Gonzáles was born in in the small town of Jovellanos in Matanzas province, east of Havana. In her youth she moved to Santiago de Cuba, on the eastern tip of the island, and at age 16, she met Reutilio Dominguez , who would later become her husband and singing partner.
In Gonzáles's early years with Dominguez, the pair's powerful performances relied simply on guitar, bongo, and strong vocal harmony. Their successful and politically charged radio show in Santiago,...