Francisco Hilario Riser Rincón (1910–1988), better known as Panchito Riset, was a

Cuban Cuban may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Cuba, a country in the Caribbean * Cubans, people from Cuba, or of Cuban descent ** Cuban exile, a person who left Cuba for political reasons, or a descendant thereof * Cuban citizen, a perso ...

singer, highly regarded for his interpretation of

boleros Bolero is a genre of song which originated in eastern Cuba in the late 19th century as part of the trova tradition. Unrelated to the older Spanish dance of the same name, bolero is characterized by sophisticated lyrics dealing with love. It has ...

in the pre-war period. He was born in the Atarés district of

Havana Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

. He learnt to sing and play the tres guitar as a boy. Initially, he sang with groups such as Septeto Esmeralda, Sexteto Cauto, Septeto Habanero, and the Ismael Díaz Orchestra. In 1933, he went to New York to sing and record with the Antobal Orchestra, replacing the singer Machín. His name was misspelt "Riset" instead of "Riser" on an early record, and thus his musical name was born. Riset became a prominent figure in the Latin music scene in 1930s NYC, and sang and recorded with numerous musical groups, among them Cuarteto Flores, Cuarteto Caney, Cuarteto Victoria of Rafael Hernández, the

Xavier Cugat Xavier Cugat (; 1 January 1900 – 27 October 1990) was a Spanish musician and bandleader who spent his formative years in Havana, Cuba. A trained violinist and arranger, he was a leading figure in the spread of Latin music. In New York City ...

Orchestra, the

Enric Madriguera Enric R. Madriguera (17 February 1902 – 7 September 1973) was a violinist of Catalan origin who was playing concerts as a child before he studied at the Barcelona Conservatory. (The Castilian form of his name is Enrique, which he sometimes used ...

Orchestra, and Cubanacán. He performed in New York venues like La Conga and Yumurí and at the Cabaret Trovadero in California. Riset became a US citizen and served as an artist and medical volunteer army in World War II. Afterwards he resumed his singing career, notably at the Versailles cabaret where he performed for 18 years. He also sang at

Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhatta ...

.During the 1950's he recorded for the Ansonia Records Label where he recorded some of his very best songs accompanied by the Luis "Lija" Ortiz Conjunto. He died in 1988 from complications brought on by diabetes. Towards the end of his life, he was blind and his legs amputated. He is buried in

Calverton National Cemetery Calverton National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery in the Town of Riverhead (town), New York, Riverhead in Suffolk County, New York, Suffolk County on eastern Long Island in New York (state), New York. The cemetery's street addres ...

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References

1910 births 1988 deaths 20th-century Cuban male singers Bolero singers Burials at Calverton National Cemetery Musicians from Havana {{Cuba-musician-stub