Rosendo

On February 23, 1954, Rosendo Mercado Ruiz came into the world in Madrid, although Spanish rock devotees know him solely by his first name. He grew up in Carabanchel and remained there through most of his adult years. After picking up the guitar in childhood, he left engineering school as a young man to pursue music full-time. He first performed with the cover group Fresa, which evolved into the prominent Spanish rock band Nu following several lineup shifts. After completing one album with Nu, Rosendo parted ways in 1977 amid personal disagreements with other members. He took the bassist and drummer along to launch Leño. With this lineup he made his first recorded appearances on compilation releases from Chapa Discos in 1978. Leño delivered its self-titled debut album the following year and issued the follow-up Más Madera in 1980. The live set En Directo appeared in 1981, then Corre Corre arrived in 1982, before the band joined the successful Rock de una Noche de Verano tour. At the height of their popularity the group disbanded in the fall of 1983. Rosendo quickly began his solo work, starting with the 1985 album Loco por Incordiar. Although several early solo efforts such as Fuera de Lugar and A Las Lombrices drew criticism, he continued to record at a steady pace. Across the 1980s and 1990s he released nearly an album each year for two decades. For his accomplishments and enduring presence he received the Medalla de Oro al Merito en las Bellas Artes in 2006, after which he issued El Endemico Enbustero y el Incauto Pertinaz in 2007.