"Adonis Puentes is a key personality in the ever expanding latin music
scene in Canada. He opens up the marvelous world of Cuban music to his
audiences the second they hear his rich voice. When the other players
kick in with their tight, multilayered groove it becomes clear that in
Adonis Puentes we also have a bandleader with major cred."
Michael Juk, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Music reflects the present and Adonis Puentes is a Cuban Sonero for our times.
It’s a role he was destined to play. On March 29th, 1974, Adonis was born into an atmosphere charged with Cuban music. His family lived 45 miles southwest of Havana, Cuba in the town of Artemisa. Father, Valentin Puentes taught music and played guitar, and he wasted little time before passing on his gifts to Adonis and his fraternal twin brother, Alexis. Already at the age of 6, Adonis was playing with a Children’s Guitar Ensemble formed by Valentin. By the time he was 14, he was singing and writing his own music.
Though his musical talents were undeniable, his ability to shine as a performer emerged later still. At 21, Adonis entered and became one of the finalists of ’Mi Salsa’, a Salsa/Son singing competition that was broadcast throughout Cuba on television. His performance caught the attention of the nation and his notoriety began to soar.
Three years after an initial tour of Canada with his brother and father in 1995, Adonis came back to start a new life as a proud Cuban-Canadian. Along with his brother Alexis (now an accomplished multi-instrumentalist), The Puentes Brothers would record their first CD called Morumba Cubana. The disc caught the ears of the Canadian music industry that rewarded the brothers in 2001 with a Juno Award nomination (the Canadian Grammy), as well as a West Coast Music Award and a Canadian Independent Music Award.
After such a warm reception in his adopted home, Adonis was ready to take a giant step forward toward the realization of his personal musical vision. In 2005, he released his first solo album called ’Vida’ or ’Life’. Containing a diverse and dance-friendly collection of original, contemporary takes on Cuban tradition, radio programmers nationally began spinning their favorites and Vida ended up on many Top 10 charts. The video single for ’Commerciante’ entered Much More Music’s Top 5. In his West Coast home, Adonis received the Island Music Award for Artist of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. Canada’s National broadcasting service, the CBC, recorded Adonis LIVE for a national audience. And, his growing reputation as a gifted singer spread South as well as he continued to tour and perform on radio, television and in concert in the USA.
The work has been done; the skills have been learned and now is the time for Adonis Puentes to add a fresh voice to the list of great Cuban soneros. As if to receive one final, ringing endorsement, over 2006 and 2007, Adonis toured with the legendary flautist, Maraca as his lead singer!
Even Juan de Marcos, one of the masterminds behind the Buena Vista Social Club project and leader of the groundbreaking Afro-Cuban Allstars calls Adonis, ’Verdadero Sonero,’ ’A True Sonero’. To date, Adonis has shared stages with illustrious Latin music legends like Celia Cruz, Oscar De Leon, Juan De Marcos and The Afro Cuban All Stars, Orlando Valle ’Maraca,’ Cuban Timba All Stars, Pianist Hilario Duran, Jane Bunnett and Pancho Quinto.
Adonis thrives on the growth and acclaim for his original sonero sound. As he puts it, "I feel like a messenger of my roots and tradition, blessed that with me I have taken my music and heritage to many different places in the world; from Cuba, to Canada, USA, Mexico, Europe. My mission is to make you dance and enjoy my melodies and rhythms." His music bridges generations and cultures with a charisma and delivery that shines brighter than life in intimate or full-blown arrangements, from solo performances with piano or guitar accompaniment to fronting orchestras. Throughout history, these traits have been characteristic to the great soneros and this is the time for Adonis Puentes.
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