Raúl Planas was born in Camajuaní, Villa Clara province, Cuba on September 18, 1920. At thirteen, he joined a number of son groups in his native town, such as Benito De Amas, Cervantes en Remedios and others, and developed into a prominent singer in both son and bolero styles.
Career
During the 1940s, Planas moved to Havana, where he joined the Juanito Roger ensemble, the Ernesto Duarte orchestra, and Carlos Barbería´s Kubavana jazz-band as a singer. He toured extensively with Sonora Matancera and Celia Cruz, in both America and Europe, and made several recordings for the Puchito, Panart and RCA Victorrecord labels, including with Orquesta Ritmo y Melodía, directed by Roberto Puente, in 1959. In 1966, Planas joined the Rumbavana ensemble, sharing vocals with Fernando González and Guido Soto. Under the direction of Joseíto González, the Rumbavana ensemble released a series of successful recordings by the EGREM label and a number of radio broadcasting studios. During this period and into the 1970s, Planas sang on many hits, such as "Te invito un momento" and "Te traigo mi son cubano". In 1982, he joined the Conjunto Tropicuba, sharing vocals at one point with Felix Baloy, and then the Conjunto Chappottín. Later on, he became a member of the Rubalcaba Orchestra. As a solo artist he released his first solo album, Señor del son, in the 1980s through Siboney. In the early 1990s, he formed part of Félix Reina's charanga. After turning independent, he guested on recordings such as the CD entitled Pasaporte, with Tata Güines and Miguel "Angá" Díaz. In 1994, Planas and Radio Progreso announcer Eduardo Rosillo approached retired pianist Rubén González—with whom Planas had already recorded the albumDos Grandes five years earlier—with the idea of recording new versions of ten songs composed by fellow Cuban pianist Lilí Martínez. The resulting album, Son Inconcluso, featured a full band including bassist Orlando "Cachaíto" López and Arturo "Alambre dulce" Harvey, among others, and was released in 1999 by EGREM. In 1996, Planas joined the Afro-Cuban All Stars project directed by Juan de Marcos González, and participated in the recording of A Toda Cuba le Gusta, which was nominated for the 1997 Grammy Awards. This album again featured Rubén González and Orlando "Cachaíto" López, along with a big band of veteran Cuban musicians and singers such as Ibrahim Ferrer, Pío Leyva, Manuel 'Puntillita' Licea, and Félix Baloy. It was the first album recorded during the consecutive sessions that would also deliver the albums Buena Vista Social Club and Introducing...Rubén González. Planas also wrote songs such as: "Baila Francisca", "Dicharachos Criollos", "Maria Del Carmen", "Me Voy a Poner Pa' Tí", "Que Buenas Son", "Quiéreme Mucho Caridad", "Se Me Fue Mi Negrita", and "Sola Estás". Planas died at his home in Pueblo Nuevo, Havana on February 28, 2001.
