Leonardo Torres Álvarez

Vocalist, composer, and producer, classified as one of the most important figures in current Cuban music.

He began his artistic career at a very young age. He was evaluated as a singer in 1998 in his hometown. After a brief stint with the group Costa Sur from Camagüey, and a venture into comedy, in 1999 he joined the orchestra Maravillas de Florida and recorded the CD Vieja, pero se mantiene. His work in this orchestra—the second oldest active orchestra in Cuba—caught the attention of David Calzado, who proposed that he join his famous group, La Charanga Habanera, as a singer.

In 2001 he joined Charanga Habanera. During the eight years he was part of it, he performed duets and projects with important figures in Cuban music. He achieved great success with hits such as "Tiene de Cuba, tiene mela'o" and "Gozando y a lo cubano". He toured the world with David Calzado's charangueros and recorded several albums.

Leoni decided to pursue his own solo project. His sober image, yet highly efficient on stage, his excellent mastery of melody, and an unpretentious simplicity were the credentials that quickly placed him in the highest ranks of popular favor.

In 2008, his first solo album titled Bajo La Piel was released, with which he became the revelation singer of the year in Cuba. The album includes 13 pop tracks with strong presence of Cuban and Caribbean rhythms, as well as jazz sonority. The single "¿A dónde vas?" became a musical hit in Cuba and parts of Latin America, in addition to the acceptance achieved by the song "No pierdas tiempo", which in Cuba has accompanied the campaign to prevent HIV.

With his project, he has held massive concerts throughout the island and has performed in other countries, including Mexico and Canada.

He has placed songs on the national radio hit lists. Some of his songs are included in the documentary Popular by American filmmaker Jennifer Paz; in the Cuban-Italian film Un loco soñador, directed by Italian Ángelo Rizo; and in the Cuban-Spanish film Círculos viciosos, by director Antonio Hens.

His first CD Bajo la piel was nominated for the Cubadisco awards in the Pop category. The song "No pierdas tiempo" was chosen for the 2009 HIV prevention campaign.

He has won three times the popularity award convened by the television program "Entre tú y yo".

Since 2007 to date, he has provided voice to songs for telenovelas and adventure series such as: Los tres Villalobos, Añorado encuentro, and Aquí estamos.

In 2009 he produces his first DVD as a producer.

In 2011 he produces his second album called Latiendo.