Rubén González
Encyclopedia
Rubén González was a Cuba
n pianist
and member of the group Buena Vista Social Club
and Estrellas de Areito
.
at the music high school of Cienfuegos
. He studied medicine
but abandoned his studies due to financial difficulties. He began playing with groups in Las Villas. In 1940, he moved to Havana, where he played in the charangas of Paulina Álvarez and Paulín, with Arsenio Rodríguez, Kubavana and Senén Suárez and in the big bands Siboney and Riverside. In 1943, he released his first recording, together with Arsenio Rodríguez
. During the 50s, he served as a member of the Orquesta América
, Orquesta de Enrique Jorrín
and CMQ. Between 1957 and 1961, he worked in Venezuela. Soon he became known in Cuba and other parts of Latin America
.
In the early 1960s Rubén became the pianist for the Orquesta de Enrique Jorrín, and would continue to play for him for the next 25 years. After Jorrín's death in 1987, Rubén briefly took over the role of band leader, but retired soon after.
González retired in the late 1980s, but after U.S.
-musician Ry Cooder
heard about him in 1996 he called to meet him despite false claims that Rubén could no longer play due to arthritis
. After Ry Cooder's insistence to meet him, Rubén González (who up to this point had not owned a piano in approximately 11 years) started a second career in 1996 under Ry Cooder's wing. It was this same year when the solo album Introducing...Rubén González
was recorded and released. The next year, Ry Cooder
produced the Grammy winning Buena Vista Social Club
, featuring González, Compay Segundo
, Ibrahim Ferrer
, Orlando "Cachaíto" López, Omara Portuondo
, Eliades Ochoa
among other veteran Cuban musicians, most of whom had careers and foundations that went back to the famous 1950s Havana
scene. Wim Wenders
filmed a documentary under the same name, and González and his colleagues became famous worldwide.
Introducing...Rubén González
was recorded in the same sessions as Buena Vista Social Club, and Chanchullo was recorded and released in 2000. Both are on World Circuit Records.
González's last public appearances were in Mexico
and Cuba in 2002.
In an interview held on March 2003, lead singer from Buena Vista Social Club, Ibrahim Ferrer, was asked about his friendship with Ruben Gonzalez, for which he answered:"Whoever had the chance, and I dare to say, honor, to have met Ruben Gonzalez, would understand my following words. Mr. Gonzalez was the simplest and most humble man I had, and will ever meet. It’s hard to describe his perspective of music and how he interpreted it. In the 1950's, after the revolution affected our beautiful country, many people started seeing music as a way to gain money and a business worthily of exploding. Few were the artists who remained faithful to their musical ideals and tendencies, few were like Ruben Gonzalez. Did you know that Ruben spent 5 years polishing shoes, despite his talent? He enjoyed playing the piano like no one else. Ruben was a person we all should admire and look up too, and have as a role model. He always acted in the good of people, someone you could trust and rely on if you had a problem. It’s a shame that we lost such a valuable person, but that’s how life works, and there’s nothing we can do.”
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and member of the group Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
The Buena Vista Social Club was a members club in Havana, Cuba that held dances and musical activities, becoming a popular location for musicians to meet and play during the 1940s...
and Estrellas de Areito
Estrellas de Areito
Estrellas de Areito was an ensemble involving over thirty of Cuba's musicians, including Rubén González, Richard Egües, Nino Rivera, Félix Chappotín, Miguelito Cuní, Pío Leyva, Arturo Sandoval, Tata Güines and Paquito D'Rivera....
.
Biography
He learned to play the pianoPiano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
at the music high school of 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...
. He studied medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
but abandoned his studies due to financial difficulties. He began playing with groups in Las Villas. In 1940, he moved to Havana, where he played in the charangas of Paulina Álvarez and Paulín, with Arsenio Rodríguez, Kubavana and Senén Suárez and in the big bands Siboney and Riverside. In 1943, he released his first recording, together with Arsenio Rodríguez
Arsenio Rodríguez
Arsenio Rodríguez was a Cuban musician who played the tres , reorganized the conjunto and developed the son montuno, and other Afro-Cuban rhythms in the 1940s and 50s...
. During the 50s, he served as a member of the Orquesta América
Orquesta América
Orquesta América is a Cuban then later Californian latin band or charanga orchestra.The band was founded in 1942 by singer Ninón Mondéjar with Alex Sosa , Enrique Jorrín, Antonio Sánchez, and Félix Guerra , Juan Ramos and others. Mondéjar and Sosa went to Mexico, then later revived Orquesta...
, Orquesta de Enrique Jorrín
Enrique Jorrín
Enrique Jorrín was a Cuban composer, violinist and band director. He is famous as the inventor of a style of Cuban dance music called cha-cha-chá.-Biography:...
and CMQ. Between 1957 and 1961, he worked in Venezuela. Soon he became known in Cuba and other parts of Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
.
