Pedro Gonzalez Lozano

Pedro Dámaso González Lozano was born in the city of Trinidad, province of Sancti Spíritus. It is no coincidence that his father, also a trovador, instilled in him the true value of music, and especially Cuban music. His mother and grandmother also nurtured singing.

Pedro González is a member of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC). Founder of the New Trova Movement and founder in 1971 of the Dúo Escambray. Member of the Hermanos Saíz and Raúl Gómez García Brigade. He founded together with his father the Casa de la Trova of Trinidad (his own house) at Lino Pérez 173 between Pedro Zerquera and Frank País. Producer of the radio program Trovadores Siempre on Radio Trinidad.

Performances
National
II Festival of Traditional Trova held in Sancti Spíritus, 1969.
Performed as a trovador on a tour from Havana to Santiago de Cuba with the cast of "Alegrías de Sobremesa" from Radio Progreso, a tour organized by the Peña Gigante de la Trova Cubana, 1970.
He has performances on radio programs such as the "Boleros" slot on Radio Rebelde, directed by Luis Grau Jover, as well as the program "La Trova Cubana" on Radio Progreso, directed by maestro Manolo Suárez, 1970.
Participated in the Writers and Artists Brigade for 50 days in Moa, province of Holguín, 1977.
Participated in the Tribute to National Poet Nicolás Guillén on his 75th anniversary, at Plaza San Juan de Dios in Camagüey, 1977.
Part of the cultural delegation to the XI Festival of Youth and Students in Havana, 1978.
Participates in the Adolfo Guzmán Contest of Cuban Music, 1979.
Invited to the Cucalambeana Festival held in Las Tunas, 1980.
II Biennial of Spirituan Music, 1990.
Participates in the Benny Moré Contest in Santa Clara, 1990.
Participates in the II Meeting of Trios, Sancti Spíritus 1990.
Participates in the Festival Boleros de Oro, City of Havana, 1990.
Begins to organize "Peña de Pedrito" sponsored by the Office of the City Conservator of Trinidad, September 1999.
Weeks of Trinitian Culture 2003 and 2004.
"Night of the Fountain" at the Museum of Colonial Art of Sancti Spíritus as guests of the Branch of the José Martí Cultural Society, 2003.

International
Festival of Popular Art in Eastern European countries, 1975, 1986, 1987.
Promotional trip of Cuban Music to France, 1998.
Work contracts in Italy, 2000-2001 and 2002.
Performances in Germany, 1979, 1985, 1988
Represented Cuba in the Republic of Panama, 1979.
Performances in Mexico for the 40th Anniversary of the José Martí Library in the State of Tabasco, 1984.

Repertoire
As a composer, he has in his repertoire boleros and songs, among which stand out: Roberta, El último tren, Tu canto de amor, Guardagme trigueña, Esa mujer, Que dirá el Santo padre and others, and as a performer he has incorporated into his repertoire works that span different genres such as: Bolero, Son, Canción, Guajiras and others, among which stand out:

Guitarra mía Rafael Saroza
La perla marina Sindo Garay
Mujer perjura Miguel Companioni
Y tú que has hecho Eusebio Delfín
Retorna Sindo Garay
Pensamiento Rafael Gómez Teofilito
Someone like you José Ferrer
Plegaria Rafael Saroza
Debí pagar tu piel Lázaro García
Hasta donde Marta Valdés
Regalo # 1 Augusto Blanca
To Live Pablo Milanés
This Song Silvio Rodríguez

Discography
LP recording of Guitarra mía with Dúo Escambray on the Siboney label from Santiago de Cuba, EGREM, 1989.
CD recording titled "Guitarra mía" with the EGREM Record Label, 2000.
Awards and Recognition

Awards Obtained:
-1979. Third Prize for Performance in the National Adolfo Guzmán Contest of Cuban Music held in the city of Havana. -1990. Grand prize at the II Biennial of Music in Sancti Spíritus in which he defended a work together with its author and duo partner. -2003. Receives First Prize and Grand Prize at the Radio Festival for a Sunday slot "Trovadores Siempre" which he writes, hosts and directs.

