Guillermo Rubalcaba facts for kids

Guillermo Rubalcaba (born January 10, 1927 – died September 7, 2015) was a talented Cuban musician. He was a great pianist, a bandleader, and he wrote and arranged music. He was especially known for two types of Cuban music: danzón and cha-cha-cha. His birth name was Guillermo González Camejo. He took his father's last name, Rubalcaba, for his music career. His son, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, also became a famous Latin jazz pianist.

Guillermo Rubalcaba's Musical Journey

His Early Life and Musical Start

Guillermo Rubalcaba learned music from his father, Jacobo Rubalcaba. His father was a very talented musician who played many instruments. He was also one of the first leaders of a charanga band. These bands helped make danzón music popular in western Cuba. Guillermo's father even wrote a famous danzón song called El Cadete Constitucional.

Guillermo studied at the Orbón Conservatory. There, he learned to play not just the piano, but also the violin, clarinet, and saxophone. When he was only 15, he joined the Ases del Ritmo orchestra as a violinist. Later, he played in the CMQ radio orchestra and Ñico Suárez's band. He also played the saxophone in the Montecarlo orchestra and with Los Churumbeles.

Becoming Famous

After moving to Havana, Guillermo Rubalcaba became a pianist for famous singers. He played with Elena Burke, Blanca Rosa Gil, and Omara Portuondo. He also became good friends with the flutist Richard Egües. Richard suggested him to Enrique Jorrín, a violinist and bandleader known for cha-cha-cha music.

In 1964, Rubalcaba joined Jorrín's orchestra for a tour. They traveled to many countries in Africa and Europe. After that, he toured North, Central, and South America. This included a stop at the Expo 67 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

In 1968, he joined the Charanga Típica de Concierto. He was invited by a music expert named Odilio Urfé. This band wanted to keep the original danzón music alive. Rubalcaba became the pianist and later the leader of the group. In 1973, the band became known as the Charanga Rubalcaba. In 1987, they released their most popular album, Vivencias. It featured two important voices in Cuban music, Barbarito Díez and Tito Gómez.

Later Years and Legacy

In the 1990s, Rubalcaba joined several groups that toured with older musicians. These groups became popular after the success of the Buena Vista Social Club and Afro-Cuban All Stars. He also worked with Jane Bunnett on her album Cuban Odyssey in 2002.

Later in his life, Rubalcaba led and directed his own orchestra, where he also played the piano. His career saw many changes in Cuban music over the years. Guillermo Rubalcaba passed away on September 7, 2015, in Havana. He was buried at the Cristóbal Colón Cemetery.

Awards and Recognitions

• 2002: Alejo Carpentier Medal

Music Albums

• Vivencias (Areito – LD-4435, 1988)
• Fundadores del Sabor (Discmedi S.A. – DM-210, 1995)
• Por eso yo soy cubano (Eurotropical Muxxic – EUCD-10, 1998)
• El Danzón de la Reina Isabel (Eurotropical – EUCD-901526, 2000)
• A corazón abierto (Eurotropical – Muxxic 8431588-909225, 2002)
• Entre dos generaciones (Envidia Records – ER-7080, 2003)
• Pasado Y Presente (Pimienta Records, 2003)
• Con sello de calidad (Envidia – ER-7116, 2004)