Benny Moré's.

Possessing a classical vocal training, he was able, right to the end, to bless everybody with a powerful, perfect and clear intonation as if singing it for the first time, holding a grace to endeared him to all audiences.

Taken from Presentation of CD Puntillita Homenaje. Tumi Music.

See discography in www.discuba.com