Ruben Gonzalez

Biography

Rubén González Fontanills (May 26, 1919 – December 8, 2003) was a Cuban pianist who helped forge the modern Cuban piano style in the 1940s. Born in Santa Clara, Cuba, González initially pursued medicine and classical piano, intending to balance a medical career with music. However, after beginning his professional career as a full-time musician in 1941, he abandoned his medical studies and became a central figure in Cuban music for over six decades. He started working as a full-time musician during the dawn of a golden era in Cuban music, performing in nightclubs from 9 p.m. until 4 a.m., often playing 25 or 30 numbers a night in response to shouted requests from audiences—a regimen that kept his mind and fingers nimble.

González's career spanned multiple continents and musical contexts. Between the 1940s and his retirement in the 1980s, he played with Cuba's most successful acts, including Arsenio Rodríguez, the legendary blind bandleader who popularized the son style, and Enrique Jorrín, who created the cha-cha-cha. He toured extensively throughout South America with the ensemble Estrellas Negras, traveled to Venezuela where he established himself between 1957 and 1962, and briefly resided in Argentina playing with tango musicians. In 1962, he became the pianist for Enrique Jorrín's orchestra and continued in that role for 25 years. After retiring in the 1980s, González came out of retirement in the 1990s to participate in the revival ensembles Afro-Cuban All Stars and Buena Vista Social Club, recording solo material and performing live until 2002.

Fun Facts

• González initially planned to become a doctor, studying medicine alongside classical piano, but abandoned his medical studies after realizing doctors had to be on call all the time, choosing music as his full-time career instead.
• During his nightclub performances in the early days, González would play 25 to 30 numbers per night, often responding to shouted requests from audiences—a demanding regimen that kept his mind and fingers exceptionally nimble.
• After retiring in the 1980s, González's piano deteriorated significantly, falling victim to rain, rot, and termites after 60 years of faithful use, symbolizing the end of an era before his comeback in the 1990s.
• González was part of a trio of pianists—alongside Lilí Martínez and Peruchín—credited with forging the distinctive style of modern Cuban piano music that would influence generations of musicians.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Arsenio Rodríguez - Legendary blind bandleader who advised González to develop his own style rather than imitate others; pioneered and updated the traditional son style (Conjunto recordings with Arsenio Rodríguez) [1943-1945]

Key Collaborators

• Enrique Jorrín - Creator of the cha-cha-cha; González served as his orchestra's pianist for 25 years (Orquesta de Enrique Jorrín) [1962-1987]
• Lilí Martínez - Fellow pianist who, along with Peruchín, helped shape the development of Cuban piano style; replaced González in Arsenio Rodríguez's conjunto (Cuban piano style development) [1940s-1950s]
• Peruchín - Pianist who, along with Lilí Martínez, helped forge the modern Cuban piano style alongside González (Cuban piano style development) [1940s-1950s]
• Juan de Marcos Gonzalez - Recruited González for the Afro-Cuban All Stars project (A Toda Cuba le Gusta (All of Cuba Likes It)) [1990s]
• Paulina Álvarez - Danzonete singer whose charanga band González played in upon moving to Havana (Paulina Álvarez charanga) [1941]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia