Mariano Merceron Masó, also known as Mariano Merceron, born on April 19, 1907, in Santiago de Cuba, was a Cuban composer and saxophonist. In the early 1930s, he founded his first orchestra, Mariano Mercerón and the Peeper Boys, later renamed Mariano Mercerón y sus muchachos pimienta. This ensemble blended American jazz with Cuban percussion instruments and featured compositions by Merceron that spanned various genres, including afro, rumba, son, and boleros. Notable singers who performed with his group included Camilo Rodríguez, Benny Moré, and Marcelino Guerra. From 1945 to 1956, Merceron frequently traveled between Cuba and Mexico before settling permanently in the latter country. In Mexico, he formed a new band and continued performing until his death on December 26, 1975.
