Alex Cuba

Alexis Puentes (born 1974),[1] better known by his stage name Alex Cuba, is a Cuban-Canadian singer-songwriter who sings in Spanish and English. He has won two Juno Awards for World Music Album of the Year: in 2006 for Humo de Tabaco, and in 2008 for his second album, Agua del Pozo. In 2010 he won the Latin Grammy for Best New Artist. His 2015 album, Healer, earned him a Latin Grammy Award for Best Singer-Songwriter Album and a Grammy Award nomination for Best Latin Pop Album. His 2021 album Mendó won the 2022 Grammy for Best Latin Pop Album.[2]

Alex Cuba
Alex Cuba performing at the 2015 Burlington's Sound of Music Festival
Alex Cuba performing at the 2015 Burlington's Sound of Music Festival
Background information
Birth nameAlexis Puentes
Born (1974-03-29) March 29, 1974
OriginArtemisa, Cuba
GenresAfro-Cuban jazz, pop
Occupation(s)Musician
LabelsShell, Caracol
Websitealexcuba.com

Biography

Puentes was born on March 29, 1974[3] in Cuba, spending his childhood in Artemisa. The son of guitar player and music teacher Valentin Puentes, he started playing guitar 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 twin brother Adonis first settled in Victoria, British Columbia, and worked as a duo called the Puentes Brothers, receiving a Juno Award nomination for Best Global Album at the Juno Awards of 2001.[4] 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.[1][5] They have three children: Daniel, Rose and Owen Puentes.[5]

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.[6][7]

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.[5]

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

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.[2]

In 2022, he received an honorary doctorate from Queen’s University.[8]

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.[9][10]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2011Alex CubaBest Latin Pop AlbumNominated
2016HealerBest Latin Pop AlbumNominated
2018Lo Único ConstanteBest Latin Pop AlbumNominated
2022MendóBest Latin Pop AlbumWon[2]

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.[11]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2010Alex CubaBest New ArtistWon
Alex CubaBest Male Pop Vocal AlbumNominated
2012"Toma Mi Vida"Best Tropical SongWon
2013"Eres Tú"Best Short Form Music VideoWon
2015HealerBest Singer-Songwriter AlbumWon

References
  1. Terauds, John (March 22, 2007). "Cuban water drawn from a Canadian well". Toronto Star. p. H6.
  2. "Alex Cuba scores Grammy award for album recorded in his Smithers, B.C., home". CBC News. April 4, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  3. "Alex Cuba on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022.
  4. "Adonis Puentes and Voice of Cuba Orchestra bring their music to PEI" Archived July 29, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. Journal Pioneer, June 30, 2015.
  5. Dunlevy, T'Cha (November 26, 2009). "Smooth and soulful: Alex Cuba, who co-wrote more than half of Nelly Furtado's new Spanish-language album, brings his ever-expanding musical sound to L'Astral", The Gazette, p. C1.
  6. Devlin, Mike (February 8, 2007). "From Cuba to Smithers with a jazz twist". Times-Colonist. p. D6.
  7. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 129. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  8. "Renowned musician Alex Cuba will receive an honorary degree from Queen's University. | Department of Global Development Studies". www.queensu.ca. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  9. "2016 Grammy Awards: Complete list of nominees". Los Angeles Times. December 7, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
  10. Lynch, Joe (November 28, 2017). "Grammys 2018: See the Complete List of Nominees". Billboard. Eldridge Industries. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  11. "La lista completa de nominados a los Latin Grammy 2015" (in Spanish). infobae. September 23, 2015. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
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