Alfredo Boloña

Alfredo Boloña Jiménez (December 24, 1890 – 1964) was a Cuban guitarist who played a role in the early development of the son as director of the Sexteto Boloña.

[1] Boloña played the marímbula, the bongó and the tres at different times and, despite his physical limitations (dwarfism), he was a force in Cuban music for half a century.

In 1910 he was already a figure of note in Havana, a member of the Los Apaches choral group and of the Trío Oriental, with Guillermo Castillo (guitar) and Carlos Godínez (tres).

In 1915 Boloña formed a son group in Havana called Agrupación Boloña, with Hortensia Valerón (vocalist), Manuel Menocal (tres), Manuel Corona (guitar), Victoriano Lopéz (maracas) and Joaquín Velásquez (bongó).

[3] The lineup in these recordings included prolific singer Abelardo Barroso.