Alex Cuba
| Alex Cuba | |
|---|---|
 Alex Cuba performing at the 2015 Burlington's Sound of Music Festival | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Alexis Puentes |
| Born | 1974 (age 41–42) |
| Origin | Artemisa, Cuba |
| Genres | Afro-Cuban jazz, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Labels | Caracol |
| Associated acts | Nelly Furtado, Adonis Puentes |
| 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. His 2015 album, Healer, earned him a Latin Grammy Award for Best Singer-Songwriter Album and a Grammy Award nomination for Best Latin Pop Album.
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 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]
He received a Latin Grammy on November 21, 2013.
In 2016 Cuba performed as part of the national Canada Day celebration on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
Discography
- The Puentes Brothers:
- 2001: Morumba Cubana
- Solo:
Awards and nominations
Grammy Awards
The Grammy Award is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement on the music industry. Cuba has received two nominations.[5]
| Year | Nominee/work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Alex Cuba | Best Latin Pop Album | Nominated |
| 2016 | Healer | Best Latin Pop Album | Nominated |
Latin Grammy Awards
A Latin Grammy Award is an accolade by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry. Alex Cuba has received three award out of four nominations.[6]
| Year | Nominee/work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Alex Cuba | Best New Artist | Won |
| Alex Cuba | Best Male Pop Vocal Album | Nominated | |
| 2012 | "Toma Mi Vida" | Best Tropical Song | Won |
| 2013 | "Eres Tú" | Best Short Form Music Video | Won |
| 2015 | Healer | Best Singer-Songwriter Album | Won |
References
- 1 2 3 4 Terauds, John (March 22, 2007). "Cuban water drawn from a Canadian well". Toronto Star. p. H6.
- 1 2 3 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.
- ↑ "2016 Grammy Awards: Complete list of nominees". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Publishing. December 7, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
- ↑ "La lista completa de nominados a los Latin Grammy 2015" (in Spanish). infobae. September 23, 2015. Retrieved October 2, 2015.