During this period of 20th-century Cuban music (1900-1930), artists emerged in all branches of music. Several instrumentalists stood out during this period, boasting performances brimming with high levels of virtuosity and professionalism. Many of these musicians also performed other tasks, such as composing, arranging music, and conducting orchestras. Among them, we must mention Graciano Gómez Vargas and Julio Cueva.

Graciano Gómez Vargas, Cuban troubadour, composer, flautist, and guitarist, who since the age of seventeen accompanied on his guitar notable troubadours such as María Teresa Vera, Oscar Hernández, and Manuel Luna. He worked as a laborer in several cigar shops. He was a member of various Cuban groups, such as the Curbelo Orchestra, the Los Americanos duo, the Navy Band, the Cuban Troubadour Quartet, and the Selecto Quintet. He founded the Septeto Matancero, with which he made recordings for the RCA Victor label.

As a composer and performer, he explored all musical genres. He participated in the inauguration of Radio Salas and is regarded as the founder of radio in Cuba. He is also considered one of the most important figures in the Cuban songbook and one of the most important troubadours of Cuban music.

Julio Cueva, for his part, worked throughout his musical career as a trumpeter, composer, and orchestra conductor. He joined the philharmonic orchestra conducted by the Spaniard Sanjuán and was one of the founders of the Trinidad municipal band, of which he served as its director.
He joined Don Aspiazu’s orchestra in 1930, with whom he made his first international tour, performing at various venues in New York City. In 1942, he founded his own orchestra and began performing on the radio station Mil Diez, achieving notable success.

Mario Bauzá Cárdenas, a prominent Cuban trumpeter, clarinetist, saxophonist, composer, arranger, and orchestra conductor, traveled to New York City, United States, in 1926, as part of the orchestra led by maestro Antonio María Romeu, where he participated in several danzone recordings for a month. He played alto saxophone and soprano clarinet in José Curbelo’s orchestra until 1928; he formed part of the septet Jóvenes de Redención and other groups; he played alto saxophone with Los Diplomáticos.
Among the awards he collected during his artistic career, we can mention the Mayor of New York City’s Honor Award for the Arts and Culture, which was presented to him on November 27, 1981.