The América Orchestra was founded by Matanzas native Ninón Mondéjar in 1942 and is a Charanga Típica Orchestra.

The America group was made up of Ninón Mondéjar (director and singer); Antonio Sánchez Reyes, “Musiquita” (violin); Enrique Jorrín (violin); Juan Ramos (flute); Alex Sosa (piano); Julio Salas (tumbadora); Augusto Barcia (timpani); Manuel Montejo (bass); and Gustavo Tamayo (güiro).

It was the orchestra that premiered and distributed to the world one of the most famous and danced Cuban rhythms: the Cha-Cha-Cha, created by one of its members, violinist Enrique Jorrín Oleaga. The Orquesta América has performed in numerous dances and radio programs.

In March 1953, following the dancers’ predilection for the Cha-Cha-Cha, he recorded the sung danzón “Silver Star” and the mambo rumba “La engañadora” written by composer and violinist Enrique Jorrín in the studios located on San Miguel Street. This first album sold 23,000 copies.

The orchestra weakened, paving the way for other groups of the time due to unfortunate disputes between Jorrín and the conductor. Ignacio Berroa and violinist Félix Reina joined the orchestra. By then, they were in Mexico, where they traveled to popularize the new genre, Cha-Cha-Cha.

Some of the musicians who played in the orchestra, including “Musiquita,” Montejo, Berroa, and Salas, returned to Cuban soil and founded the Orquesta América in 1955.

Their repertoire included songs such as Yo no camina más (I no longer walk), La verde palma real (The green royal palm), La engañadora (The deceiver), the first and most popular musical songs inscribed with the onomatopoeic word Chachachá, or the danzones Doña Olga, Liceo del Pilar, Central Constancia, Osiris, and Unión Cienfueguera.

In the 1980s, Orquesta América was reborn with Jorge Machado as its director. During this period, it recorded several albums for the Tumi Music label.

Today, the Orquesta América draws on talented young musicians from the country’s musical institutions, maintaining a high artistic and professional level and protecting legendary genres of Cuban music.