Cano Estremera

grade school student. Motivated by his god

parents to study music, he started by singing

religeous hymns.

He started in the professional world as a

percussionist with a group of musicians that

was formed in the Barrio Obrero section of

Santurce. Within a year, he was vocalist with

that group and with the folkloric plena group:

Los Pleneros del Quinto Olivo. But his

greatest opportunity came upon joining the

Orchestra Mulenze 76, which had an exclusive

contract with Fania Records.

In 1978, Estremera met Bobby Valentín, who

invited him to join his band. The first song that

he recorded with Valentín's group was "La

boda de Ella" which won him widespread

acclaim in the world of popular music. He

recorded six albums with Valentín, including

two as a solist. But by the end of 1984, he

decided to leave Valentín to form his own

band.

At this new stage, "El Cano", as he was

known, dedicated himself to singing all genres

of popular music. In 1986 he won the Paoli

award as Salsa Vocalist of the Year, and

other awards. In 1988, Estremera debuted as

producer of his own records with his "Salvaje"

album. A year later, he released "Dueño del

Soneo" which his new series of recordings.

El Cano, who was born albino, is known in the

music industry as one of the best "soneros",

or singer of Afro-Caribbean music, at the

century. His skills were demonstrated at a

now famous concert in Guánica, where he

sand 105 consecutive stanzas without

repeating a single phrase. Quite an

acheivement. In that same year, his

improvisation skills were put to the test again

and produced 128 unique "soneos" for the

concert fans in Yabucoa, while a few weeks

later, before 5,000 spectators at a concert in

Juana Díaz, he increased that number to 130.

With a honed skill in improvising without par,

Estremera has won the epithet of "owner of

the soneo"; a title that has virtually replaced

the "golden kid" by which he was initially

known, and which was used in the title of two

of his recordings. His hit album Dueño del

Soneo, Vol. 1, included salsa tracks such as

Por Si Acaso and more. There was also

Dueño del Soneo, Vol. 2 and Exitos del

Dueño del Soneo.

Among his musical hits, Estremera is best

known for songs such as "Las ingratitudes",

"Manuel García", "Si me caso mejoro", "La

mujer y la primavera", "Me quedé con las

ganas", "La novia automática", "Awilda", "El

compromiso", "Nací y así soy", "Aprovecha lo

mío" and "Viernes social".

Some of his songs:

Dueño del Soneo, Vol. 1

1. Amiga

2. Lo Que Me Pasó en la Guagua

3. Tiempo Para Nosotros

4. Todo a Pulmón

5. Pero Me Hiciste Tuyo

6. Ultimo en Tu Piel

7. Mí

Dueño del Soneo, Vol. 2

1. Por Si Acaso

2. Un Amor A La Ligera

3. Me VA A Extranar

4. El Animal

5. Reto

6. Se Divierte y Ya No Piensa en Mi

7. Que Tal Te Va Sin Mi

El Nino De Oro

1. Viernes Social

2. Naci y Asi Soy

3. Sin Salida

4. Pide y Toma

5. Aprovecha Lo Mio

6. Como Hare

7. Emborráchame de Amor

8. No Importa Que Te Lo Vean

Salvaje 88

1. Eres Tu

2. Amame en Camara Lenta

3. Te Amare

4. Contigo

5. El Toro

6. Pleno Verano

7. En La Obscuridad