Enrique Jesús Álvarez Navarro, popularly known as Enrique Álvarez, is a distinguished Cuban violinist, violist, and orchestra conductor. He was born on September 10, 1952, in the province of Camagüey. He is the son and grandson of notable Cuban musicians. He completed his musical studies, specializing in viola, at the National School of Arts. There, he was a student of Professor Marivonne Drobache.

As an instrumentalist, Enrique has been a member of several Cuban groups and orchestras, including first violin in the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra. He has also worked as first violinist throughout his career in the Camagüey Symphony Orchestra and in the orchestras of Elio Revé and Richard Egües.

With Guillermo Rubalcaba Camejo’s band, he toured internationally. Enrique Álvarez also toured with other important groups, such as the Orquesta Maravilla de Florida and the Orquesta América.

In May 1992, he created his own group, known as Charanga Latina, of which he serves as director. It is made up of eight talented Cuban musicians and features the typical charanga format.

The Enrique Álvarez Orchestra’s repertoire includes a variety of popular dance music genres, including bolero, cha-cha-chá, cumbia, merengue, son, and mambo, with salsa being the most prominent.

In 2000, he and his Charanga Latina won the Grand Prize and the Popularity Prize at the Adolfo Guzmán Competition.

With his orchestra, Enrique has taken his music to numerous venues in various countries in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Nationally, his performances include the Palacio de la Salsa at the Riviera Hotel (Paseo and Malecón, Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, Havana City), and the Fourteenth Havana Fair FIHAV/96.

Enrique Álvarez has shared the stage with renowned musicians, including Barbarito Diez and Tito Gómez, and has toured internationally in the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela. He has also performed alongside Wilfrido Vargas, Federico Brito, Oscar D. Léon, Andy Montañés, Alfredo la Fé, Enrique “Culebra” Iriarte, and Papo Luca.

Para mi Santo is the name that identifies his album, which was released in New York during the Salsa Festival held there. His discography also includes the CD El Violin Charanguero, recorded by the Ahí/Na Má record label. On it, he co-stars with Alfredo de la Fe and is accompanied by Charanga Latina.