From humble beginnings come great artists

Latin Beat Magazine, Sept, 2004 by Frank M. Figueroa

A singer, composer, arranger and bandleader, Benny Moré was idolized by his countrymen, who called him "El Barbaro del Ritmo" (The Wild Man of Rhythm). He died in relative poverty in Havana on February 19, 1963. The Master Entertainer succumbed to cirrhosis of the liver, at the age of 52. Gone was the money he earned during his brilliant career. All he had left were his memories not to mention his chickens and other domestic animals that he raised in his yard and gave him comfort. Ironically, he named them after the famous show business friends absent from his life. And yet, 39 years after his death, his fans still revere him. He has been honored with statues, and there are festivals, streets and recording studios that bear his name.

The artists discussed were all born into cycles of poverty. Their artistic talent helped them to break out and enjoy, at least for a period of their lives, the comforts that fame and wealth can bring.