With his trademark cowboy hat, Eliades Ochoa is one of the most instantly recognisable figures from the Buena Vista Social Club album and film. Eliades and his fine band are the custodians of Chan Chan and the rest of the Cuban guitar-led and conga driven son repertoire including songs like El Cuarto de Tula and El Carretero.
Hailing from the countryside near Santiago in the east of Cuba, Eliades Ochoa's roots are in guajira (Cuban country music)and his hat and penchant for wearing black have led some to dub him 'Cuba's Johnny Cash'.
The London Lucumi Choir were category finalists in BBC Radio 3's Choir of the Year 2008, with their repertoire of songs to the Afro Cuban deities. 'A stunning, powerful vocal and percussion sound.'
