Polo
Subtitle: cantor de la montaña
By: Ismael León Almeída ; con un ensayo fotográfico de Orlando Gómez García (Grafforl)
Series: Colección Memor[i]a
Publisher: Ediciones Vitral
Published: 2003
Place of publication: Pinar del Río, Cuba
Language: spa
Number of pages: 177
Subjects: Singers; Biography
Description: POLO, CANTOR DE LA MONTAÑA

Biographical report, written in Spanish, about the Cuban musician Fernando Borrego Linares, known in the first years of this century by his artistic name of Polo Montañez. Written work based on a journalistic research process that reveals the essence of one of the most singular Cuban musicians of the 20th century. From one of the main public presentations of Polo, which ends the national tour of the popular group of Las Terrazas, on April 27, 2002 in the Square of La Piragua. The testimony of the singer-songwriter, his music companions, relatives and friends, weave in their voices the story, which more than the man who stars it, at times is even more the revelation of the existence of a cultural phenomenon barely addressed in the media: The music of the farmers of the Sierra del Rosario, permeated by creations of the urban area that arrived at them in radial programs and learned of memory in the victrola (disc player) of a small bar.
From the mountain to the amateur movement, following the national event, with which the group of electric guitars enters the tourism, first, to try their inaugural recording and achieve an unusual fame in international stages, which project it towards recognition in the field local. Detailed information about the presentations abroad and the national diffusion of the music of this author is offered. During the process of writing this book, the popular singer died and it became necessary to dedicate a chapter to his tragic accident and conclude with the reaction of the musicians who accompanied him in the artistic adventure, who did everything in their power to recover his legacy.
This book is available for a new edition.

1- I attend a concert
Chronicle of the concert of the night of April 27, 2002 in the Havana´s esplanade of La Piragua, at the foot of the National Hotel, closure of the national tour by Polo and his group.

2- The songs of Papo Borrego and Niño Mendé
The origins of this wild musician, reconstructed from his own words, during an interview in his own house, in the town of San Cristobal. Local artistic influences: the canturías (music feasts) of the farmers ... with music of radio and victrola interpreted with guitar three, tumbadora and marímbula. A guitar player named Niño Mendé.

3- Surprises with the microphone
The “Sorpresa” band, along the modern wave of "combos" in the artistic formation of a singer-songwriter. The reader discover of the musical aspect in the biography of a self-taught artist in the city of Artemisa. Stay by first time in a TV show.

4- Sones for tourism
The urban project Las Terrazas and the tourism boom as an economic option were influences in the dissemination of music production by an unknown composer. Radio Vorágine a community radio station focused on a mountain cultural project. Love as a shot of creation. 

5- Cantores del Rosario (Singers of the Rosary)
The testimonies of the companions of Polo Montañez: Urde, the bass player; Pipe, the maraquero; Luisito, accompanying guitar; Amaury, musical director and bongosero; Gladys, the female voice; Pedro, understanding the guitar three, and Yunior, beginning.

6- From Las Terrazas to Paris
This chapter shows the explosion of "Guajiro natural" towards the world, the criticism about his music. Also call over them presentations in Europe, and how the explosion of popularity in Colombia will discover the artist for the Cuban public.

7- Three thousand kilometers to rhythm and melody
More than one million attendees to the concerts of spring of 2002. A surprising "power of convocation" is recognized to the charismatic singer.

8- On the hit parade
The national audience reaction’s to the music of the artist from Pinar del Rio. A query to the provincial radio stations results in that the creations of Borrego Linares occupied top positions in each corner of the Cuban archipelago.

9- Musician in his own land
More than an analysis of the texts of the songs, this chapter shows the justification to enjoy their careful reading, searching in the language that authenticity that praised in the creator its promoters and the public.

10- Unexpected jump to the legend
The history of the accident occurred on the National Highway (A 4) on November 20, 2002.

11- The poet never dies
The first steps of the members of the group now called "Polo Montañez", to reintegrate themselves to the musical stages. They make by first time an international tour without its main figure.
Notes: The letter "i" in the series title word "Memor[i]a" is represented by the image of a leaf.
Table of contents: title: Asisto a un concierto; title: Las canturías de Papo Borrego y Niño Mendé; title: Sorpresas con el micrófono; title: Sones para el turismo; title: Cantores del Rosario; title: De Las Terrazas a París; title: Tres mil kilómetros a ritmo y melodía; title: En el hit parade; title: Músico en su propia tierra; title: Insólito salto a la leyenda; title: Nunca muere el poeta; title: Cronología; title: Iconografía.