Hector Cuevas was born in the Dominican Republic and grew up listening to Cuban music from Johnny Ventura, Sonora Matancera, Alberto Beltran, Beny More, Vicentico Valdez, Rolando La Serie and other music that his father and mother exposed him to over the years.Aspiring to be a musician from a young age and taking lessons in the Dominican Republic, he had the chance to move to America in the early '70s and arrived in New York City at 17 to go to school--and also to play music.
Over the years he played as a percussionist with the likes of Tito Puentes, Eddie Palmieri, Hanzel and Raul, Johnny Pacheco, Eddie Guagua Rivera and many more. In addition to New York, Cuevas lived in New Orleans, Miami, and Boston and in our interview he'll explain how his tenure in each of these cities effected his musical future.
In 2003, the Boston Latin Band released Cubarengue, produced by Hector Jesus Alejandro Perez and recorded in Montreal. The debut CD covers a number of styles of Cuban music, including salsa, bolero, and merengue, and realizes Cuevas' goal to reach back to the roots of these distinct Cuban musical styles.
They are currently working on a new record and the Well-Rounded Radio interview features some sneak previews from that disc.
Catch Hector Cuevas and The Boston Latin Band on Friday, April 14th in Boston, MA peforming live at El Bembe; start time is 10 PM. They also have a residency at Catch a Rising Star in Providence, RI on Sundays throughout April.
Pardon my cold...the change of seasons has gotten to me!
