Cuban music stars who deceased at age 59
Here are 4 famous musicians from Cuba died at 59:
Luis Manuel Rodríguez
Luis Manuel Rodríguez (June 17, 1937 Camagüey-July 8, 1996 Miami) was a Cuban professional boxer.
He was also known by the nickname "El Feo" (The Ugly), due to his unorthodox boxing style and rugged appearance. Rodríguez had an impressive professional career, with a record of 107 wins (54 by knockout), 13 losses, and two draws. He won the middleweight world championship in 1963 by defeating Gene Fullmer, and successfully defended his title three times before losing it to Emile Griffith in 1965. Rodríguez was forced to leave Cuba in 1961 due to political unrest in the country, and started his professional boxing career in the United States. He later became a successful businessman and philanthropist in Miami, where he lived until his death from lung cancer in 1996.
In addition to his successful boxing career, Luis Manuel Rodríguez was a well-respected and admired figure in the sport. He was known for his sportsmanship and humble attitude both in and out of the ring. Rodríguez was also deeply involved in his community, and actively supported various charitable causes throughout his life. In 1980, he founded the Luis Manuel Rodriguez Foundation, which provides assistance and resources to underprivileged children in the Miami area. Despite facing numerous challenges and hardships throughout his life, Rodríguez remained dedicated to his passions and continued to inspire others until his death. Today, he is remembered as one of the greatest boxers to come out of Cuba and a true champion in every sense of the word.
Read more about Luis Manuel Rodríguez on Wikipedia »
Eliseo Alberto
Eliseo Alberto (September 10, 1951 Arroyo Naranjo-July 31, 2011 Mexico City) also known as Eliseo Alberto de Diego García Marruz, Eliseo Alberto Diego or Eliseo Diego was a Cuban screenwriter.
Eliseo Alberto was not only a screenwriter, but also a novelist, poet and journalist. He began his literary career in Cuba, where he wrote several acclaimed novels and poetry collections, including "La Fábula de José" and "Caracol Beach". In 1990, he left Cuba and settled in Mexico, where he continued to write and published many more works, including "Bertie and the Silver Spider" and "Los Fantasmas de la Retirada". He was the recipient of numerous literary awards, such as the Premio Herralde de Novela and the Premio Alfaguara de Novela. Eliseo Alberto was widely regarded as one of the most important Cuban writers of his generation.
In addition to his successful literary career, Eliseo Alberto also worked as a screenwriter in Mexico and collaborated on numerous TV and film productions, such as "La Femme Nikita". He was also a respected journalist and worked for several publications including El Nacional, Uno Más Uno, and El Universal. In his later years, Eliseo Alberto struggled with depression and ultimately took his own life in 2011. However, he left behind a body of work that continues to be celebrated and admired by readers and writers alike. His legacy as a multi-talented and influential figure in Cuban and Mexican literature is undisputed.
Read more about Eliseo Alberto on Wikipedia »
Tito Junco
Tito Junco (January 4, 1944 Havana-August 15, 2003 Havana) was a Cuban actor.
He was famous for his iconic performances in Mexican cinema during the 1940s and 1950s. Junco was part of the popular "Golden Age" of Mexican cinema and acted in over 80 films. He was known for his versatile roles, playing everything from leading men to villains. Junco also worked in theater and television, receiving critical acclaim for his performances as well. Outside of acting, he was a major advocate for the arts and worked to support young artists in Cuba. Despite passing away in 2003, Junco's legacy continues to live on through the many films he appeared in which have become classics of Mexican cinema.
Additionally, Tito Junco was famous for his distinctive and versatile voice which he used in several radio programs, and he was also known for being a skilled dancer. One of his most famous films was "Los Tres García" in 1947, where he played the role of a villain trying to steal a valuable inheritance from the García brothers. Junco was not only an important figure in Mexican cinema but also in Cuban culture, where he began his career as an actor in the late 1930s. He was married to the actress and dancer, Margarita Balboa, with whom he had two children. Junco received several awards throughout his career, including the National Prize for Arts and Letters in Cuba in 1991, recognizing his contributions to the arts in his home country.
Read more about Tito Junco on Wikipedia »
María Rosa Menocal
María Rosa Menocal (April 9, 1953 Havana-October 15, 2012 Killingworth) otherwise known as Maria Rosa Menocal was a Cuban professor.
Maria Rosa Menocal was a highly respected scholar in the fields of medieval literature and cultural studies. After fleeing Cuba with her family as a young child, she grew up in New York City and went on to earn a PhD in Romance languages and literatures from Yale University. She became a professor of Spanish and Portuguese at Yale and a leading voice in the study of medieval Spain, where Christian, Jewish, and Islamic cultures coexisted and influenced each other. Her book "The Ornament of the World: How Muslims, Jews, and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain" became a widely-read bestseller and inspired a documentary film. Menocal was known for her interdisciplinary approach to scholarship, as well as her commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in higher education.
During her career, Maria Rosa Menocal received numerous accolades for her contributions to the field of medieval studies including a MacArthur Fellowship in 1994, the National Humanities Medal in 2008, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011. She was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, and the Medieval Academy of America. In addition to her scholarly work, Menocal was an advocate for diversity and inclusion in higher education, serving on various committees and advisory boards at Yale University and beyond. Her legacy continues to inspire scholars in the fields of medieval literature and cultural studies, as well as those who strive for greater equity and inclusivity in academia.
She died in cancer.
Read more about María Rosa Menocal on Wikipedia »