Born in Puerto Rico in 1911, Noro Morales moved to New York in 1935. After brief stints in the groups led by Alberto Socarras and Augusto Coen, he launched the Brothers Morales (Noro-Humberto-Esy) orchestra in 1939. The Decca 78 “Serenata Rítmica,” issued in 1942, brought him immediate attention. Throughout the 1940s, his ensemble and Machito’s ranked as the leading bands in NYC.