Elíades Ochoa is a Cubanguitarist and singer born in Songo La Maya in the east of the country near Santiago on June 22, 1946. He began playing the guitar when he was six and in 1978 he joined Cuarteto Patria, a band that has played since 1940. His roots are in guajira (Cuban country music) and he still wears his trademark cowboy hat. He plays the tres, and also a variant called cuatro (with two additional strings). His involvement with the Buena Vista Social Club (he sung Chan Chan the album's opening track), and the Wim Wenders' film of the same name, has led to worldwide fame. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... LeAnn Rimes singing in concert A singer is a type of musician who uses his or her voice to produce music. ... , Santiago de Cuba is the capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province in eastern Cuba. ... June 22 is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 192 days remaining. ... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... Punto Guajiro (also called Punto Cubano),with its Andalucian origins, has been evolving in Cuba since the 1700s, is the country music from the Western and Central provinces of Cuba. ... A cowboys hat, usually with a four to six-inch brim, acts as an umbrella in stormy weather, and a shade from the sun in hot weather. ... The Tres is a 3 course chordophone which was created in Cuba. ... Buena Vista Social Club is an album featuring Cuban music. ... UK Single Cover for Chan Chan from Buena Vista Social Club. ... Wilhelm Ernst (Wim) Wenders (born August 14, 1945) is a German-born film director, author and producer. ... Buena Vista Social Club (1999) is a documentary film by Wim Wenders about the music of Cuba. ...
In 1998 he recored the album CubAfrica with Manu Dibango. Manu Dibango (born December 12, 1933) is a Cameroonian saxophonist and vibraphone player. ...
Ochoa was not particularly the star of Buena Vista Social Club -- not as old as ninety-ish Compay Segundo nor as romantically overlooked as Reubén González or Ibraim Ferrer, he has the advantage of not having to live up to his onscreen mythology.
Ochoa is a rare thing in the surprisingly diverse Cuban folk music scene: a traditionalist rather than a relic; a subtle innovator rather than a twenty-first century update.
Ochoa and his band, el Cuarteto Patria (two of whose members appear by their surnames to be Ochoa's brothers or sons), move from mood to mood and style to style with all the fluidity of true professionals.
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