Smithsonian Folkways To Release 'A Tribute To Gonzalo Asencio, Tio Tom' On February 12, 2008

Washington, DC (Top 40 Charts/ Smithsonian Folkways Recordings) - On February 12, 2008, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings will release 'A Tribute to Gonzalo Asencio, 'Tio Tom,'' the first album dedicated to the legendary Cuban rumba composer's music. The album features the all-star lineup of the band Conjunto Todo Rumbero, under the direction of renowned drummer Orlando 'Puntilla' Rios, performing eight of Asencio's most famous rumba songs as well as a new piece inspired by his work and influence by Asencio's influential oeuvre. 'A Tribute to Gonzalo Asencio' pays homage to Asencio's unique story and contributions to the rumba tradition, which exemplifies the deep roots of Afro-Cuban music.

'The impact of Tio Tom's career stretches far beyond his lifetime,' explains Director of Smithsonian Folkways Daniel Sheehy, 'as many of his compositions set the standard for rumba composition and performance.'

Producer Rene Lopez describes Asencio as 'the Irving Berlin of the rumba,' and his numerous and notable contributions to the genre certainly justify the comparison. Better known as 'Tio Tom,' Asencio was born in Cuba in 1919 and began composing when he was only fifteen years old. Asencio specialized in the popular guaguance style of rumba, and he composed songs that were culturally relevant, engaging and often political. His first work to gain popularity was 'Mal de yerba (The Bad Seed),' in which the singer advises a troubled woman that watching popular movies (including 'The Postman Always Rings Twice,' 'The Great Waltz' and 'The Bad Seed') will help improve her mood. Asencio's most famous song, 'Donde estan los cubanos? (Where Are the Cubans?),' was also his most controversial: Tio Tom was jailed for criticizing Cuban President Carlos Prio Socarras in his patriotic song in response to North American sailors' desecration of the statue of poet, statesman and national hero Jose Marti. Along with these well-known selections from Asencio's catalogue, 'A Tribute to Gonzalo Asencio, 'Tio Tom'' also includes 'Solo, errante y bohemio (Alone, Errant and Bohemian),' an autobiographical work that describes the lonely life typical of a rumba musician. This lifestyle left Asencio vulnerable to exploitation by other musicians, who fraudulently registered his works under their own names. By the time Asencio died in 1991 in the Guanabacoa neighborhood of Cuba, his friends had helped transcribe and register his songs properly, allowing him to claim his composer's rights.

With annotations from distinguished Cuban musicologist Leonardo Acosta and a foreword by Sheehy, 'A Tribute to Gonzalo Asencio, 'Tio Tom'' traces rumba's African and Cuban roots, its rise in the port cities of Havana and Matanzas at the turn of the 20th century, and its growth in the decades since. The talented Conjunto Todo Rumbero led by Orlando 'Puntilla' Rios showcase Asencio's work and legacy throughout the album and especially on the final track, 'Tio columbia (Uncle Columbia).' Composed by celebrated rumberos Ernesto 'El Gato' Gatel and Rios, the song pays tribute to Ascencio's profound impact on rumba music and its performers.