Acerina: The forever-king of el danzón
By Leonardo Rosen November 14, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

Dance
Acerina y su Danzonera 
Sat, Nov 15, 8pm
Plaza Real del Conde, Events Room
150 pesos
Reservation for four-seat table, 50 pesos 

Since there’s a gala dance with La Primer Danzonera de América “Acerina” in San Miguel on November 15, I thought it might be appropriate to write something about Acerina’s life and work. Then people might understand why this is an important event.

Versions of his early years are numerous, so I’ve taken information from four books to paint a brief picture of the man.

Consejo Valiente Robert “Acerina” was born in Santiago de Cuba in 1899 (or maybe 1903). At the age of 14, the young Afro-Cuban arrived in Yucatán as a rumba dancer with a Cuban musical theater company. He soon made his way to the port of Veracruz, working as a dancer and then as a güiro (scraped gourd) player with the orchestra of another Cuban, Tiburcio Hernández “Babuco.” It would appear that Babuco taught Acerina to play the timbales (a pair of kettle drums used in the danzón).

In 1925 (or 1926), Acerina followed Babuco to Mexico City. In 1927, he joined the house orchestra of the Salón México, legendary temple of the danzón, under the direction of maestro Juan de Dios Concha. The maestro’s brother, Pedro Concha, apparently taught our protagonist the deeper mysteries of the timbales. In any case, Acerina was this orchestra’s timbalero and star attraction for 30 years until 1957. During that time, he also led bands under his own name with essentially the same personnel as the Salón México orchestra. When maestro Concha retired in 1957, the orchestra became completely that of Acerina. He was the most dominant and best-known figure in the danzón until his death in 1987.

Acerina was a musical genius in every sense, as timbalero, bandleader and composer.

He synthesized all the regional styles of the danzón (from Cuba, Yucatán, Veracruz and Mexico City) into his own uniquely personal style. Also, he had a charismatic personality that drew people, especially dancers, to him. His stature in Mexico was similar to that of Duke Ellington or Louis Armstrong in American music. He was the best.


The master’s orchestra continues to play, completely faithful to his style, under the direction of his disciple, maestro Diego Perez. It is a great honor to welcome to San Miguel La Primer Danzonera de America Acerina.

The table reservation is 50 pesos, and tickets are 150 pesos, sold at Plaza Real del Conde, Hernández Macías 47, and in the Jardín. Telephone 152-2995 or 152-1003 for information.