Omara Portuondo. (La Habana , 1930)

Singer, assessed as one of the best female voices of the last fifty years of Cuban song, she assures to be in art by chance, when in the middle of an upcoming debut she was asked to substitute a dancer at Tropicana Cabaret. She was born on October, 1930 in Cayo Hueso neighborhood.

In 1950, she entered the Anacona Orchestra and an unforgetabble quartet: Las D` Aida, headed by Aida Diestro, her sister Haydeé, Elena Burke and Moraima Secada joined her in this adventure. This outstanding quartet performed diverse tours around United States and shared scenes with Edith Piaf, Pedro Vargas, Rita Montaner, Bola de Nieve and Benny Moré. They also served as accompaniment for Nat "King" Cole when he attended the Tropicana Club. Omara also knew and shared her art with such luminaries as Ernesto Lecuona, Isolina Carrillo, Arsenio Rodríguez and others.

She finally chose her career as soloist, gaining notable appreciation not only from the Cuban public but also from the rest of the world. She has taken to the best scenes all worldwide such Cuban rhythms as the Filin, Nueva Trova, Cuban Traditional Song, Son, Danzón, Bolero and the Habanera. Omara Portuondo has been acknowledged with remarkable prizes and her voice has conquered the most demanding auditoriums of the planet.

On 1997, Omara received the world recognition for the presentation of the Buena Vista Social Club`s album, winner of a Grammy. 2003 witnessed the nomination of her CD 18 Joyas Inéditas via EGREM Label to Cubadisco, and in 2005, she was named the Diva of Buena Vista Social Club being also nominee to Grammy Awards for her second solo album: Flor de Amor, in the category of Best Latin Tropical Music.

This album, via World Circuit Discos, produced by the Britain Nick Gold, includes romantic songs and diverse styles, featuring elements and rhythms of the Afrocuban and Brazilian music, tributing her Cuban and Caribbean essences. Oustanding musicians joined her in this album: Jorge Chicoy, member of Irakere Group, in the acoustic and electric guitars, the notable Miguel Galbán, who accompained the famous and original Zafiros in the rhythmic guitar and someone who has been considered a peerless presence in the percussion: Master Miguel Angá Díaz.

The life of this outstanding artist of Cuban music was taken to screens by filmmaker Fernando Pérez in the documentary Omara. Her country has acknowledged her beautiful musical career and her notable contribution to Cuban culture with Félix Varela Order, First Grade, conferred by Cuban State.

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