finetune artist: Eliades Ochoa

b. 22 June 1946, Loma de La Avispa, Songo La Maya, Cuba. As a child Ochoa learned to play guitar and tres (an adapted guitar), and also began singing. In 1958 he moved to the city of Santiago and during the following decade developed a career as a professional musician. Among groups with which he played were the Oriental Quintet and the T¡pico Septet. For many years Ochoa was closely linked with the Cuarteto Patria and then with singer Compay Segundo. With the former, for whom he was musical director and singer, he recorded A Una Coqueta and Cubafrica. Later reissues of albums by both these groups frequently appear under Ochoa's name. From the mid-80s, he sometimes worked with Compay Segundo, appearing throughout Cuba and also visiting other Central American countries as well as the USA. In 1997, he appeared in the film The Buena Vista Social Club. As it did with many other Cuban musicians, this appearance attracted widespread appreciation of Ochoa's work. Numerous international tours followed, as did several successful recordings. Among musicians with whom Ochoa has worked are artists as diverse as the West African saxophonist Divango and Bob Dylan. From the outset, Ochoa built his repertoire from Cuban traditional music, in particular sons, guarachas, guajiras and boleros.

Listen to Eliades Ochoa at Finetune.

Píntate Los Labios María (Son)
Cariño Falso (Guaracha)
Estoy Como Nunca
Ay Papacito (Son Montuno)
Llora Mi Pena