Luis Garcia

Cuban Singer, Composer and Host of Radio Show
REBECCA DELLAGLORIA, rdellagloria@herald.com

Cuban crooner and composer Luis Garcia, who was also a well-known local radio personality, died Monday of pancreatic and liver cancer. He was 69.

"Luis was an icon in Spanish music," said longtime friend Fernando Cedeno. "Like Duke Ellington was in jazz, Luis was a real star."

Garcia had been diagnosed with the cancer in July.

"Two months ago he was the picture of health," said Maria Staub, owner of La Paloma restaurant in North Miami, where Garcia had been performing on weekends the month before his death. "So many people came to listen to him. He had a tremendous following."

Born in Havana, Garcia began his musical career at the age of 17, performing with the Julio Gutierrez orchestra, singing ballads and playing the conga.

During the 1950s, he began co-hosting a nightly radio program, A Solas Contigo, with the wildly popular singers Elena Burke and Meme Solís.

He was also married for a time to the singer and dancer Olga Chaviano; the couple had two children together.

During the '60s, Garcia was swept up by the booming musical style of "feeling" - a blend of American jazz, blues and Spanish balladry - and became one of its most well-known stars.

Garcia recorded 39 records and was also an established musical composer. His songs were performed by many of Latin music's greats, and two were recorded by musical legend Celia Cruz, according to his daughter, Tere Angel.

Garcia came to the United States in 1968, where he continued to flourish as a performer and radio personality. For two decades he hosted the Saturday evening program Feelings with Luis Garcia on Radio Mambí - "the No. 1 show on Saturdays for 18 years," his daughter said.

In 1996, he opened the nightclub El Rincón del Feeling, on Flagler Street, where he also performed on weekends.

Garcia was also a staunch anti-communist who made his feelings toward Castro and Cuba known. In addition to the standard message on his phone answering machines, Garcia added the greeting: "If you're a communist, I'm not interested in speaking with you."

In addition to his daughter, Garcia is survived by son Luis Garcia Jr.; brother Tony Garcia; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.