Rubén González

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"Introducing...Rubén González" album cover

Rubén González (May 26, 1919 in Santa Clara, Cuba – December 8, 2003 in Havana) was a Cuban pianist. He learned to play the piano at the music high school of Cienfuegos. He studied medicine but abandoned his studies due to financial difficulties. In 1943, he released his first recording, together with Arsenio Rodríguez. Soon he became known in Cuba and other parts of Latin America.

González retired in the late 1980s, but started a second career in 1996 when the solo album Introducing...Rubén González was published. The next year, U.S.-musician Ry Cooder produced Buena Vista Social Club, featuring González, Compay Segundo, Ibrahim Ferrer, Omara Portuondo, Elíades Ochoa and some other Cuban musicians. Wim Wenders produced a biographical movie under the same name, and González and his colleagues became famous all over the world.

González also released two solo albums. Introducing Ruben Gonzalez was recorded in the same sessions as Buena Vista Social Club, and Chanchullo was recorded and released in 2000. Both are on World Circuit Records.

González's last public appearances were in Mexico and Cuba in 2002.