“Day of pain. Marta Valdés has passed away, one of the greatest composers in the musical history of our country,” the president wrote on his account on X.

Through that social network, the head of state sent heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and the public of the outstanding artist.

The president of the National Assembly of People’s Power (Parliament), Esteban Lazo, also expressed his condolences on the digital platform and noted that this is a regrettable loss for Cuban culture.

Valdés received her first guitar lessons at the age of 11 and later studied Philosophy and Literature at the University of Havana, and began her professional career in 1955 with the composition of the bolero Palabras.

She studied theory and solfeggio with several Cuban professors and in 1963 joined courses of the Popular Music Seminar, directed by the pianist and musicologist Odilio Urfé.

Her compositions include boleros, sones, criollas, habaneras and music for theater and television.

She worked as a musical advisor for the Grupo Teatro Estudio and participated in the Encuentro de la Canción Protesta (Protest Song Meeting) in 1967, sponsored by Casa de las Américas.

Valdés was also an outstanding figure of the second generation of filin, a bridge between the founding masters of the genre and the singer-songwriters of the Nueva Trova Movement, according to reviews of her life and work.

She received the distinctions for National Culture and Félix Elmuza, the Raúl Gómez García Medal and the Alejo Carpentier and Félix Varela First Degree orders.

Valdés was also recognized with the Pablo awards, from the Pablo de la Torriente Brau Center, Cubadisco and Youth Teacher, from the Hermanos Saíz Association.

She was a founding member of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba, received the distinctions for National Culture and Félix Elmuza, the Raúl Gómez García Medal and the Alejo Carpentier and Félix Varela First Degree orders.

The outstanding composer was also awarded the Replica of the Machete of Máximo Gómez, from the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces.

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