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Orquesta América

Orquesta América, a Cuban charanga orchestra, was founded in Havana in 1942 by singer Ninón Mondéjar. The band initially included Alex Sosa on piano, Enrique Jorrín and Antonio Sánchez on violins, Félix Reina on violin, Juan Ramos on flute, and others. Orquesta América pioneered the cha-cha-chá genre with their 1953 recording of "La engañadora" by Enrique Jorrín. The band's success led to a dispute between Mondéjar and Jorrín over credit for inventing the cha-cha-chá, resulting in a split during a tour of Mexico in December 1954. Juan Ramos returned to Havana with half of the ban...