{{Short description|American singer, songwriter, bandleader and painter (born 1947)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Henry Fiol | image = | caption = | landscape = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|1|16|mf=y}} | birth_place = Manhattan, New York, United States | origin = | instrument = Voice | genre = Son cubano, guajira | occupation = Musician, songwriter, arranger, bandleader, producer, painter | years_active = 1969–present | label = Mericana, SAR, Salsoul, Corazón, El Abuelo, Earthworks, Palacio Rodven, Kubaney, Fonocaribe | associated_acts = Saoco, Corazón, SAR All-Stars | website = }}
'''Henry Fiol''' (born January 16, 1947)<ref name="LarkinGE">{{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=861/2}}</ref> is an American singer, songwriter, bandleader and painter.<ref name="Penguin" /><ref name="SA">{{cite book |last1=Alava |first1=Silvio H. |title=Spanish Harlem's Musical Legacy: 1930-1980 |date=2007 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=9781439634714 |page=49 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5YJluUqfE60C |language=en}}</ref> He is known for his traditional approach to son cubano and other Cuban music styles, and he is considered a "cult favorite" among Latin music fans.<ref name="SA" />
Fiol was born in Manhattan, New York, United States,<ref name="LarkinGE"/> to an Italian-American mother and a Puerto Rican father.<ref name="Penguin">{{cite book |last1=Clarke |first1=Donald |title=The Penguin Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=1990 |publisher=Penguin Books |isbn=9780140511475 |page=[https://archive.org/details/penguinencyclope00clar/page/415 415] |url=https://archive.org/details/penguinencyclope00clar |url-access=registration |language=en}}</ref> He studied fine arts at Hunter College and became a teacher before starting his career as a musician in the 1969.<ref name="SA" /> In 1974, he co-founded, along with William Millán, a Cuban-style conjunto called '''Saoco''', recording two albums with the group, ''Siempre seré guajiro'' for Mericana Records and ''Macho Mumba'' for Salsoul Records.<ref name="LarkinGE"/> He was the bandleader, singer, songwriter and cover artist for both albums, before leaving the band because of creative differences with Millán.<ref name="LarkinGE"/> William Millán was the sole leader of Saoco on its next two and final albums.<ref name="Penguin" /> In 1980, Henry Fiol made his solo debut on SAR Records.<ref name="Penguin" /> He recorded two more albums for the label before forming his own record company, Corazón, along with a new band of the same name.<ref name="Penguin" /> He continued to release albums over the following decades. His latest album, ''Ciudadano del mundo'', was released in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vivalaradio.co.uk/ciudadano-del-mundo-nuevo-trabajo-de-henry-fiol/|title=“Ciudadano del mundo”, nuevo trabajo de Henry Fiol|first=Leo|last=Pareja|website=Vivalaradio.co.uk|access-date=27 August 2021|language=es}}</ref>
His son, Orlando Fiol, is a pianist and conga drummer.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cruz |first1=Tomás |title=Tomás Cruz Conga Method Volume 1 - Beginning |date=2015 |publisher=Mel Bay Publications |isbn=9781619114975 |page=13 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3Nf0CAAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref>
==Discography== '''With Saoco''' *1976: ''Siempre seré guajiro'' (Mericana) *1977: ''Macho mumba'' (Salsoul)
'''Solo albums''' *1980: ''Fe, esperanza y caridad''' (SAR) *1981: ''El secreto'' (SAR) *1983: ''La ley de la jungla'' (SAR) *1983: ''Corazón'' (Corazón) *1985: ''Colorao y negro'' (Corazón) *1986: ''Juega billar'' (Corazón) *1989: ''Renacimiento'' (El Abuelo) *1990: ''Sonero'' (Earthworks) *1991: ''Creativo'' (Palacio Rodven) *1994: ''El don del son'' (Codiscos/Kubaney) *2002: ''Guapería'' (Fonocaribe) *2008: ''De cachete'' (Corazón) *2011: ''Salsa subterránea'' (Corazón) *2012: ''Ciudadano del mundo'' (Corazón)
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fiol, Henry}} Category:1947 births Category:Living people Category:Singers from New York City Category:Son cubano singers