Bobby Carcassés:
Reality Turned Legend

He may be known as a legendary jazz trumpeter but not many people know the details behind the legend. With a professional career stretching more than half a century, this artist has as many facets as the instruments he plays, from actor and painter up to cultural activist and professor.

Many surprising things are said about Bobby Carcassés like "he's the best kept secret in Cuban music." Of course, fans of his have been appreciating him for half a century of work on stage and in recording studios.

During his younger years, he was an outstanding athlete, setting a national record in indoor high jump. However, music and art was his main path ever since he started singing Italian songs and set foot, microphone in hand, at the CMHW radio station in the city of Santa Clara, located in the center of the island.

Roberto Arturo Carcassés Cusa was born in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica, where his grandfather was the Cuban Consul General. Four years later, on August 29, 1938, he was officially registered in Cuba. His professional debut as a guest artist was made before his 20th birthday as an actor and singer. By that time he was also taking his first steps in painting and drawing