Miguel Matamoros

One of the most important Cuban composers of all time, Miguel Matamoros wrote dozens of popular standards such as "Lagrimas Negras," "Son de la Loma," "Mujer de Antonio," and "El Que Siembra Su Maiz." Most of his compositions originally appeared on recordings by the Trío Matamoros -- which included Rafael Cueto and Ciro Rodríguez -- during the 1930s.

The Trío Matamoros played boleros and son. They toured all Latin America and Europe and recorded in New York. Matamoros expanded the trio into a conjunto (Conjunto Matamoros) for a trip to Mexico and hired the young Beny Moré as singer from 1945 to 1947. They recorded many and LPs and the group was renowned for the harmony of their voices, and the quality of the lyrics.

Miguel Matamoros was one of the greatest and most prolific composers of Cuban son. His first hit was "El Que Siembra Su Maíz", followed by classics such as "Lágrimas Negras" and "Son De La Loma". The group, whose members stayed together for nearly 45 years, disbanded in 1969. Thanks to covers by Celia Cruz, Beny More, Maria Dolores Pradera, and Daniel Santos, Matamoros' compositions entered the popular Latin consciousness for decades to come.