Manuel Perfecto Simonet Pérez, known as Manolito Simonet, is a Cuban pianist, composer, producer, and arranger. He was born on April 18, 1961, in the province of Camaguey. Manolito showed an interest in music from childhood, beginning with the study of percussion. He became involved with the Amateur Artists Movement in his home province, joining several amateur musical groups, where he learned to play the piano and the tres.

Simonet began his professional career as a musician at just fifteen years old. After starting out, he pursued academic studies specializing in percussion. He also enrolled in harmony classes, while also continuing his self-taught career.

Later, when he traveled to Havana, he worked sporadically with orchestras such as those of Roberto Faz and Senén Suárez. In the 1980s, he returned to his province and worked as a professional musician, joining groups such as Lágrimas Negras, Inspiración, and Maravillas de Florida. He served as pianist and musical director for the latter, remaining there for several years, producing excellent orchestrations.

In 1993, Manolito Simonet founded his own orchestra, called Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco. Its debut took place in the Rosado Benny Moré Hall at La Tropical (41st and 42nd Streets, Playa, Havana), where it shared the stage with Juan Formell and Los Van Van.

Manolito, in his quest to give his group a sound distinct from other Cuban orchestras—that is, a sound that would distinguish it from the rest—brought together violins and brass instruments (trombones and trumpets), merging elements of the charanga and conjunto music, achieving an impressive sound. This is what Trabuco stands for, from the perspective of its instrumental format, composed of piano, flute, two trumpets, two trombones, violin, cello, synthesizer, congas, drums, and bass.

In his compositions, he pursues contemporary timbre-harmonic sounds. His compositions feature meticulously crafted lyrics. They address diverse themes, among which the daily life of the Cuban people stands out.

Manolito Simonet’s Trabuco has a very distinctive sound and style. According to its director, it is influenced by the music of prominent Cuban figures such as Juan Formell and Adalberto Álvarez, as well as by charango orchestras and music made in Puerto Rico.

Manolito Simonet’s musical style is embodied in Cuban musical genres such as traditional Son, Cha-Cha-Cha, Danzón, Son, Guaracha, and others, blending them with contemporary elements. He also works with other genres such as Timba, Bolero, Salsa, Cumbia, and Ballenato. Elements such as a heavy, strong, yet refined sound have allowed him to establish a very unique signature.

The group quickly won over the Cuban public, a fact demonstrated in 1994 when they received the Breakthrough Orchestra of the Year award on the television program Mi Salsa.

Manolito Simonet has released several albums, which have enjoyed excellent reception from both the public and specialized critics.

In 1995, he and his orchestra recorded their first album, Directo al corazón, under the EGREM label (1008 3rd Street between 10th and 12th Streets, Miramar, Playa, Havana). They then made their international debut with an international tour in Colombia. In 1996, they released their album Contra Todos Los Pronósticos with the Spanish record label Eurotropical.

In 1998, Manolito Simonet received the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Award in the tropical music category for his song “El Águila.” The following year, 1999, he was awarded the Cubadisco Award for his album “Marking Distance,” in the popular dance music category.

“Para que baile Cuba” (So that Cuba dances) and “Se rompieron los termometros” (The Thermometers Broke), from 2000 and 2001 respectively, are the subsequent albums by Simonet and his orchestra. In 2004, they recorded “Locos por mi Habana” (Loons for my Havana), which was the best-selling album and most widely accepted by audiences in Cuba and abroad. It earned them the 2005 EGREM Award in the categories of popular dance music and album of the year.

Their seventh production was the CD Hablando en serio, from 2006. Also that same year, the CD-DVD Knock Out was released, as a result of a live concert they performed with Lazarito Valdés and Bamboleo that took place at the Karl Marx Theater (Ave. 1ra No. 1010, Miramar, Playa. Havana) located in Havana.

In Manolito y su Trabuco’s 2008 album, titled Control, a clear sign of progress and refinement in traditional Cuban music.

Last year, 2010, Manolito presented his two new albums, produced by the Bis Music label: Beat Cubano and Trabuco una vez más. The first consists of ten tracks, including “A flautazo limpio,” featuring flute solos by Orlando Valle “Maracas,” José Luis Cortés “El Tosco,” and David Bencomo. The second, composed of thirteen tracks, is more inclined toward Cuban popular dance music. It is a tribute to the 17th anniversary of the orchestra’s founding. Among his guests was pianist Gilberto Santa Rosa, who plays keyboards on the song “Santiago de Cuba.”

Manolito Simonet not only works as a composer and director of his group, but also pursues a career as a music producer. He has produced all of his Trabuco’s albums. He has extensive experience as a producer, including a tribute album to Lilí Martínez Griñán, former pianist of Conjunto Chapotín; and the album Estrellas de Areíto, featuring various singers from groups such as Van Van, Las Anacaonas, and NG La Banda. He also collaborated on the production of Buscando la Melody, a record offered to Benny Moré. He has also participated in the production of albums abroad with the producer of Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti.

This notable musician has made numerous international tours, including those to Peru, Martinique, Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Great Britain, Belgium and almost all countries on the European continent.

Manolito Simonet is an outstanding musician who, through each of his performances and musical compositions, contributes to the development and expansion of Cuban music.

Discography: Straight to the Heart (1995), Against All Odds (1996), Marking the Distance (1998), So Cuba Can Dance (2000), The Thermometers Broke (2001), Crazy for My Havana (2004), Seriously Speaking (2006), CD-DVD “Knock Out” (2006), Control (2008), Cuban Beat (2010), Trabuco Once Again (2010).