When I was nineteen, I left our Cuban village for Havana to pursue my dream of becoming a singer. I worked in a factory for $7 a week. Can you imagine? Shtinkers! My mother didn’t approve. But I was happy. A famous Mexican composer – Agustin Lara – came to Cuba. He was looking for Balladeers. He held a public contest. I made it to the finals, but I failed. I did not give up. Adios to him!
A producer hired me to perform boleros. I was in heaven! I thought this was the open door…it wasn’t.
My dream to become a singer came to an end when I arrived in Los Angeles.
I was thirty-five and I had to give it up and get a husband.
I was a dreamer. I’m still a dreamer, but now I don’t use the word dream; I use the word hope.
I’m sorry I couldn’t accomplish what I wanted to. But I’m not sad. On the contrary, I get to live with these exciting memories. It could have been different, but it’s not…so…NEXT!
In Los Angeles, I met a dreamer. He started a radio station. He recorded me with three guitars singing Gitana music.
It is somewhere in my record collection. Someday, someone will find it.
Gentil Steinbrecher was born to Turkish-Jewish parents 89 years ago.
