Rubén González (pianist)
| Rubén González | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Rubén González Fontanills |
| Born |
May 26, 1919 Santa Clara, Cuba |
| Died | December 8, 2003 (aged 84) Havana, Cuba |
| Genres | Son, danzón, mambo, chachachá, Afro-Cuban jazz, descarga |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Years active | 1937–2002 |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts |
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Rubén González Fontanills (May 26, 1919 – December 8, 2003) was a Cuban pianist. Together with Lilí Martínez and Peruchín he is said to have "forged the style of modern Cuban piano playing in the 1940s".
Between the 1940s and his retirement in the 1980s, he played with Cuba's most successful acts, including Paulina Álvarez, Arsenio Rodríguez, Orquesta América del 55, Orquesta Riverside and Enrique Jorrín. In the 1990s, he came out of retirement to play in the revival ensembles Afro-Cuban All Stars and Buena Vista Social Club, also recording solo material and performing live until 2002.
González was born in Santa Clara, Cuba on May 26, 1919. His family moved to the small village of Encrucijada when he was 6 years old. He took up the piano at age 7 and graduated from the Cienfuegos Conservatory at age 15.
He grew up wanting to be a doctor and studied medicine, thinking music would remain a hobby he could pursue by night. However, he abandoned his studies after four years because music was "in his blood" and also because of all the encouragement he received from people around him. Thus, after graduating from high school, he began playing with groups in Cienfuegos and around the country.
In 1941, González moved to Havana where he played in the charanga of danzonete singer Paulina Álvarez, as well as Orquesta Elósegui and the orchestra of the CMQ radio station. He became friends with important pianists such as René Hernández, Anselmo Sacasas, Jesús López and Facundo Rivero. He joined Arsenio Rodríguez's conjunto in 1943, replacing Adolfo "Panacea" O'Reilly. Rodríguez advised him to "just play your own style, whatever it is, but don't imitate anyone". Although González's first confirmed recordings with Arsenio's conjunto are dated to July 5, 1945, earlier recordings might feature him, since Panacea's last confirmed recording session took place on November 16, 1943; these recordings were all released by RCA Victor.
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