Cristian Alejandro Marcos Rodríguez,  cantante e chitarrista  d’impronta pop-rock, figlio d’arte (il padre è il musicista- compositore Edesio Alejandro), è nato il 19 luglio 1988 nella capitale cubana. Di seguito riportiamo una scheda biografica in inglese di Cristian e anche quella di Raul Paz, altro cantante cubano con il quale sta curando un nuovo progetto discografico.

Cristian Alejandro Marcos Rodríguez, was born on July 19, 1988, in Havana, Cuba.  Cristian composes and performs pop and rock music.  From a very young age of five, he began working as a musician in his father Edesio Alejandro’s band.  Edesio Alejandro is known in Cuba and abroad as a touring singer, keyboardist, guitarist, and guest artist.

Cristian at age 7 began studying piano at the Manuel Saumell music school in Havana.  At 11 he began classical guitar and at 14 switched to electric guitar and graduated from the Guillermo Tomas school of music, also in Havana, in 2007.

Cristian has composed music for several Cuban and Spanish films; among which stand out Kangamba, director Rogelio Paris, Cuatro actos para un té, director Ruben Consuegra, Boleto al paraiso y La cosa humana, director Gerardo Madrigal Chijona and director Fernando Pérez.  He also composed music for the Cuban television children’s series, Pelusín’s Polvo en el viento.  Many of their songs have been on the national hits list.

In 2008 Cristian formed his own band and successfully toured Cuba creating a fan base for his talent, songs, music and stage energy.

The year 2012 was a dream come true when he went on a world tour with his teacher Francisco Cespedes, opening concerts both in the USA and internationally.  He also opened concerts for Armando Manzanero.  Cristian has had an impressive reception by the public in the countries where he has performed.

After touring Cristian Alejandro began recording his first album entitled “Buscándote”, accompanied by a release of a feature film and wherein he also appears as the protagonist.

For his next project entitled “Los amigos de Cristian Alejandro,” which is in production, Cristian has recorded a duet with Adriano Rodriguez ( see photo)one of the living legends of Cuban song, also with Danny Rivera, Francisco Cespedes, Tanya and now with Raul Paz.

A preview of this project is the interpretation of the beautiful song by Polo Montañez Flor Palida.

Raul Paz was born in 1969 in the province of Pinar del Río, in the west of Cuba. Commonly nicknamed the “French Cuban”, he is known for having revolutionized 21st century Cuban music. He learned to sing listening to guajira – country music made in Cuba. He spent ten years studying music at the Instituto Superior de Arte, a renowned arts academy in Havana: violin, musical theory, wind instruments, singing, counterpoint, and conducting.

After his very classical training, he discovered Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Bob Marley, tuning into American radio stations – rock being banned on government radio stations at that time.

Raul Paz left Cuba in 1996, went to South America and then wound up in Paris to study at the Schola Cantorum. In the mid-1990s, Paris was a melting pot for music. Raul hung out on the Latino scene, playing in the clubs New Morning, Hot Brass and Bataclan. He became one of the pioneers of the new Cuban wave.

He was then spotted by Ralph Mercado, founder of the RMM label, and recorded his first album, Cuba Libre, in Gloria Estefan’s studio in Miami. Renamed Imaginate for the American market, the record was a hit, selling some 100,000 copies and earning him the accolade “Best new male artist” in the US music press.

After having played live in the US, Raul Paz returned to Paris and settled down. He took an apartment close to Place du Colonel Fabien in the 20th district, and signed with Patrick Zelnik’s label Naïve. The first fruit of this relationship was Mulata in 2003.

Raul Paz reinterpreted Cuban music, weaving in hip-hop beats, dub, rock riffs and a groove all of his own. Mulata sold 60,000 copies. Revolución takes up where Mulata left off. Raul Paz recorded the new album in Havana, last November, at the Egrem studios, where the albums of the famous Buena Vista Social Club were cut.

In 2005, Alfredo Arias gave Raul Paz a leading part in Mambo Mystico, his last musical at the Théâtre national de Chaillot.

In 2007, Raul Paz recorded the album called En Vivo on the label Naïve.

In 2010, Raul Paz recorded the album called Havanization on the label Naïve.

For more info on Cristian Alejandro, go to:
www.facebook.com/cristian.alejandro <https://www.facebook.com/#%21/cristian.alejandro.7127?fref=ts>

For more info on Raul Paz, go to:

www.facebook.com/raulpazofficial <http://www.facebook.com/raulpazofficial#%21/raulpazofficial?tab=page_info>