Juan Carlos Alfonso, a distinguished Cuban pianist and director of Dan Den, one of the most prominent popular music groups in Cuban music. He was born in the famous charanga city of Bejucal, in the province of Havana.

From a young age, he was influenced by good music. According to the artist in an interview, he used to listen to good Cuban music before going to sleep, including Benny’s. He studied music like all his siblings. He specialized in piano at the Alejandro García Caturla Conservatory (31st Avenue and 82nd Street, Marianao, Havana).

While studying, Alfonso earned a living by spending nights at the famous El Gallo cabaret in Bejucal. He took classes from the renowned orchestra conductor Armando Romeu, where he refined his musical style. In the early years of his professional career, he played as a pianist in several Cuban orchestras, including the Colonial ensemble and Alborada.

Juan Carlos Alfonso joined Charangón de Revé in 1983, having joined thanks to Rolando Valdés. He served as arranger, composer, and musical director. He achieved major hits, including “No me cojas para eso,” “Yo sé que tú sabes que yo sé,” “La boda en bicicleta,” and “Más viejo que ayer y más joven que mañana.” With this orchestra and Revé, he achieved the greatest musical success of the 1980s.

He founded his own orchestra, Dan Den, in 1988. They debuted at the popular traditional festival, “Las Charangas de Bejucal,” where a large crowd gathered. His orchestra quickly won the favor of Cuban dance audiences. They soon also won over audiences in other countries, where they have taken their music. Their records are sold abroad and are also a highlight for DJs in many nightclubs.

Juan Carlos Alfonso’s piano playing, imbued with high quality, along with his musical arrangements, is what gives his orchestra its unique and unmistakable signature. This is why Dan Den is one of the most outstanding groups in Cuban popular music, and one of the most sought-after by the public.

In the vast repertoire he performs with his orchestra, you can find a variety of musical genres such as salsa ballads, boleros, sones, cha-cha-chá, and rumbas.

Juan Carlos’s songs have achieved significant success on the Hit Parades throughout his career, both nationally and internationally. The song “Mi cuerpo” reached #12 on Mexican radio stations, spending 49 weeks on the charts.

Among the contributions Juan Carlos Alfonso has left to Cuban music, the rhythm known as Dan Den stands out. This is nothing more than a fusion of Cuban and Caribbean rhythms, its name coming from the ringing of two bells originally from the Bejucal festivals. It can be heard in songs such as “El chico Suchel,” “Siempre hay un ojo que te ve,” “El ritmo Dan Den,” “Mi cuerpo,” “Quisiera pero no puedo,” and “El que ganar, ganar.”

Juan Carlos Alfonso and his Dan Den have performed in countless venues and venues around the world through numerous tours since the orchestra’s founding.

Juan Carlos Alfonso is one of the most successful Cuban popular musicians of Cuban Salsa. He has had a stable and successful musical career, keeping his group at the forefront of popular dance music to this day and turning it into a school of contemporary Cuban popular music for young musicians.

Discography: There’s always an eye that sees you (1990), More roll than film” (1991), Love me with your experience (1992), More roll than film (1992), Old Lazarus (1993), Taking advantage of the coverage (1994), Hit the one who didn’t hit you (1994), Cuban Son a la Dan Den (1995), My body (1996), Salsa in ataré (1997), Beautiful mechanics (1998), Greatest hits (2000), Give bells (2002) and Passion (2004).