Fidels Eyeglasses: Electo "Chepin" Rosell, Bernardo "Chovén" Villalon - Orq. Chepín Chóven

Orq. Chepín Chóven - 1930's
Electo 'Chepín' Rosell (Director, violin)
b; Santiago de Cuba 1907 - d;1984.

Bernardo 'Chovén' Villalon (co-director, piano)
b; Santiago de Cuba 1910.- d;1999

The singer standing in the back used
a 'megaphone' to sing through.
Photo via Daniel Chatelain.

Orq. Chepín Chóven - 40's

Drummer Hesmerido 'Lolo' Ferrera credited as the true creator of ritmo "Pilón" is standing next to Chepin.
'Lolo' and Enrique Bonne actually played two slightly different style's.

Hesmerido 'Lolo' Ferrera, older with Grey hair.
Playing timbales, kickdrum and floor tom.
Photo via Daniel Chatelain

Composer,band leader,Violinist Electo 'Chepin' Rosell and pianist Bernardo 'Chovén' Villalon form their big band called Orq. 'Chepin Choven'.
After 'Bernardo "Chovén" Villalon' leaves the band, it becomes 'Orq. Chepin'.

Three killer big bands came from the Eastern provence's: Santiago, Holguin, Oriente, being Mario Patterson Y Su Orq. Oriental, Orq. De Mariano Merceron, Orquesta Hermanos Aviles and Orq. Chepin, with their "distinct and unique" horn section and rhythm section.
(Those were commonly referred to as "Cuban Jazz Band's" / "tipo Jazz band".)

"El Merenguito"
Orq. Chepin Chovén
1942-1945
Tumbao CD from 78rpm's

"Mi Oriente"

Orq. Chepin
1956, '60 & '61
Tumbao CD taken from LP's

In the photo above, Hesmerido "Lolo" Ferrera is #6, standing next to 'Chepin'.This is an excellent killer recording, where 'Lolo' can be heard playing 'Pilon' on tracks 4, 6, 9, 11, 12, 16 and 18.

6. Monte Adentro
Ibrahim Ferrer: cantando.
Hesmerido 'Lolo' Ferrera playing
ritmo Pilón on timbales.

"Danzon A Lo Chepin"
Early 1960's
Orq. Chepin - vinyl LP
Ibrahim Ferrer: coro

Original Cuban pressing on Corona

2. Cogele El Gusto
Violin solo: 'Chepin'

8. Caridad
Violin solo: 'Chepin'

12. Canta El Contrabajo

"Chepin Chepin Chepin"
Orq. Chepin - 1964 vinyl LP

1. El Palo Tiene Curujey
Andrés 'Niño' Rivera Echevarria: tres solo

"El Platanal De Bartolo" -
1960's
Orq. Chepin - vinyl LP

1. El Platanal De Bartolo
Hesmerido 'Lolo' Ferrera playing
ritmo Pilón on timbales.

This record actually has three different bands, but they don't tell you that.
And the song order and the titles are almost all incorrect.
While there are four songs by 'Orq. Chepin' on here that are not found on other LP's, the other two bands on here are Manuel "Puntillita" Licea singing five songs with an early 1960's big band and the third band is the Charanga group 'Orq. Julio Valdes' that plays three songs.
It's common to find LP's on the 'Maype' and other south Florida record labels that "add" several bands on one LP, but show only one artist as being on the LP.

Here is the correct song list:

1. El Platanal De Bartolo - Orq. Chepin.
2. La Rumba Se Formo - Manuel 'Puntillita' Licea and big band.
3. Acércate más - Charanga Orq. Julio Valdes.
4. Compay José - Manuel 'Puntillita' Licea and big band.
5. Tremendo Guateque - Manuel 'Puntillita' Licea and big band.
6. El Dandy - Orq. Chepin.
7. El Guateque De Compadre Juan - Orq. Chepin.
8. Café - Manuel 'Puntillita Licea and big band.
9. Bolero Ritmico - Charanga Orq. Julio Valdes.
10. Santiago Tu Guapacha - Manuel 'Puntillita' Licea and big band.
11. Danzón-Chá - Charanga Orq. Julio Valdes.
12. Maria Antonia - Orq. Chepin.