Cuban-Born Rock Legends Rudy and Robert Sarzo Revisit the Homeland They Fled as Children on 'Cuba Libre Rising'

Cuna Libre

The Sarzo brothers join Jizzy Pearl, Ruben Martinez, Robin Diaz, Claudette Lyons and producer Danny Saber for the recording of Gianluca Zanna's freedom anthem

LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, August 28, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Zanna Records announces the worldwide release of "Cuba Libre Rising," a new recording of a song born in a dream and carried for more than two decades. Written by Gianluca Zanna, the track is an anthem of exile, freedom and the endurance of the Cuban spirit. It has been available since Aug. 20 on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Deezer, Tidal and other major digital platforms.

Recorded July 27 at Clear Lake Recording Studio, the session brought together an all-star lineup with a deeply personal connection to the song's message. Cuban-born brothers Rudy Sarzo on bass and Robert Sarzo on guitar and percussion fled Havana as children in 1961 before building internationally recognized careers in rock. Their collective credits span Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake, Quiet Riot, Dio and Hurricane. On a song about the country of their birth, the brothers contribute more than musicianship - they bring lived history. Love/Hate frontman Jizzy Pearl shares lead vocals with Ruben Martinez, the song's original singer and the son of Cuban refugees. Robin Diaz (Candlebox, Hole, P.O.D., Live) anchors the recording on drums and percussion, while Claudette Lyons adds background vocals. The track was produced by Danny Saber, whose credits include The Rolling Stones, U2, David Bowie, Michael Hutchence and Black Grape.

A Song Born in a Dream
The story of "Cuba Libre" began long before the 2026 session. Zanna first heard its melody in a dream filled with images of Cuban streets, protests, hungry children and government violence. He woke during the night and wrote the music and lyrics, despite knowing little at the time about the Cuban struggle. In 2005, he recorded the original version with Martinez, then carried the song forward while waiting for the right moment and the right artists to fully realize it.

"To have Rudy and Robert Sarzo - two men who actually lived the exile this song is about - play on 'Cuba Libre,' with Danny Saber producing and Ruben returning to sing the song he first gave a voice to, is beyond anything I could have scripted," Zanna said. "Some things you do not plan. Destiny plans them for you." The original 2005 recording later resurfaced organically on TikTok among Cuban activists, helping spark the decision to revisit the song.
Dedication

"Cuba Libre Rising" is dedicated to the Cuban people who continue to seek freedom and to the memory of Cuban-born actor Tomás Milián. Zanna, who grew up in a public boarding school in Rome dreaming of coming to America, remembers Milián's Maresciallo Giraldi character and Roman slang as a source of comfort during those years - another Cuban-born artist who found his voice far from home.

Recording and Release Details
Music and lyrics: Gianluca Zanna. Producer: Danny Saber. Executive producer: Gianluca Zanna. Bass: Rudy Sarzo. Guitar and percussion: Robert Sarzo. Vocals: Jizzy Pearl and Ruben Martinez. Background vocals: Claudette Lyons. Drums and percussion: Robin Diaz. Audio engineer: Eric Milos. Original 2005 arrangements: Simone Sello.

The release includes "Cuba Libre Rising (Official Version)" and "Cuba Libre Rising (Radio Edit)," along with the "Cuba Libre" Andrei Murariu Remix and the "Cuba Libre Rising" Danny Saber Remix. A behind-the-scenes video documenting the recording session, captured by Agency 32, accompanies the release campaign.

About Zanna Records
Zanna Records is an independent music label founded and operated by Gianluca Zanna without major-label backing. Performing as Luca in the EDM duo Luca and Claudette alongside singer Claudette Lyons, the Rome-born, Arizona-based songwriter has built a catalog spanning EDM, rock and classical music. The label reports verified radio airplay across more than 500 stations in 99 countries and territories on six continents. Zanna's YouTube channel has more than 43 million total views and 50,000 subscribers, and his YouTube Music channel reaches 1.58 million monthly listeners. Learn more at www.zannarecords.com.

RJ Sarzo
Agency 32 PR
RJ@Agency32inc.com
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Cuba Libre Rising - A song for every Cuban who is seeking Freedom by Gianluca Zanna