Guillermo Portabales (6 April 1911 – 25 October 1970) was a Cuban singer-so… Read Full Bio ↴Guillermo Portabales (6 April 1911 – 25 October 1970) was a Cuban singer-songwriter and guitarist who popularized that guajira style of Cuban music from the 1930s through the 1960s. His languid, melancholy, intensely lyrical guajiras and his elegant, stylish singing made him greatly popular throughout Latin America, where he is still revered.
Portabales was born José Guillermo Quesada del Catillo in the province of Rodas, in the former department of Las Villas.
At age 11, Portabales began work as a printer's assistant in Cienfuegos.
In 1928, he made his radio debut on the station CMHI, and from then on divided his time between his work as a printer and performing.
In the beginning, Portabales sang a variety of styles -- canción, tango, bolero, son until he discovered that his listeners enjoyed the guajira the most. He thereby refined the style and developed his signature salon guajira style in which he depicted in bucolic terms the life of the Cuban guajira (the rural campesino). Portabales sang and played guitar, accompanied bass and percussion. His guajiras have a gentle, lilting rhythm, mixing elements of the traditional son and the bolero.
Portabales continued to perform and perfect the guajira in eastern Cuba (the Orient) until invited to Puerto Rico in 1936. Portabales became instantly enamored of the neighboring Caribbean island and remained there for several years, singing in theaters, clubs and on the radio. In 1939, he married the puertoriqueña Arah Mina López, a journalist who joined him as toured Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, New York, and Tampa.
In 1940, Portabales returned to Havana to perform on stage and on radio with the Trio Matamoros. He also made a successful tour of United States and took an extended stay in Baranquilla, Colombia.
In 1953, Portabales finally settled for good in Puerto Rico, where he continued to record and perform and from where he made occasional tours of the continent. During the 1960s, he expressed his opposition to the Cuban Revolution in several compositions in discreetly poetic terms.
Portabales' career was tragically cut short when he died at age 59 in a traffic accident on Puerto Rico in 1970.
Portabales was born José Guillermo Quesada del Catillo in the province of Rodas, in the former department of Las Villas.
At age 11, Portabales began work as a printer's assistant in Cienfuegos.
In 1928, he made his radio debut on the station CMHI, and from then on divided his time between his work as a printer and performing.
In the beginning, Portabales sang a variety of styles -- canción, tango, bolero, son until he discovered that his listeners enjoyed the guajira the most. He thereby refined the style and developed his signature salon guajira style in which he depicted in bucolic terms the life of the Cuban guajira (the rural campesino). Portabales sang and played guitar, accompanied bass and percussion. His guajiras have a gentle, lilting rhythm, mixing elements of the traditional son and the bolero.
Portabales continued to perform and perfect the guajira in eastern Cuba (the Orient) until invited to Puerto Rico in 1936. Portabales became instantly enamored of the neighboring Caribbean island and remained there for several years, singing in theaters, clubs and on the radio. In 1939, he married the puertoriqueña Arah Mina López, a journalist who joined him as toured Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, New York, and Tampa.
In 1940, Portabales returned to Havana to perform on stage and on radio with the Trio Matamoros. He also made a successful tour of United States and took an extended stay in Baranquilla, Colombia.
In 1953, Portabales finally settled for good in Puerto Rico, where he continued to record and perform and from where he made occasional tours of the continent. During the 1960s, he expressed his opposition to the Cuban Revolution in several compositions in discreetly poetic terms.
Portabales' career was tragically cut short when he died at age 59 in a traffic accident on Puerto Rico in 1970.
Nostalgia Guajira
Guillermo Portabales Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Nostalgia Guajira' by these artists:
Roberto Torres Mayari, mayari, Guantánamo Mayari, mayari, Guantánamo Mayari…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Guillermo Portabales:
Al Vaiv N De Mi Carreta Eh, se acerca la madrugada Los gallos están cantando Compadr…
Al Vaiven de Mi Carreta Eh, se acerca la madrugada Los gallos están cantando Compadr…
Amorosa Guajira En una hermosa campiña Donde crece en flor la piña Aroman la…
Cuando Salí de Cuba Nunca podré morirme Mi corazón no lo tengo aquí Alguién…
Cuando Sali De Cuba Nunca podré morirme, mi corazón no lo tengo aquí. Alguién me…
Cumbiamba Dame tu cumbia Dame tu porro Dame tu merecumbé Dame tu cumb…
El Arroyo Que Murmura El arroyo que murmura y que la luna retrata, Cuando sus…
El Carretero Ay, por el camino del sitio mío, un carretero alegre…
Flor de Amor Amor - Porta So in love like the birds love the…
Guateque Campesino Hay guateque en el bohío del compadre Juan Ramón. Ya está en…
Junto a un Cañaveral Junto a un cañaveral Una guajirita avía Junto a un cañaveral…
Lamento Cubano ¡Oh! Cuba hermosa, primorosa, ¿por qué sufres hoy tanto qu…
Romance Guajiro Aquí desde mi bohio miro el verdor de los montes oigo trinar…
Tristeza Guajira Aburrido de la faena, se acerca por el camino, Un guajiro…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@vivianamartinez1666
Esta música la escuche y vaile con mis mejores amigos del barrio aún la escuchamos 30 años después
@rubengonzalez3608
Que Dios conserve por siempre a Cuba y su música no hay otra igual.
@RolandAAvila
Gracias a Dios que nos dió a Guillermo Portabales
@mercedesvergel358
Me encanta este son tan cubano como las palmas
@sonichuizcool7445
Heard this as a kid. For decades I used to sing this song to myself. 30 years later i find this song out of pure luck. This is my song.
@ilianasapien8904
...... que ritmo!! Grandes músicos bellas letras.
@armandomantilla1952
Musica hermosa...Portabales gran talento.
@pacoordiales7000
Grandioso Guillermo Quezada Del Castillo, Gracias a la vida por haber conocido tu música.
@saradagua
esto si es verdadera musica, musica que sale del alma, letras que llegan al corazon, musica que embelesa, y deja extasiado a todo aquel que la escucha, un deleite para el oido, gracias...
@irislevano6061
Que lindos recuerdos me trae esta canción !!!