Generoso Jiménez

Who was Generoso Jiménez?

Generoso "Tojo" Jiménez was a famous Cuban trombone player and a pioneer of Cuban popular music. He was also the trombonist for the Cuban bandleader and singer, Beny Moré.

In 1939, together with flautist Efrain Loyola and violinist Gilberto La Rosa, he founded the Orquesta Ritmica. He stayed in Cuba after Fidel Castro took over the government in 1959, and recorded in 1965 El Trombon Majadero, considered a classic in Cuban music. He later fell out of favor with the Cuban government, stopped playing the trombone, and became a roaming street vendor.

In 2003 he was allowed to attend the Grammy ceremony in New York City where one of his records had been nominated. A few months later he returned to the United States and remained. He picked up his trombone and his career was reborn.

His last recording was for Gloria Estefan's album 90 Millas.