Germán García is a romantic Cuban balladeer and composer born in the city of Matanzas in 1932.
A pop star in pre-revolutionary Cuba, he recorded his first album in 1958, and topped the nation’s radio charts with songs like “Varadero,” and “Le Quito El Corcho a la Botella,” among others; and recorded with Maestro Fernando Mulens, Humberto Suarez, and his own “Los Panchos” style guitar group named ” Trio Los Titanes”.
His tribute to the beach of the Cuban city Varadero describes a “Blue beach of illusions,” and this has become the locale’s calling card.
Germán left Cuba due to the scourge of Fidel Castro, and arrived in Miami in 1962, where he spent the rest of his life writing, recording, and performing music as well making oil paintings.
In 1968, he recorded an LP in Miami’s world famous Criteria Studios with a 30 piece swing band led by guitar legend Pablo Cano. Other notable musicians cooperated such as Willy Chirino on timbales.
The album was produced by Thomas Fundora (Miami Sound Machine), and engineered by Mack Emerman (Eric Clapton, The Bee Gees) for impresario Henry Stone’s Tone Latino label.
The album was reviewed favorably by publications such as Record World, and distributed by the Cayre brothers, who went on to found Salsoul Records.
The work is characterized by a funky, bass heavy groove that well suits Garcia’s dramatic vocals, and makes the record an indelible stylistic classic even more relevant today than when it was recorded.