Eliades Ochoa Bustamante: A Santiago-Born Sonero
Eliades Ochoa Bustamante is an acclaimed songwriter, guitarist and singer that has been a member of such outstanding musical groups as Buena Vista Social Club and Cuarteto Patria. He has also shared stage with prestigious national and international figures.
Click on Santiago de Cuba: A City of 500 Years
Every time he visits the unbroken Santiago de Cuba, he can be seeing walking down the Heredia Street, performing at Casa de la Trova or simply enjoying the environment, the city and its people.
Eliades Ochoa is a humble man that was born in Loma de la Avispa, Songo-La Maya, on June 22, 1946. He was already playing his guitar at the age of six and was in love with the Cuban music, specifically the country music, as that’s his origin.
Although he’s presently described as an artist that stands for guajira, guaracha, bolero and any genre of Cuban popular music; in late 1950s his family moved to Santiago de Cuba and he made a living with the music of his guitar and his talent.
After the triumph of the Cuban Revolution he became a professional musician and his artistic career began in 1963,on the radio program “Trinchera Agraria". Some years later, he joined Septeto Típico Oriental, and Cuarteto Patria (1978), which he has been directing for over 30 years and has it been turned into a world symbol of Cuban son and Santiago’s traditional music, and I would even dare to say that Eliades is a musical ambassador.
His participation, along with other Cuban musicians, on the Grammy-winner Buena Vista Social Club Album (1997) in the Tropical Music category and Wim Menders’ movie with the same name, has made him be famous overseas.
His vast discography features plenty of quality and excellent musical accompaniment. That’s the case of CubAfrica (1998) along with Manu Dibango and "Hemingway" (2004) with Dutch band Blof, included on his Umoja album (2006).
This original man of Santiago hasn’t put his roots aside despite the Latin Grammy he was given for the Best Tropical Traditional Album Tropical with “Un bolero para ti”, recorded at Estudios Siboneyin his hometown, as well as other two albums: instruments-only“Mi guitarra canta” and “Eliades Ochoa y la banda del Jigüe”, traditional music, which are part of his trilogy “Lo más reciente de Eliades Ochoa”, produced by Especial EGREM. On the other hand, Eliades Ochoa has won four Gold Discs and one Platinum Disc.
He has also been handed the Music Award by the General Association of Authors and Editors and the one granted by the Association Artists and Performers, both in Spain. His work has been recognized with the Alejo Carpentier medal.
Eliades Ochoa, the author of such popular songs as “Píntate los labios María”, has always been characterized by his black hat, sincere smile and 8-string guitar.
