Juan Almeida, a lyrics enthusiast
A serious mulatto, but affable. He wore olive green but he did not boast of his grades. Commander Juan José Almeida Bosque was a simple man, a village man, a lover of life. The firm rebel who never agreed to surrender, the artist and writer of imperishable works such as La Lupe and Dame un traguito.
The revolutionary who turned 92 on February 17 knew how to remain in the memory of Cubans not only for his military and political exploits. In her book Contra el agua y el viento (Against Water and Wind), winner of the Casa de las Américas prize, Almeida left forever the memories of what happened after the cyclone Flora in Cuba.
Details of what happened in the Missle Crisis and the mercenary attack on Bay of Pigs are also known from his personal experiences and research.
he wrote a trilogy about the interior of the Presidio Modelo (where Fidel Castro was in presion after his attack to Moncada Garrison), the exile in Mexico and Granma landing.
In 1989 Juan Almeida writes Sierra Maestra and Por las faldas del Turquino (“For the flanks of Turquino”) where he highlights the importance of the struggle in this part of the island. Books of obligatory consultation to understand the reasons of the war and the creation of the Third Guerrilla Front that he commanded.
The one who was also a mason and shoeshine boy became not limited in the world of letters. He also ventured into poetry and he had a space in the Bohemia magazine to promote his poems.
Of his empirical musical creations, more than 300 pieces performed by men and women from Cuba and the world stand out. With resounding success, they approach historical and personal themes from diverse genres.
Santiago de Cuba thanks Juan Almeida Bosque’s tenacity and his accompaniment to all the country’s cultural processes. Above all, the Tele Rebelde channel in 1968 and the Siboney Studios of the EGREM.
None of his responsibilities at different stages of the Revolution diminished the artistic sensitivity and passion for art professed by the Hero of the Republic of Cuba. Nor did they in turn detract from the discipline or courage of his duties as a Deputy to the National Assembly or Vice President of Cuba.
It is the story of the man, guerrilla, politician, artist, father, friend, brother who was Juan José Almeida Bosque, that brings to immortality that image of his that inspires, in these times, never to surrender.
Written by Radio Grito de Baire
