Gabriel García Márquez’s Writing Soundtrack

Rodrigo García, the son of Gabriel García Márquez – author of Service95 Book Club’s October Monthly Read – spoke to us about his father’s love of music. Here, we’ve created a playlist of his favourite artists that soundtracked his writing process.

“[My father] used to call music the four Bs: Bartók, Bach, Beethoven and The Beatles. He was also a big fan of Louis Armstrong, Leonard Cohen, Roberta Flack and Spanish singer-songwriters such as Joan Manuel Serrat. Armando Manzanero, the Mexican singer-songwriter of boleros and love songs was also a favourite, and the Brazilian singer, Roberto Carlos. He also loved vallenato [music], by so many people, but certainly by Rafael Escalona, who was his friend. He loved Shakira; he was very proud that someone Colombian had broken through the borders. It’s everything from Bach to the Hispanic-American ballad.”

Romanian Folk Dances, Sz 56: III. Pe-Loc – Andante – Béla Bartók

Blackbird – The Beatles

Für Elise – Ludwig Van Beethoven

Cello Suite No. 1 In G Major, BWV 1007: I. Prélude – Johann Sebastian Bach

We Have All The Time In The World – Louis Armstrong

Mediterráneo – Joan Manuel Serrat

Aquellas Pequeñas Cosas – Joan Manuel Serrat

Adoro – Armando Manzanero

El Testamento – Rafael Escalona

Killing Me Softly With His Song – Roberta Flack

Que Será de Tí – Roberto Carlos

So Long, Marianne – Leonard Cohen

Hay Amores – Shakira