Eliades Ochoa, Santiago de Cuba, 1946

Singer and composer born in a rural environment. He is considered one of the most important Cuban soneros of all times and a remarkable defender of the Cuban traditional music.

He was born in June 11, 1946 at Songo La Maya, Santiago de Cuba Province and since 1958, he is living at Santiago de Cuba City, where he has pursued his artistic career. Since early years, he learned how to play the guitar and tres, achieving also vocal qualities, exhibiting them through the interpretation of Cuban traditional music as Sones, Guarachas, Guajiras and Boleros.

His professional career started at the 60s, with Oriental Quintet and later on he entered Típico Septet. In 1978, joined Patria Quartet as director and singer. In 1986, he shared a recording with the luminary Cuban singer Francisco Repilado, well known as Compay Segundo, El Chan Chan and in 1989 they made different presentations in Washington, Guadalupe and Dominican Republic. In 1997, he took part of Buena Vista Social Club record, winner of a Grammy Award.

He has toured around 40 countries and recorded disks, approaching titles of great significance for Cuban music such as Son de Oriente, Chanchaneando with Compay Segundo; La venganza de Perico, together with Divango, famous saxophonist from Camerún; the continental record El Guateque de Don Tomás with North American Bob Dylan and the most famous theme Píntate los labios María which with the video clip created by Frank Padrón, received different Lucas Prizes and other international recognitions highlighting various Gold Disks.

See discography in www.discuba.com