Rosendo Ruiz
Encyclopedia
Rosendo Ruiz Suárez was one of the founders of the trova
movement in Cuban music
. He was originally a tailor, who became a singer, guitarist and composer. He lived for almost a century, during which time he had a great influence on the music of his country.
Of humble extraction, like Sindo Garay
, he taught himself the guitar, but soon Pepe Sánchez gave him classes to improve his guitar technique and took him into a group of musicians who were brightening up fiestas for wealthy whites in the environs of Santiago de Cuba. Short of money, he moved first to Cienfuegos
, then to Havana. His first success came in 1911 with Mares y arenas (Seas and sand); in 1919 came Redención (Redemption), a socialist anthem. In the 1930s he formed the Trio Azul who had a hit with Bilongo (a number also called La negra Tomasa; it was by one of the trio). Other famous pieces were Confesión, Naturaleza, Junto a un canaveral, and the pregón Se va el dulcerito.
He wrote a guitar manual which ran to several editions, and was a leader of the Trova Cubana Forum. His son, Rosendo Ruiz Quevedo, continued many of his interests, and was also a fine musician.
Trova
Trova is one of the great roots of the Cuban music tree. In the 19th century a group of itinerant musicians known as trovadores moved around Oriente, especially Santiago de Cuba, earning their living by singing and playing the guitar...
movement in Cuban music
Music of Cuba
The Caribbean island of Cuba has developed a wide range of creolized musical styles, based on its cultural origins in Europe and Africa. Since the 19th century its music has been hugely popular and influential throughout the world...
. He was originally a tailor, who became a singer, guitarist and composer. He lived for almost a century, during which time he had a great influence on the music of his country.
Of humble extraction, like Sindo Garay
Sindo Garay
Sindo Garay was born Antonio Gumersindo Garay Garcia . He was the first, the smallest, and perhaps the longest-lived, of the trova artists taught by Pepe Sánchez. Garay was one of the four greats of the trova. Sindo Garay was Spanish & Arawkan descendant...
, he taught himself the guitar, but soon Pepe Sánchez gave him classes to improve his guitar technique and took him into a group of musicians who were brightening up fiestas for wealthy whites in the environs of Santiago de Cuba. Short of money, he moved first to Cienfuegos
Cienfuegos
Cienfuegos is a city on the southern coast of Cuba, capital of Cienfuegos Province. It is located about from Havana, and has a population of 150,000. The city is dubbed La Perla del Sur...
, then to Havana. His first success came in 1911 with Mares y arenas (Seas and sand); in 1919 came Redención (Redemption), a socialist anthem. In the 1930s he formed the Trio Azul who had a hit with Bilongo (a number also called La negra Tomasa; it was by one of the trio). Other famous pieces were Confesión, Naturaleza, Junto a un canaveral, and the pregón Se va el dulcerito.
He wrote a guitar manual which ran to several editions, and was a leader of the Trova Cubana Forum. His son, Rosendo Ruiz Quevedo, continued many of his interests, and was also a fine musician.