Alex Cuba
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Artists:
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Alex Cuba
- Genres: Latin
Biography
Alex Cuba (born Alexis Puentes in 1974 just outside of Havana) was a multi-styled multi-instrumentalist who got his start as a small child with his father's group, Lost Puentes. After touring and performing with the band Temperamento with Roberto Fonseca, Alex moved to Canada in 1999, and it was there that the creative direction of his music began to move away from the more traditional aspects of the Cuban sound. Alex and his brother Adonis formed the Alex Cuba band shortly thereafter, but soon came to call themselves the Puentes Brothers, and released the album Morumba Cubana in 2000. The album went on to earn the brothers a 2001 Juno Award nomination. Tours for the pair followed, as well as hitting all the festival stops that would have them, but in 2003 the brothers decided to put the project on hiatus to work on solo projects. For Alex, it was a return to the idea of the Alex Cuba band, and he released his debut, Humo De Tabaco in 2005. The album was a critical success, and scored Alex a Juno Award for Best World Music Album in 2006. His follow up, Agua Del Pozo, was released in February of 2007. Again, the talent of Alex Cuba wasn't overlooked, and in 2008 he was once again a nominee for the prestigious Juno Award. ~ Chris True, RoviWikipedia on Answers.com:
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Alex Cuba
| Alex Cuba | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Alex Cuba - Live in Concert - 2009 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Alexis Puentes |
| Born | 1974 (age 37–38) |
| Origin | Artemisa, Cuba |
| Genres | Latin jazz, pop |
| Occupations | Singer-songwriter |
| Labels | Caracol |
| Associated acts | Nelly Furtado |
| Website | alexcuba.com |
Alexis Puentes (born 1974),[1] better known by his stage name Alex Cuba, is a Cuban-Canadian singer-songwriter who sings in Spanish and English. He has won two Juno Awards for World Music Album of the Year: in 2006 for Humo De Tabaco, and in 2008 for his second album, Agua Del Pozo. In 2010 he won the Latin Grammy for Best New Artist.
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Contents
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Biography
Cuba was born in Cuba, spending his childhood in Artemisa, the son of guitar player and music teacher Valentin Puentes. He started playing guitar himself at age six.[1] As an adult, he shifted into jazz fusion styles. He immigrated to Canada in 1999 after marrying a Canadian in Cuba. He and his twin brother Adonis first settled in Victoria, British Columbia, and worked as a duo, the Puentes Brothers, and received a Juno Award nomination. They started solo careers in 2004, but continued their songwriting partnership, with Adonis co-writing two of the songs on Agua Del Pozo. In 2003, Cuba moved to Smithers, British Columbia, the hometown of his wife, Sarah, whose father is politician Bill Goodacre.[1][2] They have three children.[2]
Collaborators on his debut, Humo De Tabaco, include Ron Sexsmith and Corinne Bailey Rae. "Lo Mismo Que Yo," a duet with Sexsmith, became a hit in the UK Singles Chart, reaching #52.[3][4]
In 2009, he co-wrote and recorded a duet with fellow Canadian Nelly Furtado. "Mi Plan" turned out to be the title track for her fourth studio album of the same name. Cuba co-wrote more than half of the songs on Furtado's album.[2]
His music reflects primarily Latin and African influences, but with a mix of funk, jazz and pop.[1]
Discography
- The Puentes Brothers:
- 2001: Morumba Cubana
- Solo:
- 2004: Humo De Tabaco
- 2007: Agua Del Pozo
- 2009: Alex Cuba
References
- ^ a b c d Terauds, John (March 22, 2007). "Cuban water drawn from a Canadian well". Toronto Star. p. H6.
- ^ a b c Dunlevy, T'Cha (November 26, 2009). "Smooth and soulful: Alex Cuba, who co-wrote more than half of Nelly Furtado's new Spanish-language album, brings his ever-expanding musical sound to L'Astral", The Gazette, p. C1.
- ^ Devlin, Mike (February 8, 2007). "From Cuba to Smithers with a jazz twist". Times-Colonist. p. D6.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 129. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
External links
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