Rosendo Ruiz

Who was Rosendo Ruiz?

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; in 1919 came Redención, a socialist anthem. In the 1930s he formed the Trio Azul who had a hit with Bilongo. 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.