Monguito "El Unico" (b Ramón Quian, Manguito, Matanzas Province, Cuba; d May 26th 2006, NYC) Afro-Cuban sonero (extemporising salsa singer) with distinctive nasal voice, composer, bandleader, producer; dubbed "El Unico" (The Unique). Performed with Orquesta Ito and Orquesta Mazzuet in his native town before relocating to Havana, there sang with Orquesta Modernista and Conjunto Modelo; moved to Mexico '50s, there worked with Conjunto de Alejandro Sosa, Orquesta Los Brillantes, Pepé Arévalo y sus Mulatos and appeared in three movies; moved to NYC '62, began with Orquesta Broadway, made first album with Arsenio Rodríguez on Primitivo '63 on Roost.

He was a member of Johnny Pacheco's band Nuevo Tumbao '64-6 (singing on Pacheco At The NY World's Fair '64, Pacheco Te Invita a Bailar '65 and Viva Africa '66, all on Fania); sessioned on Herbie Mann's Latin Mann '65 on Columbia (aka Big Boss Mann); participated in Tico All-Stars' Descargas At The Village Gate Live, Vol. 1 & Descargas At The Village Gate Live, Vol. 3 '66 on Tico; played maracas on Larry Harlow's debut Heavy Smokin' '66 on Fania and shared lead vocals on the follow-up Bajandote - Gettin' Off '67 during a year and a half stint with his orchestra. Made Fania solo debut with Pacheco Presents Monguito '67, followed by El Unico y su Conjunto '69, De Todo Un Poco '70, Escuchame / Listen To Me '71; sang "Me Gusto El Son" on Fania All Stars' debut LP Live At The Red Garter, Vol. 1 '68. Output dropped during '70s, made Yo Si … Como Candela '72 on Teca (reissued as Punteame Bien El Tres '91 on Igle) and Monguito El Unico! mid-'70s on Oro Disco.

His debut on SAR (founded '79 by Sergio Bofill, Adriano García and Roberto Torres) Yo No Soy Mentiroso '79, produced by Torres, went gold; made albums in NY for the Ivory Coast based Sacodis label as a lead singer and musical director in style akin to SAR's popular formula of extended Cuban son montunos and guajiras with ample room for solos, including From Africa To Cuba '80, Monguito El Unico Presents Laba Sosseh In USA / Salsa Africana Vols. 1 and 2 '80, Charanga Para Todos '80; Doh Alberto A Manhattan USA: Salsa Africana Vol. 3 '80, En Curaçao '80, Algo Diferente '80, Montuno Para Ti, Vol. 1 '81 with Peruvian singer Melcochita, Monguito El Unico International '81, Alto Songo c '84. Toured Africa '80, presented there with a gold disc by Abidjan's Minister of Agriculture for sales of his Sacodis debut From Africa To Cuba. (A fuller discography of Monguito's Sacodis recordings is given at the end of this profile.)

His Monguito El Unico '82 and El Unico! '84 were both produced by Torres on SAR sister label Toboga; he released Yo Soy La Meta '85 on SAR descendant Caimán. Revisited SAR/Sacodis sound '93 with El Padrino Del Son Montuno on Manguito; returned to SAR for Sazonando '95 produced by Torres in Miami.

Compilations issued include La Crema and Sabrosura '80 with Pacheco on Fania, Sacodis collection Monguito El Unico International late '80s and SAR collections Lo Mejor de Monguito Vol. 1 & Lo Mejor de Monguito Vol. 2 '91. Monguito "El Unico": A Black Man From Cuba '95 on Japanese Blues Interactions is a well selected anthology of his Roost and Fania recordings '63-'71.


According to information received from bandleader / TV host Willie Villegas: when Monguito was admitted to hospital in Mexico following a fainting spell, a tumour was discovered in his brain. Back in his NYC home he also suffered a mild heart attack. Reportedly his health deteriorated rapidly; he passed away on May 26th 2006 and his funeral was a low-key affair attended only by a hand full of family members and no news media personnel were present.

Discography
Pacheco te invita a bailar (with Johnny Pacheco) (1965)
Bajándote (with Orchestra Harlow) (1966)
Viva África (with Johnny Pacheco) (1966)
Fania All-Stars - Live at the Red Garter - Vol. 1 (1968)
Pacheco Presents Monguito (with Johnny Pacheco) (1967)
El Único (1968)
De Todo Un Poco (1969)
Escúchame (Listen To Me) (1971)
Latin Mann (with Herbie Mann) (1966)
Sabrosura (with Johnny Pacheco)
La Crema (with Johnny Pacheco)
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