Cuban Musician Israel Kantor Dies at 56

Cuban Musician Israel Kantor Dies at 56
Sunday, July 2, 2006

(07-02) 19:52 PDT MIAMI, (AP) --

Israel Kantor, the Cuban musician who was part of the Grammy-winning
Tropicana All Stars orchestra, died Saturday of cancer, his publicist
said Sunday. He was 56.

Kantor died at his southwest Miami home, according to a statement from
publicist F & F Media Corp.

He was born Wilfredo Israel Sardinas in Alturas de Canasi, a town in
western Cuba between Havana and Matanzas. He changed his name to Israel
Kantor in 1984 in New York City, on the suggestion of Puerto Rican
musician Johnny Pacheco.

As leader of the group Los Van Van, Kantor became popular in Cuba for
his vocal style. But after several world tours with the Cuban musicians,
he decided to abandon the group in search of greater freedom and career
possibilities.

In 2003, Kantor joined the Tropicana All Stars orchestra, formed by 22
musicians from Miami. The group was nominated for two Latin Grammy
awards and two Grammy awards for their albums "Recuerda a Benny More"
and "Tradicion."

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