Enrique Pena Sanchez

Enrique Pena Sanchez (Puerto Padre, Las Tunas Province, 17 July 1880 – Havana, 13 April 1922) was a leading Cuban cornet player, orchestra leader and composer.

Born in a small town in the old province of Oriente, Pena studied with Marcos Gonzalez and Jose Santos Betancourt. In 1902 he moved to Havana, and founded the band La Juventud, with himself as director and cornet, Rogelio Solis (double bass), Felix Gonzalez (figle), Jose Belen Puig (first clarinet), Jose Urfe (second clarinet), Jose de los Reyes (kettle drum) and Rufino Cardenas (guiro). This band had several members who became well known; Puig went on to become a famous leader of his own charanga. The band functioned until 1906.

His second band was called the Orquesta tipica de Enrique Pena. Its line-up was Pena (cornet); Antonio Gonzalez (trombone); Feliz Gonzalez (figle); Jose Belen Puig (1st clarinet); Jose Urfe (2nd clarinet); Julian Barreto (violin); Alfredo Saenz (violin); Jose de los Reyes (tympani); Rufino Cardenas (guiro) and unknown (double bass). This orchestra became famous for being the first to play El bombin de Barreto (Barreto's bowler hat), written by Urfe, which was supposedly the first danzon to incorporate a syncopated third part, influenced by the son. The group recorded about 150 numbers, some of which are available on CD.

Pena was a prolific composer of danzones, amongst which are El nanigo, El dengue, El demonio de la negra, La flor de Cuba, Malabares and Eden concert.