Silvio Rodriguez

Havana, November 29 (RHC)-- Poet, troubadour, and singer-songwriter Silvio Rodríguez celebrates his 75th birthday this Monday as an emblematic exponent of culture and an essential voice in the soundtrack of the Cuban Revolution.

Considered one of the most renowned and beloved musicians in Cuba and abroad, Rodríguez founded the so-called Nueva Trova Movement with Pablo Milanés, Noel Nicola, and Vicente Feliú, which set the tone for Cuban popular music starting in 1972.

Born in San Antonio de los Baños, his artistic career includes more than twenty albums.

On Social Media networks, he received numerous congratulations and tributes.

In several tweets, President Miguel Diaz-Canel praised the singer-song-writer quoting the lyrics of some of his most emblematic songs.

"Happy birthday, dear Silvio. We wake up humming your lyrics," Diaz-Canel wrote.

Former Cuban Five and National Hero Gerardo Hernandez, current National Coordinator of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution,  recalled on Facebook the support Silvio Rodriguez gave to the struggle to achieve their release.

Hernandez recalled with candid words when he unexpectedly received Silvio's congratulatory message on one of his solitary birthdays from the program Canto Sin Fronteras from KPFK radio in Los Angeles.

"Perhaps he did not calculate the effect the surprise would have on that prisoner," added Hernandez.

He then described Rodriguez as a person of modesty proportional to his greatness, who does not like praise, not even to be called 'maestro', although he is one in every sense of the word.

"But November 29 is the day when I ignore that. Sorry maestro: Many congratulations! concluded Gerardo Hernandez in his message to Silvio Rodriguez.