Eliades Ochoa

• Genre: Cuban
• Hometown: Santiago de Cuba

About

Wearing his trademark cowboy hat, Eliades Ochoa is easily recognized as the guitarist/singer from Buena Vista Social Club. His emotive voice strains but maintains a smooth texture as he sings the classic guajiro, or country music of Cuba. Achieving fame in his fifties, Ochoa began playing guitar at age 6 and by the age of 11 was busking on the streets. His unusual guitar has seven strings (with one of them doubled on two octaves), which he plays accompanied by acoustic bass, percussion and occasionally trumpets. His group, Cuarteto Patria, records classic Cuban songs such as "Chan Chan," made famous through his performance with Buena Vista. Assured of his talent and proud of his heritage, Ochoa's music is like a good Cuban cigar, born of rich soil, tempered under a hot sun and ultimately savored in a timeless moment.

- Robert Leaver