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Eliades Ochoa was born in Santiago de Cuba on June 22, 1946, in Songo la Maya, Santiago de Cuba. Eliades is considered one of the most renowned Cuban “soneros” of all time, a notable defender of traditional Cuban music, and the best guitarist of his generation. His distinctive cowboy hat and his penchant for wearing black have led some to call him “The Cuban Johnny Cash.”From a very young age, he began to play the guitar, teaching himself with the aid of his parents. He alternated with itinerant troubadours from a very young age. In his walks through “guateques,” bars, and “zonas de tolerancia,” he began to learn the vast traditional repertoire of Cuban music, of which he is a teacher today. His musical style is due to his place of origin, the Cuban countryside, the anecdotes he listened to, and the “guateques campesinos.”
Eliades joined the Septeto Típico Oriental in 1969 and officially entered the Casa de la Trova in 1970, where he began to perform regularly. In 1982 he became part of the Cuarteto Patria as director, arranger, voice, and lead guitarist. He assimilated the repertoire of Patria with his own style, keeping alive the tradition of Cuban folk music since 1940. He demonstrated his introspective capacity, and on a formal level, the expressive resources he had, served him as a hook to show his love for Cuban music. His style as a guitarist gave a new hallmark to the group.
Also, in the 80s, he joined Compay Segundo and the Cuarteto Patria on various tours, and with him, he recorded the first version of “Chan Chan.” The way Eliades was inspired to create the lead guitar chords for this iconic song has remained a hallmark that inspires troubadours and listeners. As one of the stars and founders of Buena Vista Social Club; Eliades won his first Grammy as Best Tropical Latin Performance in 1997. Between 1999 and 2000, he was nominated for a Grammy under Best Tropical Latin and nominated for an Oscar for the documentary Buena Vista Social Club.
He has collaborated in the record productions of Enrique Bumbury, Luis Eduardo Aute, Manu Dibango, Jarabe de Palo, Blof Umoja, Charlie Musselwhite, Moncho, Armando Manzanero, Descemer Bueno, Pablo Milanés, among others. In 2013 he was selected to participate in a tribute to Bob Dylan.
In December 2018, Eliades Ochoa from Cuba to the World was released, a documentary about Eliades Ochoa’s artistic career directed and produced by Cynthia Biestek. This documentary has been awarded multiple times and presented at major film festivals worldwide.
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