In the early 1960s Rubén became the pianist for the Orquesta de Enrique Jorrín, and would continue to play for him for the next 25 years. After Jorrín's death in 1987, Rubén briefly took over the role of band leader, but retired soon after.
González retired in the late 1980s, but after U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-musician Ry Cooder
Ry Cooder
Ryland Peter "Ry" Cooder is an American guitarist, singer and composer. He is known for his slide guitar work, his interest in roots music from the United States, and, more recently, his collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries.His solo work has been eclectic, encompassing...
heard about him in 1996 he called to meet him despite false claims that Rubén could no longer play due to arthritis
Arthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
. After Ry Cooder's insistence to meet him, Rubén González (who up to this point had not owned a piano in approximately 11 years) started a second career in 1996 under Ry Cooder's wing. It was this same year when the solo album Introducing...Rubén González
Introducing...Rubén González
Introducing...Ruben Gonzalez is the debut studio album by Afro-Cuban pianist Rubén González. It was released on September 16, 1997 through World Circuit Records...
was recorded and released. The next year, Ry Cooder
Ry Cooder
Ryland Peter "Ry" Cooder is an American guitarist, singer and composer. He is known for his slide guitar work, his interest in roots music from the United States, and, more recently, his collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries.His solo work has been eclectic, encompassing...
produced the Grammy winning Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club (album)
- Music :"Chan Chan", the first song on the album, is a Cuban song composition by Compay Segundo, revolving around two central characters, Juanita and Chan Chan. The song was one of Segundo's last compositions and was written in 1987, already having been recorded by Segundo himself various...
, featuring González, Compay Segundo
Compay Segundo
Compay Segundo was a Cuban trova guitarist, singer and composer.-Biography:...
, Ibrahim Ferrer
Ibrahim Ferrer
Ibrahim Ferrer was a popular Afro-Cuban singer and musician in Cuba. He performed with many musical groups including the Conjunto Sorpresa, Orquesta Chepin-Choven and Afro-Cuban All Stars...
, Orlando "Cachaíto" López, Omara Portuondo
Omara Portuondo
Omara Portuondo Peláez is a Cuban singer and dancer whose career has spanned over half a century. She was one of the original members of the Cuarteto d'Aida, and has performed with Ignacio Piñeiro, Orquesta Anacaona, Orquesta Aragón, Nat King Cole, Adalberto Álvarez, Los Van Van, the Buena Vista...
, Eliades Ochoa
Eliades Ochoa
Eliades Ochoa is a Cuban guitarist and singer from Loma de la Avispa, Songo La Maya in the east of the country near Santiago de Cuba....
among other veteran Cuban musicians, most of whom had careers and foundations that went back to the famous 1950s Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
scene. Wim Wenders
Wim Wenders
Ernst Wilhelm "Wim" Wenders is a German film director, playwright, author, photographer and producer.-Early life:Wenders was born in Düsseldorf. He graduated from high school in Oberhausen in the Ruhr area. He then studied medicine and philosophy in Freiburg and Düsseldorf...
filmed a documentary under the same name, and González and his colleagues became famous worldwide.
Introducing...Rubén González
Introducing...Rubén González
Introducing...Ruben Gonzalez is the debut studio album by Afro-Cuban pianist Rubén González. It was released on September 16, 1997 through World Circuit Records...
was recorded in the same sessions as Buena Vista Social Club, and Chanchullo was recorded and released in 2000. Both are on World Circuit Records.
González's last public appearances were in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and Cuba in 2002.
In an interview held on March 2003, lead singer from Buena Vista Social Club, Ibrahim Ferrer, was asked about his friendship with Ruben Gonzalez, for which he answered:"Whoever had the chance, and I dare to say, honor, to have met Ruben Gonzalez, would understand my following words. Mr. Gonzalez was the simplest and most humble man I had, and will ever meet. It’s hard to describe his perspective of music and how he interpreted it. In the 1950's, after the revolution affected our beautiful country, many people started seeing music as a way to gain money and a business worthily of exploding. Few were the artists who remained faithful to their musical ideals and tendencies, few were like Ruben Gonzalez. Did you know that Ruben spent 5 years polishing shoes, despite his talent? He enjoyed playing the piano like no one else. Ruben was a person we all should admire and look up too, and have as a role model. He always acted in the good of people, someone you could trust and rely on if you had a problem. It’s a shame that we lost such a valuable person, but that’s how life works, and there’s nothing we can do.”
Discography
- 1997: Introducing...Rubén GonzálezIntroducing...Rubén GonzálezIntroducing...Ruben Gonzalez is the debut studio album by Afro-Cuban pianist Rubén González. It was released on September 16, 1997 through World Circuit Records...
- 1998: Indestructible
- 1999: Estrellas de Areito
- 2000: Sentimiento
- 2000: Rubén González & Friends
- 2000: Chanchullo
- 2002: Y La America del 55