Vieja Trova Santiaguera

La Vieja Trova Santiaguera is a Cuban musical band that formed in 1994 and became successful in Europe. Its members included: In the Dutch documentary Lagrimas Negras they are shown as true supporters of the Cuban Revolution, bringing homage to the grave of 'Carlos Marx'. As Pancho Cobas explains, before the revolution there was little opportunity to make money (except on Holidays), but after the revolution musicians were asked to form bands and were employed by the state. They were judged by a 'Cultural Committee', which scaled them to determine their pay. Now all members of the Vieja Trova have the highest 'A' status. According to Cuban musician and music historian Leonardo Acosta, however, the reverse is true. The closure of music venues after the revolution, and especially in 1968, threw many musicians out of work, and the damage this did was still felt thirty years later. Earlier in his career, Rey had replaced Compay Segundo as his brother Lorenzo's partner in the duo Los Compadres. He was also a founder of the Cuarteto Patría, now led by Eliades Ochoa.

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