Raúl Torres

Popular Cuban musician, author and performer of memorable titles from contemporary island songwriting such as: Candil de nieve, Se fue, Regrésamelo todo, El regreso del amigo dedicated to Comandante Hugo Chávez; and A través del sol, dedicated to the Comandante en Jefe on his 88th birthday.

He was part of the Brigada Artística Duaba that provided art to areas affected by Hurricane Matthew. He composed Cabalgando con Fidel, in tribute to the Comandante en Jefe.

He was elected Deputy to the National Assembly of People's Power on April 18, 2018 in the Constitutive Session of the IX Legislature, held at the Palacio de Convenciones in La Habana.

The undeniable talent of Raúl Torres was discovered by the national and international public by Pablo Milanés, who presented him at a concert in the Sala Avellaneda of the Teatro Nacional in La Habana in the summer of 1989.

Regarding when he met the author of Yolanda and Para vivir, Raúl recounts that it was Lynn who brought his father a cassette with his music. When Pablo toured Cuba in 1988, he sent for him to his room when passing through Matanzas. Raúl entered, as he said, with his guitar and with fear, impressed to meet Pablo Milanés.

Torres recorded several pieces with the founder of the Movimiento de la Nueva Trova, and has performed with other music personalities, such as Brazilian Simone, Argentine Fito Páez and Spaniards Ana Belén and Joaquín Sabina. Also the "Train" of Cuban popular dance music Los Van Van has navigated in that sensibility that Raúl's compositions possess.

Raúl Torres is a tireless singer-songwriter. He is not abandoned by the desire to continue creating. Almost all his albums have more than 12 songs. In extremis, for example, will have 18 tracks. And yet it seems to him that it is short support. He always has songs left out and the space is not enough for him to say everything he wants.

Many are the projects that Raúl Torres is immersed in. It took him around two years to compose and record three of them. These are two albums and the musical arrangement of a theater work by Alexis Vázquez. He is making one of his dreams come true with the staging of this work.

Raúl Torres has composed songs for Pablo Milanés, Ana Belén, Xiomara Laugart; Simone, Alba Molina, SPS (the flight attendants of marcian chronicles, latest album), Alejandra Botto, Los Van Van and Mal de amores, among others. Currently, he has just finished his album Maqueta de Platino, recorded and performed almost entirely by him and with the participation of some of his invited musician friends who wanted to participate unselfishly; the CD was recorded in his home studio and mixed in different studios he has managed to obtain through effort, it includes songs of social tone and his usual romantic rock ballads.

Cuban singer-songwriter Raúl Torres, classified by critics among the newest of the Nova Trova Cubana, reviewed his trajectory in Cangas (Pontevedra) in a concert in which he was accompanied by his friend Pablo Milanés, the same one who presented him to the general public 20 years ago in Cuba.

Under the name 'Concierto entre amigos', the performance brought together hundreds of spectators in the Auditorio Municipal. Milanés accompanied the young singer-songwriter in about half a dozen songs, belonging to "Raúl y Pablo", the joint album recorded this year in Cuba with 16 Torres songs.

The complicity between both artists was felt in the air, a union based on "musical empathy" and "friendship for a long time," which both musicians profess.

"I don't do the typical troubadour song, I cover more styles, my concerns are different from those of past generations, although I do have influences from others, like Milanés" Torres stated to Latinoamérica Exterior

Torres became known in Spain in 1997 by the hand of Joaquín Sabina. Since then, other artists such as Ana Belén, Alba Molina or Brazilian Simone have performed his songs.

During the much-anticipated performance, Torres' songs were heard solo, such as "Miradas en el cielo" or "Liviana". Meanwhile, Pablo Milanés accompanied his disciple in the songs from the album that both just presented. Thus, six were the songs in which they were heard together, highlighting "Por la calle Gelabert", written by his sister Elba Torres.

Milanés and Torres, who performed together this summer in Cuba with great success, achieved a full house in Cangas, in an intimate and close performance that characterizes their concerts.

List of songs
(All songs by Raúl Torres, except those indicated)

Candil de nieve (Pablo Milanés/Raúl Torres)
Novilunio de luz
Distancia amarga
Giselle
Hojarasca
La terraza
Liviana
Nevasca
Son languidecer
Nítida fe
Para ir a curar (Frank Pablo Lauserica/Carlos Arencibia/Raúl Torres)
Por la calle Gelabert [o Príncipe sediento] (Elba Torres/Raúl Torres)
Regrésamelo todo
Se fue
Sensitiva
Río San Juan

Awards and Recognition
Best Pop Rock Music Video at the Lucas Awards 2011 for Frío directed by Joseph Ross.
2017 Distinction for National Culture.