Roberto Torres (musician)

{{short description|Cuban musician}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Roberto Torres

| image = 6.2.11RobertoTorresByLuigiNovi1.jpg

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| caption = Torres at a ceremony in Union City, New Jersey, where was honored with a star at Celia Cruz Plaza.

| background = solo_singer

| birth_name =

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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1938|2|10}}

| birth_place = Güines, Cuba

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| genre = Charanga, vallenata, son cubano, salsa

| occupation = Musician, producer, record executive

| instrument = Vocals, percussion

| years_active = 1956–present

| label = Guajiro, SAR

| associated_acts = Sonora Matancera, SAR All-Stars

| website =

}}

Roberto Torres (born 10 February 1938){{cite book|title=The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music|editor=Colin Larkin|publisher=Guinness Publishing|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|pages=2516/7}} is a Cuban singer, percussionist, bandleader and producer. Born in Güines, Cuba, he moved to the United States in 1959, where he became involved in the Latin music scenes of New York and Miami.{{cite news |last1=Cantor |first1=Judy |title=Miami Maestro |url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/miami-maestro-6358460 |accessdate=27 January 2020 |work=Miami New Times |date=26 August 1999}} In 1979, he founded two record labels, Guajiro Records and its subsidiary, SAR, both devoted to Cuban music. As a singer and musician, he is famous for his combination of Cuban and Colombian music, which he termed "charanga vallenata". His biggest hit was a cover version of Simón Díaz's "Caballo Viejo".{{cite book|last1=McConnachie|first1=James|last2=(Firm)|first2=Rough Guides|title=World music: the rough guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QzX8THIgRjUC&pg=PA625|year=2000|publisher=Rough Guides|isbn=978-1-85828-636-5|page=625}} He was a member of the Sonora Matancera for three years. He has also appeared in music documentaries such as Son sabrosón: antesala de la salsa.

On 2 June 2011, the Cuban-American community of Union City, New Jersey honored Torres with a star on the Walk of Fame at Celia Cruz Plaza.Sanabria, Santo. "Latinos honored in Union City", The Union City Reporter, 12 June 2011, pages 1 and 12