Rubén González

Rubén González stood among the final generation of Cuba’s foremost Afro-Cuban pianists. Over twenty-five years he performed and recorded with the orchestra directed by Enrique Jorrín, the originator of the cha-cha, before withdrawing from professional music in the mid-1980s. His reemergence began with a 1996 session alongside the Afro-Cuban All Stars; the resulting album, A Toda Cuba Le Gusta, appeared the next year and ignited global curiosity about Afro-Cuban music while exposing González to listeners worldwide. His featured role on the Ry Cooder-produced Buena Vista Social Club then elevated him to international prominence. He subsequently signed with Cooder’s World Circuit label and, at seventy-eight, delivered his first solo recording, Introducing...Ruben Gonzalez.

Displaying keyboard talent early, González completed his studies at the Cienfuegos Conservatoire in 1934. Though he briefly enrolled in medical school with the intention of becoming a physician, the attraction of music proved stronger. Abandoning his studies, he settled in Havana in 1941 to work as a full-time musician. After recording with multi-instrumentalist Arsenio Rodriguez, he joined Orquestra de los Hermanos, whose lineup included Cuban percussionist Mongo Santamaria. Following an extended stay in Panama and Argentina, where he collaborated with tango musicians, González returned to Havana and performed with several cabaret orchestras. In the early 1960s he entered Enrique Jorrín’s band and remained until Jorrín’s death. Although he then assumed leadership, arthritis forced him to retire. He maintained a low profile until 1996. During his renewed activity González received the acclaim that had long been absent, releasing two albums in the United States: Introducing... in 1997 and Chanchullo in 2000. The octogenarian pianist died at his Havana home in December 2003.