Born: 19th March 1856, Santiago de Cuba
Died: 3rd January 1918

’Pepe’ Sánchez was a Cuban musician, singer and composer. Viewed as the founder of the Cuban bolero and ’trova’ style of music.

He rose from being a tailor to become co-owner of a copper mine, and representative of a Jamaican cloth manufacturer in Santiago. Although he had no formal training in music he had a natural talent, working in the ribald and satirical theater ’bufo’, creating advertising ’jingles’ and influencing a succession of ’trovadore’ musicians who emulated his approach.