Leo Castañeda 2 LP's 1959, 1963 Cuba

"Leo y su Ritmo A Caballo"
1963
Vinyl LP/LD Discuba label.

1. Con mi caballo
2. Como un carnaval
3. preparen candela
4. La sitiera
5. Gloria a beny Moré
6. Leo esta loco
7. Leo llego
8. Cariño falso
9. Me llaman loco
10. Cintra tu traicion

5. Gloria a Beny Moré
Beny Moré died Feb. 19, 1963
(you can hear the galloping "A Caballo" rhythm)

8. Cariño falso
 (you can hear the galloping "A Caballo" rhythm)

 9. Me Llaman loco
(Ritmo "A Caballo")

Leo Castañeda, Cuban singer who led a swinging big band, his intonation and vocal style influenced by Beny Moré. 
He was also an amazing bolerista (bolero singer).

Far from just an "imitator" o sea "Beny clone", Leo Castañeda had his own distinct and VERY unique voice!

Recorded in 1963, his "Leo y su Ritmo A Caballo" LP on Discuba, with several of the tunes on the LP using his "A Caballo" rhythm. The cover photo has to be the wildest Cuban cover I've seen, with Leo in Cuba standing outside en "el campo", holding a attache case in one hand, while holding the reins of the Caballo, with a Güiro in the other hand and pair of congas are slung over the horse.
The bass drum in the photo has a very odd conical shape.

Juanito Marquez developed his ritmo "Pa'ca", Enrique Bonne developed his ritmo "Upa Upa", Perez Prado had his "Dengue", Aragon had their "Cha-Onda"... Leo Castañeda had his "Ritmo A Caballo".
The "A Caballo" sound was done by a musician playing the old chinese temple blocks playing a rhythm that sounds like a horse galloping, really unique to say the least, you can even hear it in the boleros.
Leo's "Ritmo A Caballo" LP is long out of print, never reissued. Obscure and rare.I have meticulously "cleaned" and trimmed" each track " using Goldwave V.5, the 10 tracks now have an excellent sound .

"Mucho Corazon"
1959

Leo Castañeda's LP "Mucho Corazon" very different than the other LP (no "Ritmo A Caballo" theme) it was recorded in Cuba in 1959 and reissued on CD, however they recorded it directly from the vinyl LP with audible pops and clicks and at a low audio level.
I have meticulously "cleaned" and trimmed" each track and brought the audio up using Goldwave V.5 and now the 12 tracks sound excellent. Both his singing and the band swing.
The more I listen to these two recordings.... the more I'm amazed at what a great voice Leo Castañeda has!

10. La Majana

2. Son De La Loma

**As a result of this post, I recently had a great conversation with Leo Castañeda's daughter, 'Elsie' who has told me that Leo also spent time in Mexico and Venezuela, now in his 80's he is doing very well and lives in Miami Florida and that as well as singing... Leo plays Congas, guitar and drums!

Leo Castañeda in a 2008 photo in Miami, Florida.

Graciously sent to me by his daughter Elsie.

Leo... you are one cool musician!

Mucho corazon de verdad!!!