Group history
The group Añoranza was formed in 1976 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife by four former members of the Real Hespérides de La Laguna ensemble: Juan Manuel González, Luciano González Reyes, María del Cristo Cruz and María del Carmen Mulet. The name expressed the need to renew Canarian folklore at a time of decline, and that same year the group released its debut record. In 1979 musician Julio Tejera joined as second male voice and arranger, marking a turning point: under his musical direction the group developed a style built on elaborate multi-part vocal arrangements, departing from the pattern of many traditional parrandas where only the choruses were polyphonic. In 1989 Juan Manuel González left to found the group Garoé and was replaced by Alfonso Prendes; in 1997 trained musician and rondalla director Cristóbal García took over musical direction. María del Carmen Mulet, lead vocalist since the founding, remained with the group until 1999, when she began a solo career.
