Peruchín

One of the greatest pianists in the history of Cuban music, Pedro "Peruchin" Justiz made his name in Havana's descarga (jam session) craze of the '50s; along with Ruben Gonzalez, Lili Martinez, and Bebo Valdes, he was instrumental in shifting the piano into a much more rhythmic role in Afro-Cuban music. Known as Peruchin for much of his life, Justiz was born January 31, 1913, in Havana and began learning piano from his mother at age ten. Five years later, the family moved to Antilla where Peruchin began studying with his grandfather, Emilio Rodriguez, who directed Antilla's mu...