"El Manisero", known in English as "The
Peanut Vendor", is a famous Cuban son-pregón composed by Moisés Simons in
1928. In the pregón style the melody
mimics the vocal cries of street peanut sellers in Havana.
The first performance of el manisero on stage was by Rita
Montaner, a Cuban singer, pianist and actress. She was well known in Mexico
City, Paris, Miami and New York, where she performed, filmed and recorded on
numerous occasions
The international recognition of the song came after Don Azpiazú
and his Havana Casino Orchestra recorded the song in 1930.
Antonio Machín was the voice behind the legendary
1930 Don Azpiazú recording that transformed "El Manisero" into a
global phenomenon. They recorded "The Peanut Vendor" in New York.
Machin’s smooth, clear tenor delivery captivated American audiences. The record
sold over one million copies, making it the first massive, cross-over hit for a
Cuban artist.
The song sparked a major rumba fashion across the United
States and Europe. Machín was a pioneer in Latin music history. As a person of
mixed Spanish and Afro-Cuban heritage, he became the first Black singer in Cuba
to successfully front a prominent, historically white orchestra.
The success of "El Manisero" launched Machín's
international career. He later moved to Europe, eventually settling in Spain,
where he became an absolute icon of romantic music and one of the most recorded
Cuban artists of the 20th century, famous for timeless boleros like
"Angelitos Negros" and "Dos Gardenias".
"El Manisero" has been recorded over 160 times. Some of the most notable versions include Louis Armstrong (1930), Stan Kenton (1947), Celia Cruz (1960s) and Bola de Nieve among many others.
¡Mani, mani!
Si te quieres por el pico divertir,
Cómete un cucuruchito de maní.
Ya no se puede pedir más.
Ay, caserita no me dejes ir,
Porque después te vas a arrepentir,
Y va a ser muy tarde ya.
Manisero se va, manisero se va.
Caserita no te acuestes a dormir,
Sin comerte un cucurucho de maní.
Cuando la calle sola está,
Acera de mi corazón.
Y si la niña escucha su cantar,
Llama desde su balcón.
Dame de tu maní, dame de tu maní,
Que esta noche no voy a poder dormir,
Sin comerme un cucurucho de maní.
Me voy, me voy, me voy.
The Sarahbanda plays a unique version of El manisero arranged by Jorge Aragón for the Berlin Philarmonie Orchestra for the Lunch Concert Series. Dancer Fismo Cuba joins the band at the end of the song.
from Cuba to Berlin
