Introduction

Cuba’s leading son group SIERRA MAESTRA return in 2006 promoting their new
album “SON - soul of a nation”, their heart-felt tribute to son music, and
they are now celebrating the 30th year since their formation

(en español al fondo)
It is hugely sad for us all to announce the death of José Antonio, or Maceo
as he was known, lead singer with SIERRA MAESTRA and one of the best, and
best-loved, soneros in Cuba.
This is what the group have said today about their friend and brother:
The passing of the sonero JOSE ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ (El Guanajo relleno)
José Antonio Rodríguez died on Saturday night November 6, in Copenhagen aged
just 52. Singer with Sierra Maestra since the beginning 26 years ago, and
considered one of the best soneros, or singers of the son style, in Cuba.
José Antonio (or Maceo as he was known to his friends and admirers) was born
in the Holguin province of Cuba and from early childhood dedicated himself
to music. He was the co-founder and the soul of the Sierra Maestra group. He
was baptised by the Cuban people as ' EL PEQUENO GRAN SONERO' , the little
big sonero , a reference to his small stature. He was an excellent musician,
singer, guitarist and above all an excellent person. A modest man whose
talent never diverted him from being extremely straightforward.
Apart from performing on all 14 or so Sierra Maestra albums, he also sang
amongst others on the first Ruben González CD, the first Afro-Cuban All
Stars CD, and both of Ibrahim Ferrer's solo CDs.
On the new Sierra Maestra album "Son-soul of a nation", he interprets
melodies highly respected by all Cuban singers for their level of
complexity, resulting in an excellent legacy of son for future generations
On our previous CD 'Rumbero Soy' he sang with Ibrahim ferrer and Omara
Portuondo with whom he was great friends. . He also sang with such Cuban
greats of as Miguelito Cuní, Tito Gómez, Carlos Embale and Joseito Fernández
(author of Guantanamera)
Like Ibrahim just recently, who died singing which for him was his life, so
has José Antonio, just an hour after performing in Copenhagen. Cuban music
will always have reason to thank him for helping it reach the level it has.
His death will bring sorrow to Cuban music, and he is a huge loss.
For us in Sierra Maestra it is the loss of a brother and from now on every
note played by Sierra Maestra will be played to his memory"
SIERRA MAESTRA
Many people have called SASA MUSIC today to express their sorrow and all
testify to the spirit of José Antonio, his modesty and generosity, and great
humour. One musician in London particularly recalls his big-hearted efforts
to help and advise her group and perform with them when possible while on
tour.

David Flower

NOTAS SOBRE EL FALLECIMIENTO DEL CANTANTE SONERO CUBANO JOSE ANTONIO
RODRIGUEZ.(EL GUANAJO RELLENO)

JOSE ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ FALLECIO EN COPENHAGEN A LA EDAD DE 52 ANOS. CANTANTE DEL GRUPO MUSICAL CUBANO SIERRA MAESTRA Y CONSIDERADO UNO DE LOS MEJORES SONEROS DE CUBA.

JOSE ANTONIO(MACEO COMO LO CONOCIAN SUS AMIGOS Y ADMIRADORES) NACIO EN HOLGUIN PROVINCIA DE CUBA Y DESDE MUY NINO SE DEDICO A LA MUSICA. FUE
FUNDADOR Y VERDADERA ALMA DEL GRUPO SM . BAUTIZADO POR EL PUEBLO DE CUBA COMO EL PEQUENO GRAN SONERO. EXCELENTE MUSICO, CANTANTE, GUITARRISTA Y PRINCIPALMENTE UNA PERSONA EXCELENTE PERSONA, MODESTA Y AL QUE NUNCA SU TALENTO LO TRAICIONO PARA DEJAR DE SER EXTTREMEDAMENTE SENCILLO.
ADEMAS DE PARTICIPAR EN TODAS LOS CD DEL SIERRA MAESTRA, CANTO PARA EL
PRIMER CD DE AFROCUBAN ALL STAR , EL PRIMER CD DE RUBEN GONZALEZ Y AMBOS CDS DE IBRAHIM FERRER
SU MUERTE REPRESENTA DOLOR PARA LA MUSICA CUBANA Y UNA GRAN PERDIDA.
(EN EL RECIENTE CD DE SM (SON-SOUL OF A NATION) INTERPRETA MELODIAS MUY
RESPETADAS PARA TRODOS LOS CANTANTES CUBANOS POR SU NIVEL DE COMPLEJIDAD, DEJANDO UN EXCELENTE TRIBUTO AL SON PARA LAS NUEVAS GENERACIONES.
EN EL CD DE SM RUMBERO SOY ,CANTO CON IBRAHIN FERRER Y OMARA PORTUONDO CON LOS QUE MANTENIA UNA GRAN AMISTAD. CANTO ADEMAS CON GRANDES SONEROS COMO MIGUELITO CUNI, TITO GOMEZ, CARLOS EMBALE, JOSEITO FERNADEZ(AUTOR DE LA GUAJIRA GUANTANAMERA) ENTRE OTROS.
ASI COMO IBRAHIN MURIO CANTANDO ,COSA QUE ERA SU VIDA, FUE ASI TAMBIEN CON
JOSE ANTONIO . LA MUSICA CUBANA SIEMPRE TENDRA QUE AGRADECERLES A AMBOS SU CONTRIBUCION Y A QUE LA MISMA HAYA ALCANZADO EL LUGAR QUE HOY TIENE.
PARA SM ES LA PERDIDA DE UN HERMANO Y EN LO ADELANTE CADA NOTA QUE SE TOQUE EN SIERRA MAESTRA ESTARA DEDICADA A SU MEMORIA.

SIERRA MAESTRA