Anselmo Sacasas

Anselmo Sacasas (23 November 1912 – 22 January 1998) was a Cuban jazz pianist, bandleader, composer, and arranger. As a pianist he took inspiration from Cuban tres players like Arsenio Rodríguez, adapting their techniques to his own style as a soloist in orchestras playing Cuban music.

He began to learn piano at the age of 6 from a female cousin, and 10 years later graduated from the music conservatory in Manzanillo. He later moved to Havana, where he composed piano pieces for silent films and developed an interest in the danzón style. In the early 1930s he was a member of Tata Pereira's orchestra.

In 1936 he met the singer Miguelito Valdés, with whom he would work in the Orquesta de los Hermanos Castro. Shortly after he would found the Orquesta Casino de la Playa. This band, with its jazz arrangements, would prove to be a complete revolution in the Cuban music scene, touring Central and South America and appearing on film in both Cuba and the United States.

In 1940, Sacasas left for New York, where after some difficulty he was able to found his own orchestra in 1941. They played in the Colony Club in Chicago and the cabarets La Conga Club and Havana Madrid in Manhattan.

In 1959 he became the musical director of the hotel Fountainbleu in Miami and Club Ronde. In 1963 he became the director of the cabaret Tropicoro for thirteen years, after which he retired to Miami, where he died in 1998.

Birth and Death Data: Born November 23, 1912, Died January 22, 1998

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1938 - 1949

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano, leader, composer, songwriter

