2024-02-29 09:48:56
Photo: Antenna 3
Text: Viviana Díaz
With the blow of a bongo, the Cuban Fernando Liben Calunga impressed the audience and jury of La Voz Senior España, a contest where the 65-year-old man stands out as one of its most promising finalists.
Calunga, born in Santiago de Cuba and resident in the Iberian city of Zaragoza, left the jury of the well-known reality showcomposed by the famous Spanish singers Pastora Soler, Antonio Orozco, Rosana and David Bustamante.
In his blind audition, the Cuban appealed to the most popular traditions of the island and supported himself with a bongo for the interpretation of “I almost envy you”, popularized by the Puerto Rican salsero Andy Montañez.
This performance caused three of the judges – Antonio Orozco, Rosana and David Bustamante – to press their red buttons to win over the charismatic contestant, who in the end decided on the Bustamante team.
For his time in the semifinal, he chose a classic, the bolero “How was it?” by Benny Moré, in an impeccable performance that made his coach David Bustamante and Pitingo, the team’s advisor, will select him as one of the finalists of their team.
Fernando Liben is not new to music. Since he was little he was linked to her in his native Santiago de Cuba, studying and performing in cultural centers. He later joined the catalog of the artistic company Antonio Maria Romeu, at which time he was part of the groups of the Sunday program Palmas y Cañas, popular especially among the elderly in Cuba.
Being a member of the Caribe Expreso group of the Adolfo Guzmán artistic company, he participated in a tour of Spain in 1993, where he decided to turn his life around and pursue other dreams.
Now we have to wait until the end and see if he is given the opportunity to win. He has plenty of talent. Cuba accompanies him.