Singer Bardo Lajero or Benny More (as he was called) would be today 91 years old. Since his death, 47 ago, he has been definitely present in the heart of Cuban people and those from all parts of the world who admire him. It is seems that he is still singing and every day does it much better.

Bard Lajero is and will always be the representative figure of Cuban popular music. Aside from he had an unsurpassed voice and was capable of reaching all kind of tones he wanted to, like in the case of that song he dedicated to Joseito Fernández: "Elige tu que canto yo” (You choose, I sing), Benny was and still is the most versatile singer of all times in Cuba Benny. He was able to sing all rhythms such us guarachas, boleros, sones, mambos, as well as those Africans and a guaguancó. If Benny More (also called The King of Rhythm) was still alive, with at the age of 91 years, he masterfully would sing any music genre.

There is still too much to research about this Cuban Criollo, black and peasant man of origin related to his music. Beyond of being a great singer and gifted composer, Benny was also a poet; he used to write poems as clear as the brook that slips between Cuban palms trees, verses he wrote for many of his songs. Benny also extemporized with much eloquence, taken who knows where, which identified the best of the Cuban peasant poetry.
Moreover, Benny was a sincere and generous friend, with a high sense of friendship and family whose memories made cry those people who knew him closely, when someone asked them for him.

The Cuban Radio maintains many programs dedicated to Benny, the most comprehensive singer of all Cuban singers; and as “the King of the rhythm” was from the central province of Cienfuegos, I particularly remember an anecdote at Radio Ciudad del Mar station from Cienfuegos. In 1995, Commander of Revolution Juan Almeida Bosque, one of the most Cuban talented composers,  visited “Radio Ciudad Del Mar” and was interested in knowing if there was a special programming dedicated to Benny More. He was answered that there was a weekend program. With that friendly and straight look of a Homeland soldier, Juan Almeida made inquiries about it. He could not understand that the station of the city, where the singer was from, did not broadcast a daily program dedicated to Benny More. There and surrounded by the affection of the radio staff, the visitor wrote on a letter his view, which still remain at “Radio Ciudad Del Mar, as cultural heritage of the station in Cienfuegos .

Journalist Armando Sáez Chávez, former Director General of “Radio Ciudad Del Mar” recently said about that visit of Juan Almeida and Benny More:  "The visit of Commander Almeida was a privilege and great experience. Whit his visit, it was proved Almeida’s sensibility for music and his admiration for the singer. He even undertook to provide his records to enrich the cultural heritage of the station. "

Today and despite of time, it is an honor and satisfaction to evoke these great personalities, who are representative figures for the Cuban people; Benny for what he represents for National culture, and  Commander Juan Almeida who suggested the locals not to lose that legacy of Benny, which belongs to the province of Cienfuegos, where his mortal remains lie.

Now and forever, Benny remains among us, and his music are taking over by new creators, because they learned from him every day. Now and forever, his voice, creations and modesty that characterized him live still for those soneros, singer-songwriters and poets. Let there be no doubt: Benny sings better each day.