Alain Daniel Pico Roque

Recognized Cuban singer, former singer of the musical group "Bamboleo". Composer of several songs that have achieved popularity such as "El chisme", "Mi negra tiene Boom Boom", "El Zorreo".

He was born in Santo Suárez, Ciudad de la Habana. He began his musical studies at the Amadeo Roldán Conservatory. After finishing his studies he traveled to Mexico where he worked with a Mexican group.

He has been in different groups such as: Roberto Javier y su grupo, La Constelación, Conexión Salsera and with a project called Estilo Fantástico. He was part of the SGAE (Sociedad General de Autores de España) where he began composing and producing records in Cuba from there he has continued composing and devoted himself to solo record production.

He also spent 5 years performing shows at the Cabaret Parisién, at Hotel Nacional de Cuba, from 1997 to 2001. Artistically he has much family influence, mainly from his grandparents and uncles who were musicians their whole lives; even his grandmother was the director of the trio "Las Hermanas Carmen". Later he became part of one of the most popular groups in Cuba "Bamboleo" where he played a fundamental role as singer and composer of several songs that have achieved popularity such as "El chisme", "Mi negra tiene Boom Boom", "El Zorreo", etc.

Due to commitments from his solo work he found himself needing to leave Bamboleo and form his new group called "Alain Daniel y su New Casino" an orchestra previously formed and this time created with new musical perspectives. In this way his debut took place at Casa de la Música de Miramar on August 7, 2005 with the orchestra "Alain Daniel y su New Casino" an orchestra made up of members with great talent, dedicated to offering a great contribution to Cuban music.

Among the repertoire of the group we can find themes composed by Alain Daniel that many have already been popularized in his previous group.

In this way and with the desire to establish himself in the Cuban music scene, showing a confidence on stage rarely achieved at the beginning of a new project, Alain Daniel possesses great vitality and charisma in large measure and is a continuator of a way of making Cuban music.

Before Bamboleo: After finishing my studies I traveled to Mexico alone and was with a Mexican group. When I returned to Cuba, I was like everyone else "taking steps here and there". I sang with Roberto Javier y su grupo, also with "La Constelación", then with "Conexión Salsera" and with a project called "Estilo Fantástico" which was rap-salsa. After some time, I joined the SGAE (Sociedad General de Autores de España) and there I began composing and producing records in Cuba with Dagoberto González Jr. and some of the musicians who worked with Pablo Milanés.

Thanks to that I got to record with Lucecita Benítez, a famous Puerto Rican. In fact, the first track of her most recent production titled "Renacer" is of my authorship, just as I did some of the choruses on the album. From here came a small proposal to send some songs to Gilberto Santa Rosa so he could choose one of three songs I prepared for him. It is known that one of the tracks, a ballad called "Si estuvieras aquí", was approved but has not been recorded until now.

On the other hand, I have continued composing and in solo record production. The last thing I produced was an album for Duani Antonio, in which I am also the author of all the tracks. And as a special guest on the album I have Pedrito Calvo, former singer of Van Van. I also spent 5 years performing shows at the Cabaret Parisién, at Hotel Nacional de Cuba, from 1997 to 2001.

Entry into Bamboleo: Through my friendship with Lazarito. He needed someone to compose for his orchestra but one day he surprised me and told me to join Bamboleo as a singer and at the same time I was already composing some songs. For the next album I sing "La suegra" (a composition of mine and Lázaro's), which is already quite popular in Ciudad de la Habana. I have another track that is a salsa called "Aparentemente ideal", which the four of us sing and although we are not doing it live it will be on the next CD. And there is even more for that album....

Artistic Influences: Artistically I have much family influence, mainly from my grandparents and uncles who were musicians their whole lives; even my grandmother was the director of the trio "Las Hermanas Carmen", and all of this created musical interests in me. I have to thank José Luis Cortés "El Tosco" very much, who helped me greatly at the beginning of my career when "Estilo Fantástico" happened, to Dagoberto González Jr., and even to Pablo Milanés himself for giving me the opportunity to do choruses on the album "Pablo querido".

I believe that Cuba is a country that is pure music, and it is pure musical school.....walking through the streets you know that Cuba is a party and Cuba is pure dance. And I thank God for giving me the privilege of being born in a country like this and having music in my blood.

Favorite Cuban Musical Groups: Well, you're putting me in quite a serious commitment because we are all friends and we are all colleagues.... but I'm going to answer you. I am an extreme admirer, exaggerated even, of all good Cuban music and I love and respect so many people, that perhaps I forget someone and would wish they wouldn't get upset. I love listening to Mayito Rivera, I love listening to El Tosco do a flute solo, I adore listening to Issac Delgado, and I don't want to forget anyone but if I start mentioning names the night won't be long enough. I do want to say that I love and respect all of them very much.

I also really like Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco and I really like my colleagues from Bamboleo, I am an admirer of Bamboleo. And to finish, I repeat that I am addicted to all good Cuban music.