Luis Compte Cruz

Composer and poet from Mayajigua. Among his most important works are the books "Tiempo de Vivir", "El Hombre en el Paisaje" and "Súplicas a Martillazos". He also ventured into music, obtaining important awards with the songs "Regálame tus manos" and "Tonada para un Punto". He was a contributor to numerous local and national publications in both print and radio.

Childhood and youth

He was born on the Llanadas farm, Mayajigua, son of poor farmers. At age 6 he moved to live on the Palmerito farm, near Venegas, where he completed primary studies up to sixth grade at rural school #50. Upon finishing at this school, without possibilities for further studies and needed by family circumstances, he began working as a store clerk in Venegas, Dalia, Hondones, and Arroyo Grande farm, the latter in Zaza del Medio.

At age 14 he moved to Mayajigua and worked in similar jobs until 1951, when he moved to La Habana in search of better-paying work. There he began working at the bakery and candy shop "Los Ángeles," at Bejucal and Martí, Arroyo Apolo, working 14 to 16 hours daily for a salary of 15 pesos a month and later 25 pesos a month. It was there that he wrote his first literary work, poor poetry in a poor poem, which was published in the magazine "Artes Blancas" of the Havana Candy Makers Union.

In 1955 he moved back to Mayajigua, called by one of his brothers to manage a small establishment while he attended to other matters. In 1956 he began as an apprentice bus driver to occupy a driver position in the newly created Mayajigua bus company. It was in this center that he began his humorous poetic production, crafting countless décimas with anecdotes, situations, etc., that occurred. Also during those years he learned of the existence of the "Centro Cultural Tecnológico" based in La Habana that offered literature courses by correspondence for small monthly fees.

In 1967 bus drivers were eliminated, replaced by collection boxes, and he became an administrative worker, but with more opportunity to participate in literary matters. Then literary workshops were created throughout the country, of which he was a founder and president of the Mayajigua one, which grouped a considerable number of members, until they practically disappeared for a time and later resurfaced. When the "Hermanos Saíz" Brigade was organized in the then province of Santa Clara, he was one of its founders, and later due to publications in weekly magazines, journals, won contests, etc., he was promoted to the ranks of the provincial UNEAC of Sancti Spíritus.

Among the most important awards are those from the literary workshop debate contest in 1977 and 1978, with "Cartas y Fotos" first and "Elegía a Félix por un hermano" afterwards. The first book accepted for publication was in 1983 "Tiempo de vivir" which was published after six or seven years of waiting.

In 1983, he participated for the first time in the "Adolfo Guzmán" Cuban music Contest ICRT, with music by Lourdes Caro, music professor at the Lecuona academy of Sancti Spíritus. This partnership formed fortuitously, because she needed texts that had their own musicality and were to her liking, and at a UNEAC meeting, she began reading a notebook of poems, sonnets, décimas, etc., and was motivated by the theme "Tus manos" which later became "Regálame tus manos" performed by the group Manguaré and which won five important awards at the Guzmán.

In 1984 he made contact with Lucía Huergo, trombonist and arranger of the Síntesis Group, and chose a theme that would later win 3rd prize at the Guzmán 1984. He later participated with Lourdes again in the contests for 1986 and 1989 but was only finalist.

During these years he collaborated in weekly magazines, newspapers and radio stations, cultivating both humorous décimas and serious poetry, producing several publications.

In 1991 he retired due to health problems and dedicated himself entirely to the gathering that bears his name at the House of Culture of Mayajigua.

Luís Compte died on September 14, 2001, victim of a long illness. Each year the Meeting of Tonadistas, Decimistas and Repentistas "Luís Compte Cruz in Memoriam" is celebrated in his hometown.

Awards
First Prize Décima Contest in 1962.
First Prize Contest sponsored by UCLV in 1963.
Abel Santamaría Award from UCLV in décima.
Mention FAR Contest 1975, 1976 and 1977.
Prize Meeting-Debate of Literary Workshops 1977 and 1978.
Two prizes in National Debate in 1978 and 1979.
Three Mentions in the July 26 FAR Contest.
Four times finalist in the "Adolfo Guzmán" Cuban music Contest ICRT in 1983, 1984, 1986 and 1989.
Third Prize in "Adolfo Guzmán" Contest.
First Prize in Espirituanan Music Biennial with the text of the work "Tonadas para un punto".

Collaborations
Weekly "Palante"………1979-1985
Weekly "Melaito"………1979-1985
Magazine "BOHEMIA"
Magazine "VERDE OLIVO"
Newspaper "VANGUARDIA"
RADIO LIBERACION
Radio Sancti Spíritus
CMHW of Villa Clara

Publications
"Tiempo de vivir".
"El hombre en el paisaje y varios trabajos en boletines literarios".
"Suplicas a martillazos".

The décima is in mourning
Perhaps in his constant struggle between Caibarién and Morón or between Mayajigua and Cabaiguan, working as a bus driver, Luis Compte Cruz sharpened this sense of imagination that drove him to compose verse. Too laconic when telling stories, he did not write décimas until near his fleeting departure with more than 6 decades lived. His fondness for art poetry inclined him toward the sonnet, but the décima was always his trump card. Publications for 5 years in the humorous weekly magazines Palante and Melaíto, awards in meetings, national debates of literary workshops; mentions in the July 26 contest of the FAR, and memorable partnerships with Lourdes Caro and Lucía Huergo that earned him important recognition in the Adolfo Guzmán Cuban music competitions. Ediciones Unión published his book "Tiempo de Vivir" and the Luminaria publishing house the pamphlet "El hombre y el paisaje".

In 1999 he won the poetry prize called for by this weekly with décimas that suggest a nostalgic and sincere testament: Judging by the roads/ I attempt to walk/ I know, I will be left/ without feet for the roads/ nor visit the neighbors/ by my steps I will achieve/ yet I also know/ that even if my feet don't resist/ worse would be if they don't exist/ roads for the feet.

But after the tacit recognition of the complaint that emerged, joy also appeared, thanking life and the years.

My hopes are nothing/ but to sow hopes/ and sublime memories/ for the blossoming earth./ And if some blessing/ I need to be grateful for/ eternally it must be/ this one of carrying with you/ the affection of a friend/ and the love of a woman.