"I'm going to say honestly, without anything left inside me: that is in the blood. I am the son of a great musician of the last century, Angel Almenares Guirola. Imagine, I think I came to this world with a guitar under his arm. From my father I learned everything. Always hearing it.

He born in 1902, on May 14, and was the youngest and only boy of four children. C an you imagine?".
With due pride the owner of those words, Alejandro Enis, bears the name of the author of his days: Almenares. Sanchez came by his mother, who at age seven realized that his little would be a genius. And at that age he made his first guitar and began to show his skills as a skilled luthier, fame chasing him until today.
"At 13 and was said to be professional, even though only studied a little music," tells this troubadour, one of the distinguished children of the five times centenary Santiago de Cuba, Juventud Rebelde. "I did not graduate at all for lack of time, but I looked everywhere, while forming duos, trios, quartets, ensembles ... I owe it to nature, and my father, of course, I was given this grace ".
Master, what do you remember from your childhood?

-Often My house was filled with these extraordinary musicians who would share with my father: Sindo Garay, Matamoros trio ... Not forgetting the 13 March of each year, when he made his birthday serenades to wait, and always He is dawning. And I did not sleep a wink, afraid to miss something, listening attentively to those immortal.
"I remember one day my dad asked," Well, Almenares, and your son do? ". "I wanted to be a doctor or lawyer," he said. You know how parents, who often do not want you to follow their careers, but mine, anyway, let determine my own way. And that was the music.
"I already told you that I was seven my guitar snuff box. Not lying, though it may seem inconceivable. As I bent it like for carpentry, I grabbed a knife, a saw, I used the remaining pieces of the strings that will burst my father, and took the plunge.
"As Dad was also a barber, I took advantage and took his instrument when he was going to peel. Came from school and I started to pass his hand ... That was training me also listen to the radio and much to their venom troubadours friends to contact him ... "Hey, Almenares, got that number ...". Perla marina in deep seas ... "? And what chord you think should be here," he once questioned him, to which he stated: "Ah, for that is that in D major and B minor ... "and I recorded, until the happy moment arrived: the music was mine, my happiness still lasts and lasts me."
She said that at age 13 took the leap. What happened then?
Look, after I did my guitar with four strings, one day surprised my dad asking you to accompany me with it. "But what I want to touch?" He wanted to know. "Any of your songs, Dad," I replied. My mother laughed and then began to mourn when he discovered my talent for playing the raw guitar. I thought I was going to die, as usually it happens to geniuses who rarely enjoy (smiles). But if it had not passed anything to my father, who astonished the same with the raw guitar with companion, who by first voice, second, third ... he was timpanist orchestra ...! He himself studied, but could not finish because that stage was tough and had to be fought the kilos.
"It is I formed a trio and invited me to the bar pattern in Trocha, where musicians would gather. Wanted to give the opportunity Almenares son and made there a few issues Trio Matamoros, Los Panchos ... Tap fruits ... riquitín Quitín Caney, riquitín Quitín, riquitín Quitín, riquitín Quitín ... Well, and fell silver, they said, not me. People gasped. Hence came that someone in the group of older, already disappeared, Paquito Frank Moya, musician, barber, a colleague of my father, said: "That boy will be one of the best guitars of Santiago de Cuba," and it seems that there will He has lacked reason.
"Then I created another trio, and a third, who called cousins, and were followed by Universal, East, headed for 14 years, with whom he played at the Ranch Club, in the Club 300, at the Country Club in the radio, on television, in San Pedro del Mar ... I was slowly making its way. But the best moments were spent on stage with my dad. Well, after the Revolution, with La Trova (referring to the Casa de la Trova). But before that stage and played with my father in private parties, which was a huge experience, as not quite learn. As it was he who knew ... yet still knows more than me ...
"It was an honor to be at his side, and then with their groups and its people, as the Lyric Ronda, the first recorded with the RCA Victor and next to Trio Matamoros in 1928. As Matamoros was always in my house, I shared much Siro (Rodriguez), sang a duet; Matamoros (Miguel) we were even neighbors in Tivoli ... So I grew up in an exceptional way. "
-What Songs played when he was with his father?
-Many, Really. One of my favorite is called coffin, which I loved for its apparent simplicity. I do not know if you've heard ... He was the raw voice, I second ... Says Nothing matters to me / pain present / Nothing matters to me / past pain / The future hope so indifferent /... The same is to be happy, you miserable. / The same is to be happy, you miserable. / Solo ambition of stiff annoyance, / tired of enduring wars, / that lie in my coffin, / sleep peacefully below earth, / sleep peacefully under the earth ... That was a gem for me, and we interpreted very well.
How he was born the composer in you? What was your first song?