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-027838 10-in. 9/19/1938 El reino de tus ojos Orquesta Casino de la Playa ; Miguelito Valdés Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-033867 10-in. before 2/27/1939 Cuando vuelvas a quererme Orquesta Casino de la Playa ; Anselmo Sacasas ; Miguelito Valdés Re-recording : Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-035381 10-in. before 3/30/1939 Llora campesino Marcelino Guerra ; Orquesta Casino de la Playa ; Carlos Suárez ; Miguelito Valdés Re-recording : Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio songwriter  
Victor BS-035557 10-in. before 4/3/1939 Oriente Orquesta Casino de la Playa ; Anselmo Sacasas ; Miguelito Valdés Re-recording : Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-037007 10-in. before 6/27/1939 Orquesta Casino de la Playa ; Anselmo Sacasas ; Miguelito Valdés Re-recording : Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D5XB-0016 10-in. 1/4/1945 Acabaste Octavio Mendoza ; Orquesta Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer, leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D5XB-0017 10-in. 1/4/1945 Caramba, caramba Octavio Mendoza ; Orquesta Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D5XB-0018 10-in. 1/4/1945 Linda mujer Octavio Mendoza ; Orquesta Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D5XB-0019 10-in. 1/4/1945 Koki koka Octavio Mendoza ; Orquesta Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D5XB-0149 10-in. 3/16/1945 Sol tropical Octavio Mendoza ; Orquesta Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D5XB-0150 10-in. 3/16/1945 Pa' lo pollo mai Octavio Mendoza ; Sacasas Havana Madrid Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D5XB-0151 10-in. 3/16/1945 Si tu me llevas te llevo Octavio Mendoza ; Orquesta Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D5XB-0152 10-in. 3/16/1945 Y que le voy a hacer? Sacasas Havana Madrid Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, piano, songwriter  
Victor D5XB-0410 10-in. 6/13/1945 Me vacilón Octavio Mendoza ; Orquesta Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, piano, songwriter  
Victor D5XB-0411 10-in. 6/13/1945 Pronto José Octavio Mendoza ; Orquesta Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D5XB-0412 10-in. 6/13/1945 La ruñidera Octavio Mendoza ; Orquesta Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D5XB-0413 10-in. 6/13/1945 Capullito de Aleli Orquesta Sacasas Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D6XB-1328 10-in. 3/8/1946 Guardo un recuerdo Orquesta Sacasas ; Walfredo de los Reyes Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D6XB-1330 10-in. 3/8/1946 Mambo Rubén González ; Orquesta Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, piano, composer  
Victor D6XB-3374 10-in. 12/5/1946 Me deja solito Rubén González ; Orquesta Sacasas ; Anselmo Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D6XB-3375 10-in. 12/5/1946 Te seguiré queriendo Orquesta Sacasas ; Bobby Ramos Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, piano, leader, songwriter  
Victor D6XB-3376 10-in. 12/5/1946 Lengua mala Rubén González ; Orquesta Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, piano, leader  
Victor D6XB-3377 10-in. 12/5/1946 Soltando chispas Rubén González ; Orquesta Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D7XB-0251 10-in. 4/11/1947 Cose, cose, cose Rubén González ; Orquesta Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet and vocal ensemble leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D7XB-0252 10-in. 4/11/1947 Quizás, quizás, quizás Rubén González ; Octavio Mendoza ; Orquesta Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D7XB-0253 10-in. 4/11/1947 Paquete no Rubén González ; Orquesta Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D7XB-0254 10-in. 4/11/1947 Hasta que se rompa el coco Rubén González ; Orquesta Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D7XB-2022 10-in. 11/10/1947 Lo que va de ayer a hoy Rubén González ; Octavio Mendoza ; Orquesta Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D7XB-2023 10-in. 11/10/1947 Cantando y riendo Rubén González ; Orquesta Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D7XB-2024 10-in. 11/10/1947 Cielito Rubén González ; Orquesta Anselmo Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D7XB-2025 10-in. 11/10/1947 El hijo de Chencha Rubén González ; Orquesta Anselmo Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D7XB-2551 10-in. 12/1/1947 Dale Pepe Rubén González ; Orquesta Anselmo Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D7XB-2552 10-in. 12/1/1947 La botella Rubén González ; Orquesta Anselmo Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D7XB-2553 10-in. 12/1/1947 Anuncios clasificados Rubén González ; Orquesta Anselmo Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D7XB-2554 10-in. 12/1/1947 A-E-I-O-U Rubén González ; Orquesta Anselmo Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D9FB-1605 10-in. 6/2/1949 Chupa, chupa Rubén González ; Orquesta Anselmo Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D9FB-1606 10-in. 6/2/1949 Vamós, prietita Rubén González ; Orquesta Anselmo Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D9FB-1607 10-in. 6/2/1949 New York rumba Rubén González ; Orquesta Anselmo Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, piano, leader, composer  
Victor D9FB-1608 10-in. 6/2/1949 Maíz Rubén González ; Orquesta Anselmo Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, piano, songwriter, leader  
Victor D9FB-2352 10-in. 10/5/1949 In the hall of the mambo king Orquesta Anselmo Sacasas Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, piano, composer  
Victor D9FB-2353 10-in. 10/5/1949 Guararé Orquesta Anselmo Sacasas Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D9FB-2354 10-in. 10/5/1949 Opus 13 Rubén González ; Orquesta Anselmo Sacasas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D9FB-2355 10-in. 10/5/1949 B flat Mambo Orquesta Anselmo Sacasas Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor CU-242 10-in. before 3/25/1940 Tu jijo serán jabá Orquesta Casino de la Playa Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor CU-381 10-in. before 5/1/1940 Quiero amar Orquesta Riverside ; Anselmo Sacasas ; Miguelito Valdés Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor CU-400[a] 10-in. before 5/6/1940 Amanecer criollo Orquesta Riverside ; Anselmo Sacasas ; Miguelito Valdés Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor CU-400[b] 10-in. before 5/15/1940 Sombras de mi tierra Orquesta Riverside ; Anselmo Sacasas ; Miguelito Valdés Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo and piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor CU-401 10-in. before 5/6/1940 Del codo al caño Orquesta Riverside ; Anselmo Sacasas ; Miguelito Valdés Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo and piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor CU-402[a] 10-in. before 5/6/1940 Así viviré Orquesta Riverside ; Anselmo Sacasas ; Miguelito Valdés Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo and piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor CU-408[a] 10-in. before 5/15/1940 En la frontera de México Orquesta Riverside ; Anselmo Sacasas ; Miguelito Valdés Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, piano  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Sacasas, Anselmo," accessed November 25, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/108359.

Sacasas, Anselmo. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 25, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/108359.

"Sacasas, Anselmo." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/108359

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