elite family, Alex Cuba (born
Alexis Puentes) is busy accomplishing
his own musical manifest
destiny.
Based in Smithers, B.C., Cuba
is primarily occupied with his
music, as a songwriter and performer,
touring, attending conferences
and running his own
record Label, Carocol Records
and all the business that entails.
He is passionate first and foremost
about his music, it’s what
gets him out of bed every day
and what sustains him through
life’s ups and downs.
When he’s asked to perform at
a fundraiser, Cuba tries to accommodate,
given the demands
of his schedule.
He also said the fundraiser
must make sense to him. So when
he was approached to perform
at the Occidental as part of a
fundraiser for epilepsyQuesnel’s
Purple Day, he agreed.
“I knew a musician here in
Smithers who suffered from
epilepsy,” Cuba said.
“He died during a seizure in the
shower. You know, most people
look at a disease and it seems far
away until it affects your family
or someone close to you.”
Family is very important to
Cuba. He is proud of his three
children, his wife who works
with him on tour, and their life
in B.C.’s north, but he is also
aware of how demanding his
chosen career can be on a family.
He’s pleased to report two of
his children are currently taking
music lessons.
“I don’t know if they will pursue
music as a career. It’s a whole
different world than taking
music lessons. They sometimes
see the industry as a bad thing
because it takes daddy away,”
he said.
“My approach with my children
is I want them to make their
own choice and do what makes
them happy.”
Cuba said when he finally takes
his shoes off at his front door, he
puts his guitar away for about a
week or so, just to recharge his
batteries and enjoy the family.
With about 150 shows a year,
Cuba spends much of his time
doing what he loves most, performing
music and whatever his
children choose to do he hopes
they will embrace it as he has
his music.
With many trips to the Lower
Mainland from Smithers, Cuba
says one of his favourite stops is
Granville’s Coffee in Quesnel.
This is just one of his many
memories of here.
He remembers about five years
ago he performed for students
in Chuck Mobley Theatre and
has fond memories of the overwhelming
response from the
students.
“I love inspiring young people
to follow their passion and not
look at the superficiality of the
music industry,” he said.
“My passion for music helps
me get through. Music chose
me. I never did it for fame or
fortune. One of the best things a
human can do is honour himself
or herself. This is what I enjoy
doing. Life is too short to do
something you don’t fully love.”
And it’s that passion and love
that has earned Cuba many
music awards and accolades.
He stays true to his Latin roots
but also is free to follow his musical
vision.
His sugarcane sweet melodies,
pop-soul hooks and powerful
guitar riffs vanquish the conventional
stereotype of the Latin
music landscape and so he creates
his own unique sound.
Cuba has collaborated with
many artists and has several solo
albums to his credit including
his latest album which will be
released April 7 called Lo Unico
Constante (The one constant)
which is currently available online
in pre-release at pledgemusic.
com.
It will also be available for
pre-release soon from iTunes.
After April 7 this album will be
available digitally, CD format
and on vinyl.
“This is my third album I’ve
released on vinyl, its making a
comeback,” he said.
At the March 25 show at the
Occidental, Cuba will have all
his previously released albums
available for sale in various formats
including vinyl.
He also said he may perform
a couple of the tracks from his
new album during the show.
Tickets for Alex Cuba are available
for $35 in advance at the
Occidental or at the door.
2017 marks the fourth year of
epilepsyQuesnel’s endeavour to
help the VGH Epilepsy Clinic
raise funds for beds 3 and 4 in the
Seizure Investigation Unit (SIU.)
Proceeds from the Alex Cuba
concert and other fundraising
activities will be donated to this
cause.
It has been 38 years since the
SIU was implemented in 1979
and though epilepsy diagnosis is
steadily on the rise there are still
only two beds, making B.C. one
of the most underfunded provinces
in researching and fighting
this life-threatening disease.
See full list of events and activities
on March 24, Quesnel’s
Purple Day and participating
businesses consult one of the
many large Purple Day posters
