Rosendo Mercado
| Rosendo | |
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Rosendo live in 2012
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Rosendo Mercado Ruiz |
| Born |
February 23, 1954 Madrid, Spain |
| Genres | Hard rock, rock and roll, blues rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, Guitar |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Associated acts | Ñu, Leño |
| Website | www |
Rosendo Mercado Ruiz (born 23 February 1954, Madrid, Spain) is a Spanish rock singer and songwriter. He was a member of bands Ñu and Leño, and is a prominent exponent of the so-called urban rock in Spain.
His family was from Bolaños de Calatrava, in the province of Ciudad Real, but he was raised in Carabanchel, where he still resides (as of 2005). After dropping out of ICAI engineering school, he joined the band Fresa as a guitarist, in 1972. Fresa usually played covers of hits of the time, and sometimes they also backed other soloists and singers. Following some changes, including singer José Carlos Molina joining the band, this changed its name to Ñu. In 1974 Rosendo discovered Rory Gallagher's music, who became one of his main influences, together with other bands such as Jethro Tull, Canned Heat, Cream, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath.
After being discharged from the compulsory military service in 1975, he took part in the recording of Ñu's first album. Molina and himself were not in very good terms, so Rosendo left the group in 1977. He then formed Leño, where he played the guitar and acted as a vocalist as well. Chiqui Mariscal (bass player) and Ramiro Penas (drums) also left Ñu to join him in Leño.
They made their debut in 1978, acting as the support band at an Asfalto's gig. They had been hired by Vicente Romero (producer). Romero was founding Chapa Discos ("Chapa Records") at that time, and published the collective disc Viva el Rollo, Vol. II. Rock del Manzanares, which included two Leño's songs: Este Madrid and Aprendiendo a escuchar.
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Wikipedia