Cristóbal Díaz-Ayala

Born: June 20, 1930; Havana, Cuba Education: Journalism School; Havana in 1952 BA Social Sciences; University of Havana, Havana, Cuba 1953. JD, Law School, University of Havana, Havana, Cuba 1953. Admitted to the Bar, Puerto Rico, 1966. Radio and TV: Producer and host of CUBANACAN, weekly radio program, 1979-1992; WIPR, WEUC and WRTU radio stations. Guest appearances and panelist in radio and TV programs in Puerto Rico and other countries. Awards and Honors: INTRE Award, 1981, 1985-1986 and 1988-1989, from Instituto Teleradial de Puerto Rico, for Cubanacan Radio Program. FESTIVAL DEL CARIBE MEDAL, Cartagena, Columbia, 1994 ARSC (Association for Recorded Sound Collectors) 1994 Award to Discografia de la Musica Cubana for best research in the field of recorded folk or ethnic music. FIU's Green Library hosts the world's best Cuban music collection. The entire collection has approximately 150,000 items that span the history of popular Cuban and other Latin Music. Valued at over $1,000,000.00 the collection features 45,000 LPS; 15,000 78 rpms; 4,500 cassettes containing radio interviews with composers, radio programs, music, and other materials; 5,000 pieces of sheet music; 3,000 books; and thousands of CDs, photographs, videocassettes and paper files. Among the collection's rarest items are recordings made in pre-revolutionary Cuba. This collection is a donation by Cristobal Diaz Ayala, author of the definitive book on Cuban music and producer of recent CD boxed set 100 Cuban Songs of the Millennium.