Julio Cuevas, born in 1897 in Trinidad, was a prominent figure in the dissemination of Cuban music in Europe and North America during the 1930s. Despite his achievements, the trumpeter, composer, and orchestra conductor has not received the recognition he deserves, especially now that 50 years have passed since his death in 1975.
From a young age, Cuevas showed exceptional talent for music. By the age of ten, he was already playing the trumpet, and at 19, he joined the municipal band of Santa Clara. At just 25 years old, he began conducting the municipal band of Remedios. After moving to Havana in 1929, he participated in several successful orchestras, including those of the Palau Brothers and Moisés Simons, with whom he gained international fame with "El Manisero."
Cuevas' contribution to Cuban music was so valuable that in 1930, even during times of economic crisis, Moisés Simons paid him generously for each performance at the Plaza cabaret. Cuevas later joined Don Aspiazu's orchestra for a tour of the United States and Europe, where he made his mark performing the trumpet in "El Manisero."
After the tour, Cuevas decided to stay in Europe for ten years, performing with various orchestras in cities like London, Brussels, and Paris. However, his life was marked by the surveillance of the Bureau of Repression of Communist Activities and his difficult situation under Fidel Castro's regime after 1959.
Despite his efforts and talent, Cuevas struggled to find stability in his career, eventually having to work as an archivist and facing economic difficulties. After his death in 1975 from a myocardial infarction, Julio Cuevas, at the age of 78, went from being an important figure in Cuban music to an almost forgotten figure, with only a few mentions by music experts like Leonardo Acosta and Helio Orovio.
His musical legacy has endured, reminding us of his contributions to Cuban music and his unique skill on the trumpet. Despite his personal and professional struggles, Julio Cuevas remains a significant figure in the history of music in Cuba.
