José Urfé

Who was José Urfé?

José Urfé González was a Cuban clarinetist and composer. He introduced a new musical element from the son into the danzón in 1910.

Urfé studied music with several tutors in his home town and in Havana before joining the Teatro Peyret orchestra, where he was coached by Pedro Pablo Díaz. In 1902 he was one of the founding members of Enrique Peña's orchestra, where he played second clarinet to José Belén Puig. Later the two clarinetists left to join the Félix González band.

Urfé composed habaneras, criollas, danzones and religious music. He travelled to Mexico and the United States as a member of theatre orchestras. His famous number El Bombín de Barreto incorporated a sychopated third part derived from the son. It was named after his friend's bowler hat. Other well-known compositions were Fefita, Nena, El churrero, El dios chino and El progreso.

José had four sons, Odilio, Orestes, José and Esteban, all of whom were musicians.