Eliseo Grenet Sánchez (Havana, 1863-1950)

Composer, pianist, orchestral director and singer.
Since his early years, Grenet started his musical life and being only thirteen years old, he already composed small works for movies.

In 1936, he made in New York a notable labor promoting Cuban music, introducing Conga, this labor was followed by further promotions in France, Spain and other European scenes.

Such Danzones as La Mora, Si me pides el pescao, Papá Montero, Si muero en la Carretera and some others were penned by him. Also songs Las perlas de tu boca , El sitierito, Tabaco verde and Drume negrita; the pregones Rica pulpa and El tamalero; and the tangos congos Mamá Inés and Espabílat. He also added music to Motivos de Son by the peerless Nicolás Guillén.

Grenet left as heritage the artist's compromise with his love for the homeland, because his Lamento cubano (1932) became one of the most outstanding political songs from our cultural wealth.

It emerged during the Gerardo Machado`s Dictatorship and his verses highlighted a convincing denouncement of the political environment of our country:

"¡Oh! Cuba hermosa, primorosa,/ ¿por qué sufres hoy/ tanto quebranto?/ ¡Oh! Patria mía,/ ¡quién diría/ que tu cielo azul/ nublara el llanto!/... "

(“Oh! beautiful and dainty Cuba ,/ why are you suffering/ so much today?/ Oh! My beloved homeland,/
who would say it!/ that your blue sky/ the tears would mist!/…”)

Lyrics were by Teófilo Radillo, one of his collaborators, but Grenet assumed all responsibility and had to abandon the country from a secure death.

Source: Omar Vázquez