Eugenio Arango was born in La Habana, Cuba in the Province of Marianao in 1958. From 1970 to 1978, he studied the elementary and middle levels of music in the Amadeo Roldán Conservatory. In 1979, he joined the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA), where he became a chamber music and symphonic percussionist. Eugenio obtained second place in the national competition of the national-level UNEAC Contest. In 1981, he participated in the creation of the National Arts School (Escuela Nacional de Arte; ENA), alongside Alicia Peréa and Lino Neira. That same year he acted as professor of Cuban Percussion in the Escuela [School] de Superación Profesional Ignacio Cervantes. In 1985, Eugenio was selected by ISA and the Cuban Ministry of Culture to impart lessons of Cuban percussion internationally. These lessons took place in Denmark, Mexico, and Sweden. He also worked in various musical groups as a drummer: Son Barona, “Los Barbas”, the group led by “Peruchin” (guitarist) and the group Mezcla, where Eugenio was also the vocalist. In 1987, Eugenio started to work with the singer Pablo Milanés, with whom he played Cuban Percussion internationally until 2011. In 1995, Eugenio did a tour in Spain with Victor Manuel and Pablo Milanés and recorded a live CD named “Blanco y Negro”. During the 24 years of being part of the Pablo Milanés group, Eugenio recorded in several of his albums, including “Plegaria”, “Los días de gloria”, “Proposiciones”, and “Querido Pablo”, among others. Eugenio also recorded albums with other musicians: José María Vitier, Steven Brown (North American Saxophonist), Tensy Krismant, Joaquín Sabina, Francisco Céspedes, Fito Paez, and others. As a fundamental Yoruba drummer, Eugenio has participated in several Santería celebrations and was honored to record an album dedicated to Eleggua with master Folklorist Lazaro Ross. In 2000, Eugenio proposed an innovative Afrojazz musical project that was recorded in Abdala Music Studios. From that emerged the album entitled “Oro Negro”, the first record of the group Los Hermanos Arango, wherein Eugenio continues his legacy as the lead percussionist and lead singer.
