Raúl Lara

Raúl Lara was raised in the San Martín neighborhood of El Cerro, just behind Plaza de la Revolución in Havana, Cuba. Music came naturally to Raúl, in a family of dancers and musicians. And as far as he can remember, he has always loved, listened to, and played Cuban music.

The great groups of his childhood and thus his inspiration were Benny Moré, Arsenio Rodríguez, La Sonora Matancera, Sierra Maestra, Pacho Alonso, Rolando Laserie, Conjunto Los Latinos, Rumbavana, Los Van Van, Son 14, etc.

As a child, Raúl played in groups at school and with the neighborhood kids.

Both rumba and son were always present on the street corner of the neighborhood. Music and dance were always part of daily life. In the 1980s, Raúl played with different amateur groups in Cultural Centers. From the mid-80s on, Raúl was under the mentorship of José Luis Quintana, also known as Changuito, one of the best percussionists in the world.

At the same time, Raúl began his professional career in different shows and groups, mainly in the large hotels on the beaches of Havana, for example Hotel Itabo and Hotel Mar Azul.

In 1990 Raúl packed his bags heading to Sweden. And since then he has continued playing with different groups such as: Timba Odara, El Rey Changó, Son Entero, and Laroye, always embracing the collaboration with his brother Rolando Lara.

Raúl has traveled throughout northern Europe, always with Latin rhythms but has also explored jazz, different types of African, Caribbean, and pop music, European folk music, and more. But his soul is, and always will be, with the roots of Afro-Cuban tradition.

From his first years in Sweden, Raúl has also evolved as a composer. With his unique sound and inspired by different eras of Cuban music where rumba, bolero, danzón, and son are reflected.

Raúl also has his own way with words and his lyrics contain references to daily life in Cuba, as well as Afro-Cuban religion, Santería, which plays an important part in his life. He has also been recognized and awarded as a composer on different occasions. Raúl has also studied music at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

Raúl has formed a series of salsa and tropical music groups, but has never been so close to his preferred sound and signature style as with his new group Raúl Lara y sus Soneros.

This year he was nominated for the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Latin Tropical Album with the album Cubano Soy.