New Book Celebrates 50 Years of Canary Islands' Iconic Record Label, Discos Manzana
A new book, "Y en eso llegó Manzana," commemorates the 50th anniversary of Discos Manzana, a record company that revolutionized the Canary Islands' music scene.
Discos Manzana, a record company, changed the music scene in the Canary Islands. They had many stores across the islands and produced some of the most iconic albums in the islands' history. Now, a new book, "Y en eso llegó Manzana" ("And Then Came Manzana"), celebrates this "extraordinary" company on its 50th anniversary. The book tells the story of Manzana with words and pictures, highlighting its revolutionary impact.
Published by the Canary Island Institute of Cultural Development (ICDC), the 272-page hardcover book is written and coordinated by Alberto J. González Segura. It features a foreword by José Manuel Pérez Lorenzo and introductions by journalists Carmelo Rivero and Juan Cruz Ruiz.
Discos Manzana started with its first store on Dr. Zamenhof Street in La Laguna, opening on September 2, 1975. Over the next 27 years, it grew into a chain of stores before the record industry declined.
The name "Manzana" was inspired by Apple Corps, The Beatles' record label. The apple image came from a Magritte painting, "Le jeu de morre" ("The Game of Mora"), which Paul McCartney discovered. Carmelo Rivero pointed out that this same apple also inspired Steve Jobs for the Apple logo. He said that the apple fascinated pop-rock and computing stars, including Alberto Segura from the Canary Islands, who changed music and the way we live.
Alberto Segura, who ran Manzana with his brother Javier and now owns the music and antique store El Cinematógrafo, recalled signing Los Sabandeños, a famous Canarian music group. He told DIARIO DE AVISOS that they gave Los Sabandeños a large advance to record with them, producing about 22 albums together. He emphasized that Los Sabandeños were a musical phenomenon in Europe, with one album selling over 100,000 copies.
"Y en eso llegó Manzana" is full of history, rare photos, and stories from the people who made the Canary Islands music scene so special.
The book will be presented on November 12 at the Círculo de Bellas Artes in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Alberto and Javier Segura have planned other events to celebrate Discos Manzana's 50th anniversary, including book signings at El Cinematógrafo in Santa Cruz, for anyone who wants a piece of Canary Islands music history.