JOSEITO FERNANDEZ THE CREATOR OF GUAJIRA GUANTANAMERA.

Identified as the King of the Melody, Joseíto Fernández was the creator of La Guajira guantanamera, which is the most universally disseminated Cuban musical creation.

The guajira guantanamera currently constitutes a symbol of Cubanness.

Joseíto Fernández, was born on September 5, 1908 in the neighborhood of Los Sitios, in Havana.

From a very young age his life was interrelated with music. Already at age 12 I used to sing when participating in their area of ​​residence, together with friends, in serenades. Later he formed part of trios with young amateurs and later integrated several orchestras.

Also at that time he performed the functions of shoemaker, to achieve their economic sustenance.

In 1928 he composed the Guantanamera but it is not until almost a decade after that melody takes on a certain celebrity when it was included as a farewell song by Alejandro Riveiro's orchestra in which he sang.

While the musical group interpreted the aforementioned melody, he was improvising different tenths in each presentation.

Subsequently, an advertising firm hired La Guantanamera exclusively to use it in a radio program in which diverse and tragic events occurred in Cuba. This program remained in the air for 14 years.

To the beat of the melody of La Guantanamera tenths were sung that complemented the dramatized or made reflections on the events.

After the program left the Guantanamera lost some popularity, but always continued to be remembered by the people.

As of 1963 the Guantanamera began to acquire a significant international connotation after having been sung, with the inclusion of several of José Martí's Simple Verses, by the American troubadour Pete Seeger in a concert held on June 8 at the Carnegie Hall of New York.

Some time later, a trio of American singers made the first commercial recording of La Guantanamera, which with the passing of a short time became a true international success.

Since then many singers and groups both Cuban and from different countries have included in their respective repertoires this musical creation by Joseíto Fernández.

Also many people in the world have danced to the beat of the Guantanamera since many Cuban shows abroad have concluded with this musical creation, to close with a flourish.

Joseíto Fernández, who died in Havana on October 11, 1979, was very happy about the success and degree of international acceptance of the Guajira Guantanamera.

And this was reflected in one of the last interviews he made when he said: "I live infinitely grateful to everyone for the love with which they remind me ... I give to all my infinite, deep and eternal gratitude, not in my name only, but in the name of my beloved Cuban people because we Cubans have a sincerity for all our brothers ... What I want everyone to know is that Joseíto Fernández and his Guajira Guantanamera with his Cuban people live eternally grateful to them .. . "