It is said that in 1928, the musician Moisés Simons was casually at a Havana’s Café. Apparently, a manisero chinese went there hawking his wares. Then, Simons, taking a paper napkin, made the stroke of the five lines of the staff and wrote an inmortal song-street cry: ‘’El Manisero’’.
Moisés Simons was born in Havana on August 24th, 1889. Son of a basque and a cuban, the boy grew up in the neighborhood of Jesus Maria, the most popular and burning area of Havana. Notable composer, pianist and conductor Simons, creator of the internationally famous street cry ‘’El Manisero’’, enlivened many parties in San Antonio de los Baños and other neighboring towns.
It is ensured that Rita Montaner was the first to perform the song, it also could happen with ‘’Canto Siboney’’ and ‘’Mamá Inés’’. She recorded it for Columbia Company, New York. It is also said that ‘’El Manisero’’ was the first recording made by cubans who sold a million records, and it is estimated that there are over five hundred versions in most of the world languages. The work was so famous that was sung at halls, theaters, shows and films.
Moisés Simons also composed other cuban masterpieces such as ‘’Chivo que rompe tambó’’, popularized by ‘’Bola de Nieve’’. Simons died on June 28th, 1945, in Madrid, Spain; but we all know that he is alive and here in cuban music.