Luis Mariano Carbonell Pullés (performing as Luis Carbonell; nicknamed “El Acuarelista de la Poesía Antillana”; July 26, 1923 – May 24, 2014) was a Cuban declamador, pianist, and writer from Santiago de Cuba. At age 15, Carbonell worked as a pianist and declamador for the radio station CMKC. In 1946, Carbonell moved to New York City, where he performed at the Teatro Hispano and Carnegie Hall. Carbonell returned to Cuba in 1948 and hosted the radio program De fiesta con Bacardí on CMQ starting in 1949. In 1955, Carbonell produced the album Esther Borja canta a dos, tres y cuatro voces using a multi-track recording system. Carbonell toured Spain, Mexico, and Venezuela. His awards included the Distinción por la Cultura Nacional, the National Music Prize, and the National Humor Prize. His discography includes Estampas de Luis Carbonell and Sonata de San Joaquín. Carbonell died in Havana on May 24, 2014.
