Cuban-born Francisco Hilario Riser Rincón, better known as Panchito or Panchito Riset, was one of the leading vocalists in the New York Latin scene of the 1930s and 1940s. He was very active in Cuba working with combos like Septeto Esmeralda, Septeto Habanero and Sexteto Caney. In 1933, he landed in NYC and performed with Cuarteto Flores, Cuarteto Victoria, Cuarteto Caney, and Xavier Cugat. Singing boleros with Cuarteto Flores, he became well-known in El Barrio in 1935 after the release of their song “María Elena.” After his US Army service in WWII, Panchito returned to New York, where in 1947, with the release of his hits “Blancas Azucenas” and “El Cuartito” with Conjunto René Martínez for Midas Records, he found true success as a vocalist in the Latin music scene.