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Alexis Puentes (born 1974),[1] better known by his stage name Alex Cuba, is a Cuban-Canadian singer-songwriter who sings in Spanish. He has won two Juno Awards for World Music Album of the Year: in 2006 for Humo De Tobaco, and in 2008 for his second album, Agua Del Pozo.

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[edit] 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 himself 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 fraternal 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. Cuba moved to Smithers, British Columbia, the hometown of his wife, Sarah. They have three children.[1]

Collaborators on his debut, Humo De Tobaco, include Ron Sexsmith and Corinne Bailey Rae. "Lo Mismo Que Yo", a duet with Sexsmith, became a pop hit in the UK, reaching the top ten.[2]

His music reflects primarily Latin and African influences, but with a mix of funk, jazz and pop.[1]

[edit] Discography

  • The Puentes Brothers:
    • 2001: Morumba Cubana
  • Solo:
    • 2004: Humo De Tobaco
    • 2007: Agua Del Pozo

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Terauds, John. "Cuban water drawn from a Canadian well", Toronto Star, 2007-03-22, p. H6. 
  2. ^ Devlin, Mike. "From Cuba to Smithers with a jazz twist", Times-Colonist]], 2007-02-08, p. D6. 

[edit] External links