Decorations: -Medal for the ten years since the founding of the New Trova (1983). -Raúl Gómez García Medal for 25 years of artistic work. -Distinction "Majadahonda 1936" granted by UNEAC. -Unique Prize of the Arts, granted by the Government and the Culture Department of Trinidad, January 2003. -Diploma of Artistic Merit granted by the Rector of the Higher Institute of Art for being Founder of the New Trova Movement. -Distinction for National Culture, December 2005. -Key to the city of Trinidad, January 2006

Recognition: -Recognized as "Mascot of Cuban Trova" at age 14, 1970. -For his work and attitude during his stay in Santiago de Cuba as a member of the "Sierra Maestra" Writers and Artists Brigade. -For his participation in the "4de Abril" Brigade in Moa, 1977. -For his participation on the occasion of the 158th anniversary of the Founding of Cienfuegos, granted by the Culture Department of that city, 1977. -For his participation in the cultural activities of the XI Festival of Youth and Students, 1978. -For the X Anniversary of the founding of the New Trova Movement, 1982. -For the outstanding career and successful artistic work of Dúo Escambray on their 10th anniversary, 1983. -From the Governor of the State of Tabasco, Mexico, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the founding of the José Martí University Library, 1984. -Recognition from the Provincial Committee of UNEAC in Sancti Spíritus, 1989. -Awarded a Diploma for being a Symbol of Trinitian Culture, 2001. -Receives Grand Prize from the Municipal Radio Festival for his Sunday slot "Trovadores Siempre", 2003. -Receives tribute along with trovador José Ferrer from the Spirituan Branch of the José Martí Cultural Society, 2003.

Confessions of Pedro González
Obstacles in his career: Artists from the provinces always have obstacles, at least those of us who did not migrate to the capital. Although the 27 years of Dúo Escambray were fruitful, it could have been better, for example, our discography is sparse. But in general we did nice and hard things at the same time. I remember the three stays in Angola in the midst of war, or when we walked the Sierra Maestra for kilometers and kilometers, to sing to the peasants in intricate zones, and we saw them cry because they had never seen anything like it.
Disappearance of Dúo Escambray: Escambray ended because we lived in Trinidad, because of the arrival of tourism. Out of respect for our work we did not accept this and the duo ended. Besides my country and my Revolution taught me to make committed song and we had serious work. It was a very abrupt change to go from big stages to singing in restaurants. We were never a medicine to wash down food. They didn't even pay us a salary. We would have liked to close our eyes and sing with dignity even if it were like that, with our eyes closed, but they wouldn't let us. I respect a salary, little or nothing, but I will never give up dignified payment for doing what I like.
Fear of continuing as a soloist: Of course! It took me a lot of work to get used to singing without that wonderful second voice of Jesé Ferrer and that accompanying guitar. It was hard for me to adapt to that emptiness, because we achieved an excellent blend of voices that, as hard as it is to believe, is more difficult to achieve in duos than in trios. It was about finding another repertoire, a new sound, in short, starting from scratch. But it was about getting the public to accept you again, because they liked Pedrito but with Dúo Escambray...
Loyal to the borders of Trinidad: Because I am very much from Trinidad, I love this town, each of its stones. I care for my people as they care for me, they have shown me this many times. When I travel, for example, to Havana, by the second day it seems to me that I've been away for a whole month. I have had thousands of opportunities to live in the capital, and even outside the country with job offers, but I would never be able to stay anywhere else. It is a blessing to live in Trinidad. We enjoy peace and we breathe purer air.
Defender of trova: With claws! The objective of my radio program is to keep alive the roots of trova that we sometimes risk losing. There I have the opportunity for young people to listen to trova from both Matamoros and María Teresa.