Silvio Rodríguez Domínguez, Cuban musician, poet, and singer-songwriter, was born on November 26, 1946, in San Antonio de los Baños, Havana Province. A great exponent of Cuban music, Silvio is one of the most internationally renowned Cuban singer-songwriters.

In 1961, he joined the National Literacy Campaign, and the following year he began working as a comic book artist for the weekly magazine “Mella,” where Lázaro Fundora first handed him a guitar.

In 1962, for a few months he began complementary piano studies and simultaneously studied painting at the San Alejandro school (Ave. 31 No. 10006, Marianao, Havana City).

In March 1964, he began his mandatory military service, while simultaneously studying and playing the guitar, and beginning to compose some songs. Famous works from that period include “El viento eres tú,” “La canción de la trova,” and “Quédate.” In 1967, he won first mention in the Revolutionary Armed Forces literary contest with his book of poems, “Horadado Cuaderno No. 1”; he completed his military service that same year.

In 1967, he made his debut on the television show Música y Estrellas, wearing his combat boots, which, as he later clarified, were all he had to wear. His first performance was at the Museum of Fine Arts (Trocadero Street between Zulueta and Monserrate, Old Havana, Havana City).

Silvio Rodríguez was the founder of the Nueva Trova Movement. He later joined the Casa de las Américas (3rd and G Streets, Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, Havana City), where he met other singer-songwriters such as Pablo Milanés and Noel Nicola, who, along with other great Cuban musicians of the time, formed the ICAIC Sound Experimentation Group (GESI), directed by maestro Leo Brouwer. During this period of splendor, songs such as “El papalote,” “Cuba va,” “El Mayor,” “Oveja negra,” “Si tengo un hermano,” and “Canción de la nueva escuela” were recorded, all of which faithfully reflected the era.

Upon the death of Ernesto “Che” Guevara, Silvio composed “La era está pariendo un corazón” (The Age Is Giving Birth to a Heart) and “Fusil contra fusil” (Rifle Against Rifle), songs that would be included in the collective album “Hasta la victoria siempre” (Until Victory Always) in 1968. In 1969, he worked on the fishing boat “Playa Girón” (Girón Beach), during the voyage he composed 72 songs, many of which were well-known, such as: “Ojalá” (Hopeful), “Playa Girón” (Girón Beach), “Jerusalem Year Zero” (Jerusalem Year Zero), “Cuando digo futuro” (When I Say Future), “Al final de este viaje” (At the End of This Journey), and “Boga, Boga” (Row, Row), many of which would later be published in the book “Canciones del Mar” (Songs of the Sea).

In 1972, he toured Germany and Chile, where he performed with La Peña de los Parra and Víctor Jara. In 1975, he recorded his first LP, “Días y flores,” accompanied by musicians from GESI and the EGREM orchestra. In 1976, he enlisted as a member of the Artistic Brigade (BS) alongside the Cuban internationalist brigades in the Angolan War.

In the late 1970s, Silvio Rodríguez traveled to the United States for the first time, performing with Pete Seeger, and then continued his journey to Denmark, Norway, Spain, and Latin America.

As a composer for the ICAIC, Silvio has worked on the music for several documentaries and films, including Testimonio (Testimony), El hombre de Maisinicú (The Man from Maisinicú), Al sur del Maniadero (South of Maniadero), and La Nueva Escuela (The New School). Songs such as La era está feriendo un corazón (The Age is Giving Birth to a Heart) and Canción delcogido (Song of the Chosen One) correspond to this period.

In 1990, he recorded “Venga la esperanza” and “El hombre extraño,” dedicated to singer-songwriter Víctor Jara, who was assassinated by the Pinochet dictatorship. In 1992, he supported musicians of the so-called Novísima Trova Cubana (New Cuban Trova). In 2003, he released the album “Cita con ángeles,” dedicated to his newborn daughter and his wife. The album addresses, among other topics, the death of José Martí and the Twin Towers.

On November 29, 2006, Silvio Rodríguez received a replica of the Granma yacht from Army General Raúl Castro Ruz as a tribute from the Cuban people and the FAR.

In his 2010 album, “Segunda Cita,” Silvio Rodríguez further revealed his poetry. This album also represents the troubadour’s vision of the hurricanes that hit the Caribbean and Cuba in 2008. Silvio drew inspiration for this album from his early days, when he frequented the venues where César Portillo de la Luz performed. Without a doubt, it is an album with a dozen songs of great musical diversity. Silvio Rodríguez emphasized that this new album is a tribute to Cuba over the past five decades.

Among the awards bestowed upon this great Cuban musician are: 2006 Haydee Santamaría Medal; 2004 National Music Award; 1984 Félix Varela Order; 1982 Alejo Carpentier Medal.

Among his recorded works we can mention: Days and Flowers” ​​(1975); “At the end of this journey, life” (1978); “Women” (1979); “Cloud Tail” (1980); “Unicorn” (1982); “Silvio Rodríguez and Pablo Milanés live in Argentina” (1984); “Triptych” (LP), (1984); “Causes and chances” (1986); “Oh melancholy” (1988); “Silvio Rodríguez in Chile” (1990); “Hand in hand” (1993); “Silvio” (1992); “Rodríguez” (1994); “Domínguez” (1996). “Descartes” (1998); “Butterfly” (1999); “Expedition” (2002); “Appointment with Angels” (2003); “Once upon a time” “it was” (2006); Second date (2010).

Discography: Protest Song. House of the Americas (EP) (1968), Feather in Hand. (EP) (1968-1969?), July 26: The New Heroes (1969), Until Victory Always, Dear Che (1969), Protest Song: Protest Song of Latin America (1970), 3rd Festival of Political Songs (1972), Cuba Sings to the Dominican Republic (Silvio Rodríguez – Noel Nicola) (1974), Cuba (1976), The Song of a People (1977), Songs XI Festival (1978), 20th Anniversary of Cuban Cinematography (1979), Joint Space Flight (1980), 20th Anniversary of the MININT (1981), Live (Silvio Rodríguez – Pablo Milanés) (1982), Third Festival of the New Latin American Song (1984), Montevideo, March 1, 1985 Vol. 1. In Uruguay (Silvio Rodríguez – Pablo Milanés) (1985), Trees (with Roy Brown) (1987), The Strange Man (Synthesis) (1989), Songs to Che: Vol. 2 (1992), All the Voices, All (1996), Sing to You, Commander (1997), Anthology of the Nueva Trova Vol. 1 (1998), Let’s All Sing (1999), Song for Vieques (2001), Shared Songs (José María Vitier) (2001), Clean Guitar. Anthology 1 (2002), From the Water We Drank (2003), Cuba Sings to Serrat (2005), I Protest: Tribute to Roy Brown (2005), 37 Songs by Noel Nicola (2007), among many others.