Alex Cuba

Biography

Puentes was born on March 29, 1974 in Cuba, spending his childhood in Artemisa. The son of guitar player and music teacher Valentin Puentes, he started playing guitar at the age of six. They parted ways as a band to launch solo careers in 2004. In 2003, Puentes moved to Smithers, British Columbia, the hometown of his wife, Sarah, whose father is politician Bill Goodacre. They have three children: Daniel, Rose and Owen Puentes.

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 No. 52.{{cite book

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. Puentes co-wrote more than half of the songs on Furtado's album.

His music reflects primarily Latin and African influences, but with a mix of funk, jazz and pop.

He received a Latin Grammy on November 21, 2013.

In 2016, he performed as part of the national Canada Day celebration on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

His 2021 album Mendó won the 2022 Grammy for Best Latin Pop Album; it was his fourth nomination for the award and his first Grammy win.

In 2022, he received an honorary doctorate from Queen's University.

He gave a Tiny Desk Concert with his band in 2023.

Discography

• The Puentes Brothers:
  • 2001: Morumba Cubana
• Solo:
  • 2004: Humo de Tabaco
  • 2007: Agua del Pozo
  • 2009: Alex Cuba
  • 2012: Static in the System – "Ruido en el sistema"
  • 2015: Healer
  • 2017: "Lo Único Constante"
  • 2019: "Sublime"
  • 2021: "Mendó"
  • 2023: "El Swing Que Yo Tengo"

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 four nominations.

|- | 2011 || Alex Cuba || Best Latin Pop Album || |- | 2016 || Healer || Best Latin Pop Album || |- | 2018 || Lo Único Constante || Best Latin Pop Album || |- | 2022 || Mendó || Best Latin Pop Album || |-

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 four awards out of five nominations.

References

References

1. Terauds, John. (March 22, 2007). "Cuban water drawn from a Canadian well". [[Toronto Star]].
2. (4 April 2022). "Alex Cuba scores Grammy award for album recorded in his Smithers, B.C., home". CBC News.
3. (March 2022). "Alex Cuba on Facebook".
4. 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 Puentes. Adonis]] first settled in [[Victoria, British Columbia]], and worked as a duo called the [[Puentes Brothers]], receiving a Juno Award nomination for [[Juno Award for World Music Album of the Year. link. (July 29, 2015. ''[[Journal Pioneer]]'', June 30, 2015.)
5. Devlin, Mike. (February 8, 2007). "From Cuba to Smithers with a jazz twist". [[Times-Colonist (Victoria).
6. (October 12, 2022). "Renowned musician Alex Cuba will receive an honorary degree from Queen's University. {{!}} Department of Global Development Studies".
7. (October 4, 2023). "Alex Cuba: Tiny Desk Concert". NPR.
8. (December 7, 2015). "2016 Grammy Awards: Complete list of nominees". [[Los Angeles Times]].
9. Lynch, Joe. (November 28, 2017). "Grammys 2018: See the Complete List of Nominees". [[Eldridge Industries]].
10. (September 23, 2015). "La lista completa de nominados a los Latin Grammy 2015". infobae.