Rosendo Ruiz

Rosendo Ruiz Suárez (Santiago de Cuba 01 March 1885 – Havana, 01 January 1983) was one of the founders of the trova movement in Cuban music. He was originally a tailor, who became a singer, guitarrist and composer. He lived for almost a century, during which time he had a great influence on the music of his country. [Orovio, Helio 2004. "Cuban music from A to Z". Revised by Sue Steward. ISBN 0822331861 A biographical dictionary of Cuban music, artists, composers, groups and terms. Duke University, Durham NC; Tumi, Bath. p190]

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. [Canizares, Dulcila 1995. "La trova tradicional". 2nd ed, La Habana. p40] 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.

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