Madison’s Ricardo Gonzalez and the Cuban Salsa Band

Ricardo Gonzalez came to the United States in the 1960s when his family left Cuba following the Revolution. Ricardo eventually settled in Madison where he served on the Common Council and opened the iconic Cardinal Bar. When almost 15,000 Cuban refugees ended up at Wisconsin’s Ft. McCoy following the 1980 Mariel Boatlift, Ricardo made it his mission to help his fellow Cubans find sponsors in hopes of them finding a better life in the United States. One way he did that was through music.

Ricardo’s story is featured on the new podcast, “WPR Reports: Uprooted.”