It's dedicated to my first wife ...
-¿Does She married early?

Yes, I had a first marriage at 16. Of that I had two children. But the second, with which we 57 years, arrived and stopped, because only death will separate us. Well, then I got a number to the first:.. The girl I loved / loved me so / The girl that I loved / wanted and still want, / And though I know how it is, I want the soul / girl I loved, / the girl I loved ...
"The second, who later became the woman of my life, I had to get Move the waist, because they put me pica'o difficult. Although I was like a pitirre, there, that beautiful mulatto, who was studying at the Institute, in Normal, he was very unfriendly and I pulled the body. But I liked both inspired me: Every time I look at my mulatota / do not know what happens to me, / I can not help myself, / and I say so, / and I say this: / mulatto, you have hips quicksand which snatches. / Mulata, you have in your sweet mouth / crazy laugh that kills me. / Move the waist, mulatota of my life, that I die for you ... That theme became so famous that it is up to Antonio Banderas film.
"Then I wrote other numbers as the album of my life, The Girl of my rose, out of spite, not criticize the baby, no solution and the talkative, inspired by stories that have happened to me ... Certainly I have several that are contained in an album that I recorded with EGREM, Santiago Trova. Alejandro Almenares, while others remain on paper. "
Have you made many guitars?

'There yes I've lost my memory. They have come from many places: Spain, France, United States ... behind my guitars, requintos, three, lute ...

Where is the secret of these instruments you made?

'I can say that there luthiers working very nice but the guitars do not sound them not tuned ... I do not do so cute, because sometimes the prettiest has the worst flaw. The natural course (smiles). May all be doctors, but each has its specialty. Say those who have touched them, they do not know how I manage to make my instruments are always at kilo. But I do not keep secrets. I teach what I know, because I can not die and take that knowledge. What age did you miss my fife, with which I play now?
'Imagine you ... First tell me yours to see if I can figure ...

Almost 80 years ...

-The Truth is I have no idea ...

-The Age of my youngest one daughter (there are three in total), which is turning 46. And yet, it is intact, as the first day. Note that neither the polish or anything, but has walked the world and not out of tune. In fact, the musicians will play with me when I say, "Give me the La". And that is nailed, air conditioning, cold, wherever. I acted in Moscow, Bulgaria, Mexico, the Netherlands, Belgium, France ... and that thing does not even notice.

What has meant the Casa de la Trova for you?

-Life, Because virtually La Trova became my presence. The three pillars of true Trova in Santiago de Cuba were Virgilio Palais, Almenares Angel and Ramon Marquez. That which is now La Trova was a barbershop above had a guest house and beside a fruit that told El Cocal. In 1958 Virgilio put a timbiriche to sell fried cod and manjúa, but on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays my father came with Ramón Márquez, were taken there half of Palmita and the three began to sing, to enjoy. Virgil sang beautiful.
"I was always with my dad Rabito to wherever. I had my work, but I was going to look because sometimes went for drinks, then rented a cart to take him home. Thus began the Trova, including three by themselves singing there. I save you, Christy ... Pepe Sanchez. "No, now let's sing Heart of fire, Emiliano Blez". I need a heart of fire ... "But Almenares, have not sung anything of yours." "As things are going with my Cuba ...". They fly away, / to the highest peaks, / a flock of pigeons all handsome, / there in the regions where the sun calcined / a green palm trees on the hills ...
"People were taking a taste, and were adding more and more singers. Wine Perete (Mariano Carbonell), Pablito Armiñán, Miguel Angel Justiz ... As I worked at the 300 Club in Granda House, that I had right nearby, appeared with my bottle to give us a few drinks, I always have loved , like snuff. Thus it grew the Trova to what it is today: A super large family, with which I am proud. "

- Do you take any involvement?
Well, I have never done anything (laughs). The best thing I have is the ear, even though I have already operated on twice for one polyp (I sneaked a bug light of those that hurt me a bit). But my hearing is fine, although I am unable to offend someone saying, "Hey, you are a desafina'o". That is left to help you say, "I think it is not, do you think that can be asao?".

'Then the choice to live 80 years so vital?

-the Rum, women and snuff ... (loose a contagious laugh).

And where he left the music?

Well, it is that is goes in the inside!