She was born in the municipality of Guanabacoa, Havana City, in May 14th, 1900, and died in Havana, at the age of 58, in April 17th, 1958. “La Única”, ("The Unique") as one of the greatest Cuban artists from Radio, TV, film and theatre was known by the Cuban people.
She studied piano in the Peyrellade Conservatory, and being 13 years old she won gold medal. In 1917 she graduated from piano, singing and harmony, and then she performed several benefit concerts. Although a great piano career was foretold to her, she preferred singing. In October 10th, 1922, when radio broadcasting was officially inaugurated in Cuba, from the building at Águila and Dragones Streets, she became the first female voice to be heard through that just-born media. From then on she linked to the most prestigious Cuban musicians and artists on different stages, Europa and América knew her art.
In 1928 he went for the first time to Paris, performing in the Olimpia and in the Palace; she is hired to substitute Raquel Mayer. A year later she performed in the show of Josephine Baker. She came back to Cuba in 1930, and next year she goes to the the United States of America hired by M. Jolson for singing in Wonder Bar. In 1935 she premiered in the Teatro Principal de la Comedia a show by Gilberto Valdés, performing “Oggere”, “Bembo”, “Tambó” and “Sangre africana”. In 1935 she is proclaimed Queen of the Radio. In 1939 she played the leading actress, together with the most important Cuban actor from those years: Alberto González Rubio, in the film El romance del Palmar directed by Ramón Peón. In 1948 she was the leading actress of the Cuban film María la 0 and in 1949 she began a season with Bola de Nieve, in Mulgoba cabaret, and later she worked in Tropicana, for nine years. In 1954 she made another Cuban film with Ramón Peón: La única.
She was more than a lyrical theatre singer, having a wide performing range. In the zarzuela Niña Rita she sang the tango congo “Mamá Inés” by Ernesto Lecuona and Eliseo Grenet, in 1927, and in 1955 she played the leading role in the operas The Medium and The Telephone by the Italian Gian Carlo Menotti. From one edge to another, besides her labour in radio, film theatre and TV, La Única (The Unique) -as she was also known in his top success- was able to perform delicate songs, such as “Canción azul” and “Siboney”, both by Ernesto Lecuona recorded by her in 1928 or sing a zestful “El manisero” ("The Peanut Vendor") composed by Moisés Simons. Behind her she left a great piano career a wide trial of true fame and sincere people´s love.