Las Tunas, Cuba.- Negro, born in Havana in the years in which it was "crime and punishment", did many things to help support his large family (11 brothers), from pawn in construction of public works, ticket clerk, street repairman, cleaning boy, bricklayer ... until one of those days, he met Fidel Castro and changed the course of his life.

Faithful, brave and a follower of José Martí, so Almeida was. A sensitive and bohemian human being whose pen came out more than 300 songs and a dozen books, making clear to the history that creative sensibility and fighting for a just cause, in this country, are far from being divorced ideas and concretions.

Roisterer, humble, elusive when speaking of himself and far, far away, of the word leadership when citing his role in the Rebel Army and the revolutionary work after the triumph. His life itself is irrefutable proof of what is passion, respect, momentum, desire, future.

They assure his closest, that he preferred to write sones because they allowed him to tell the stories better, although yes, he listened to many boleros that caused him a special delight. And, no one doubts it; the best compositions came from the intense stories of the common Cuban.

The muse would arrive in a bar, while driving, or at any work meeting. He wrote on a piece of paper what the soul told him and then, when time gave him a little opening, as quickly as possible, he would complete the lyrics. Music came behind; announcing how to say what had already sprung from and for the people.

Juan Almeida lived vibrantly. His remembrance ratifies the warrior race of this country; prisoner 3833, next to Fidel, after the Moncada assault; the unwavering rebel of time and effort that left us 10 years ago.

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