Rosendo Mercado

Rosendo Mercado Ruiz (born 23 February 1954, Madrid, Spain) is a Spanish rock singer and songwriter.

He was a member of bands Ñu and Leño, and is a prominent exponent of the so-called urban rock in Spain.

After dropping out of ICAI engineering school, he joined the band Fresa as a guitarist, in 1972.

Fresa usually played covers of hits of the time, and sometimes they also backed other soloists and singers.

Following some changes, including singer José Carlos Molina joining the band, this changed its name to Ñu.

In 1974 Rosendo discovered Rory Gallagher's music, who became one of his main influences, together with other bands such as Jethro Tull, Canned Heat, Cream, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath.

After being discharged from the compulsory military service in 1975, he took part in the recording of Ñu's first album.

Molina and himself were not in very good terms, so Rosendo left the group in 1977.

He then formed Leño, where he played the guitar and acted as a vocalist as well.

Chiqui Mariscal (bass player) and Ramiro Penas (drums) also left Ñu to join him in Leño.

They made their debut in 1978, acting as the support band at an Asfalto's gig.

They had been hired by Vicente Romero (producer).

Romero was founding Chapa Discos ("Chapa Records") at that time, and published the collective disc ''Viva el Rollo, Vol. II.

Rock del Manzanares, which included two Leño's songs: Este Madrid and Aprendiendo a escuchar''.

Later in 1979 they published their first album, entitled Leño.

It was produced by Teddy Bautista, and it characterises for including songs with long instrumental sections.

Two songs: El tren and Este Madrid are remarkable.

Chiqui Mariscal left the band in the middle of the recording sessions, and he was substituted by Tony Urbano; the disc sleeve portrays this fact.

In 1980 they published their second album, Más madera.

It evidences Teddy Bautista's influence.

The songs are shorter and have a lighter style.

In 1981 Leño recorded live En directo at the Carolina club in Madrid.

Despite its poor sound quality, the disc made it quite well at the shops, granting great success to the band.

It includes one of Rosendo's best-known songs, Maneras de vivir.

Luz Casal (chorus) and Teddy Bautista (keyboards) played with them.

The last of their official releases is ¡Corre, corre!.

This was made with more resources, due to the success of their previous live record.

¡Corre, corre!

was recorded in London, and produced by Carlos Narea.

Notable songs include Sorprendente and ¡Qué desilusión!.

1983 would see their last performances.

Among Miguel Rios and Luz Casal, they took part in the tour Rock de una noche de verano.

This was a long series of gigs all around Spain, featuring a set of lights and sound assets as they never had been seen before.

The tour was organized by Miguel Ríos, and few years later it would be marked as a milestone in the Spanish rock history.

At the end of the Rock the una noche de verano tour, in the fall of 1983, and when they were at their best and most successful moment, Leño members decided to split off.

Rosendo's first solo disc (Loco por incordiar) was pushed back until 1985, due to problems with his former label, Zafiro (to which Chapa Discos belonged).

The disc was edited by RCA, and produced by Carlos Narea.

It marked the moment of greatest commercial success in his career, thanks to songs like Agradecido, Pan de higo or Loco por incordiar.

However, his next album, Fuera de lugar, edited next year, was negatively criticized.

His family was from Bolaños de Calatrava, in the province of Ciudad Real, but he was raised in Carabanchel, where he still resides (as of 2005).