RHC-Cadena Azul
Radio Habana Cuba-Cadena Azul (lit. "Radio Havana Cuba-Blue Network") was a Cuban radio network operating in various forms from 1939 until 1954. It was a heated rival of radio network CMQ.
History
Origins
RHC was created in 1939 by Felix O'Shea, founder of Havana's CMK radio station, with stations in Jovellanos, Matanzas and Victoria de Las Tunas; the network was then sold to Cristóbal Díaz González. Cadena Azul began in 1939. In 1940, Amado Trinidad Velazco became the owner and various Cuban stations merged with CMHI, among which were CMCF and CMKO thus forming Radio Habana Cuba, with its offices at Prado #54, corner of Capdevila Street.[citation needed] Díaz González was a partner with the Cuban telephone company, and with his connections the network had access to a telephone line repeater that could pass on the signals across the island.[1]
Characteristics
The goals of RHC Cadena Azul were to:
- Promote Cuban-ness
- Protect domestic artists
- Position Cuban music in its "rightful" place as they saw it
- Provide the listener with the best quality music
- Raise the standards of music broadcasting by radio
To achieve this Trinidad raised the artists' and technicians' salaries. RHC Cadena Azul employed 40 singers, 34 actors, 18 announcers, 20 writers, 10 composers and 10 bands.
Some famous musicians of RHC Cadena Azul were Iris Burguet, Manolo Álvarez Mera, René Cabell, Vicentico Valdés, Miguelito Valdés, Joseíto Fernández and Barbarito Diez; actors like Rita Montaner, Jesús Alvariño, Rolando Ochoa, Leopoldo Fernández Salgado, Aníbal de Mar, Otto Sirgo and Rosendo Rosell.
Singer and composer Sindo Garay, was one of the network's most popular artists, with 116 songs. Mexican artists who worked at the studios between 1942-1946 included Jorge Negrete, Tito Guizar and Pedro Vargas, and Argentine entertainer Libertad Lamarque.
End of the Trinidad era
In 1952, Trinidad sold the network to Bed Marving of the U.S., who changed its name to Cadena Azul de Cuba.
On March 1, 1954, Cadena Azul de Cuba was closed replaced by the Circuito Nacional Cubano.
References
- ^ Cuba And Its Music: From the First Drums to the Mambo, Volume 1, Ned Sublette
- Soler, Yanela. Competerncia en el aire. Disponible en "mesadetrabajo.blogia.com". Consultado: 5 de agosto del 2011.
- Cue Sierra, Mayra. Recordando a RHC Cadena Azul. Disponible en "www.cubarte.cult.cu". Consultado: 5 de agosto del 2011.
- Artículo La RHC Cadena Azul y su competencia con CMQ Radio. Disponible en "teleyradio.blogia.com". Consultado: 5 de agosto del 2011.
- Artículo RHC, Cadena Azul (1950). Disponible en "www.libreonline.com". Consultado: 5 de agosto del 2011.
- v
- t
- e
- Emisora de Emergencia "Radio Portátil" (Emergency Broadcast "Portable Radio")
- Habana Radio
- Radio 26
- Radio Artemisa
- Radio Cadena Habana
- Radio Camoa
- Radio Ciudad Habana
- Radio COCO
- Radio Enciclopedia
- Radio Havana Cuba
- Radio Mayabeque
- Radio Metropolitana
- Radio Músical Nacional
- Radio Progreso
- Radio Rebelde
- Radio Reloj
- Radio Taíno
- Trans World Radio "Shine AM" (Radio Trans Mundial "Qué Bille AM")1
- Radio Bahamas2
- CMxx Circuito Nacional Cubano (???? AM)
- CMQ Radio (???? AM)
- Radio Free Dixie (690 AM)
- CMCU Radio Garcia-Serra (660 AM)
- CMX Radio Mil Diez (1010 AM)
- CMxx RHC-Cadena Azul (???? AM)
- Other islands/countries
- Bahamas
- Cayman Islands
- Jamaica
- U.S.
- Florida Keys
- See also
- Mass media in Cuba § Radio
- Notes
- 1. Unofficial clear-channel station with extended nighttime coverage.
- 2. Clear-channel station with extended nighttime coverage.