RIP Ruben Gonzalez

RedShoes · Post by **RedShoes** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 12:30 pm

Ruben Gonzalez, the pianist of Buena Vista Social Club, died Monday. He was 84.

Granted the members are all pretty old, but it's still sad to lose such a great contributor to the music community.

Post by **BlueChair** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 4:14 pm

Yeah, and Compay Segundo, another of the old Buena Vista Social Club members died in July.

Really the only core member left is Ibrahim Ferrer.

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Sat Dec 13, 2003 7:53 pm

Missed this news. Ruben was an absolute treasure. I saw the BVSC on tour here. I recall seeing them looking mostly tired and old on the bus as we left the venue. I was very tempted to hop on and chat to them in Spanish, but sadly not. Ry Cooder (I think) described RG as being a cross between Thelonius Monk and Felix the cat. He opened the gig solo, assisted across the stage to the keyboard, making you think he would really sound arthritic when he got there, but no, still full of magic. The scene in Wim Wenders wonderful scene where he's sitting under a huge tree in a little plaza in Havana is fabulous. I think he played a completely decayed piano for years in the wilderness years between their earlier international fame and their late rediscovery. Nice to see him on a Steinway as an old man. Respect to Ruben.