The Great Sindo Garay
His talent as a troubadour made him climb to the top of traditional trova in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba and the world. The Excelencias Group invites you to learn more about the life and work of musician Antonio Gumersindo Garay y Garcia, known as Sindo Garay.
Click on Santiago de Cuba: A City of 500 Years
He was born on April 12, 1867 at the hot land and it looked like if he would live forever, death wouldn’t reach him. Sindo Garay lived 101 years, a genuine troubadour that sang to his homeland, women, landscapes and the most universal of all feelings: love.
Sindo Garay lived in a humble environment, but music was always around him. He always recalled how his mother used to sing “La Bayamesa”, a theme that inspired him 1918 to write “Mujer Bayamesa”.
The list of songs written by Sindo Garay includes such titles as “Amargas Verdades”, “Labios de Grana”, “Clave a Maceo”, “Guarina”, “Ojos de Sirena”, “La Tarde”, “La Alondra”, “El Huracán y la Palma”, “Perla Marina”, “Retorna” “Tardes Grises” and “Tormento Fiero”. His works are described as valuable lessons of harmony and composition, and they have been praised by the critics.
Gumersindo didn’t have an academic musical education, however, he learned circus acrobatics and that was how he made a living in different moments of his life.
Sindo Garay wasn’t a tall man, but he was big through the lyrics of his songs. He always loved walking and used to show up in any bar, square or family party and delight people with his music.
On the other hand, in the late 19th century he traveled to Santo Domingo, Puerto Rico and some other South American countries. He visited Paris in 1928, along with Rita Montaner and other Cuban musicians.
Beyond music, his family was one of Garay’s passions. He had five children with his wife, Petronila Reyes Zamora, and he gave them indigenous names: Guarionex, Guarina, Hatuey, Caonao and Anacaona respectively.
Sindo Garay had an exceptional professor: Pepe Sanchez. One day he took the guitar of the Father of Latin American Bolero and he played some notes. That was the beginning of a lifetime friendship. This long-lived man had the opportunity to meet such figures as Guillermon Moncada, violinist Brindis de Salas, tenor Caruso, Julio Antonio Mella, Jose Marti and Fidel Castro.
The great Sindo Garay passed away on July 17, 1968.
