Related videos:
I met him at a concert at the La Caridad theater in Santa Clara. I was impressed by his talents as a pianist, violinist, and singer, and that he was also an arranger and actor. I learned that all that fanfare had been directed by him. That young man named Juan Manuel Campos moved me.
Shortly after, I met his wife and daughter, and when I returned to the city of Marta Abreu, I learned that he had emigrated to the United States. The news filled me with joy because a genius like that does not belong on a narrow island without a future.
Juan Manuel Campos arrived in Miami in February 2022 and began to carve his path. Shortly after, in September 2023, his wife Daniela and their little daughter arrived, completing his happiness.
What has happened in your life since then?
Indeed, their arrival can be said to have been my true starting point. I felt a renewed sense of energy. You know that children adapt very well and quickly; in other words, everything has been much easier. The girl is now in 1st grade. She is doing very well in her school and has been selected as Student of the Month on more than one occasion. She has mastered English perfectly.
My wife is a pharmacy technician and works as such, although she is still studying and growing both personally and professionally. The doors of this country are always open to new goals for self-improvement. Unfortunately, the rest of my family is in Cuba.
I know that you have participated in concerts and jam sessions with great figures of Cuban and international music.
On November eighth, I coincidentally had one with the prestigious singer Maylú. The concert, which was a full house, took place at the magical Lili's Fusion in Coral Gables.
It was something special because Maylú is a great artist who masters various music genres, and this concert brought different proposals and meticulous musical work. We took the audience on a journey through several countries, musically speaking, and I think it turned out spectacularly. Just the two of us on stage, thrilling an audience that supported us to the point of delirium.
Imagine numbers from Bola (“If You Could Love Me”, “Leave Me”, “Sleep, Little Black Girl”); from the maestro Meme Solís (“Another Dawn”, “I Die Without Your Love”, “Now I Bring My Voice”). From Cuban trova: “The Afternoon”, “She and I”, “The Oriental Rose”; from American music, “Fly Me to the Moon” and “Memory”. As you can see, a wide range of the best from the musical spectrum.
Speaking of Maylú and your concerts, I know you have done others. Tell me about them.
I have shared the stage with many artists so far, and on multiple occasions.
The singer-songwriter and troubadour Amaury Gutiérrez, who welcomed me and invited me to sing and play for the first time in Miami, thus opening all possible doors; great ones like Mirtha Medina, Meme Solís, Rey Casas, Lázaro Horta, Malena Burke, Gema Corredera, in addition to Maylú... There are many, and it has been a sublime experience, creating a true musical and professional family.
Meeting Amaury Gutiérrez was a dream come true. In Cuba, I always followed him. Here, you can imagine what it means to have shared the stage with him on multiple occasions.
I want to take a moment to mention Mrs. Mirtha Medina. For over a year, I have been working at all her concerts, and in addition to her artistic talent, she has become a great and true friend.
Mirtha, it's no secret, she is a legend of Cuba and music; however, she greatly highlights my work and my performance as an artist. We do duets, interpreting songs that were hits in her career. She tells me that she is my fan, and for me, it is a true privilege to accompany her.
Her next concert will be on January 31, 2026, at Alfaros Nightclub, Miami. I will be celebrating alongside her, as it is also her birthday.
I know you feel proud to be Cuban and that you do not forget the homeland, its people, and its music despite the distance.
Being Cuban is what I love the most. From there comes the essence of everything I do. In April of 2025, my album Mis versiones was released, which specifically features great songs from traditional Cuban trova in very personal renditions.
There is always much to do and learn, and this country offers us the opportunity to achieve it through effort and hard work, but above all, to accomplish it.
Juanma, you are a versatile musician. What is your background?
I am a violinist, graduated from the National School of Arts (ENA) in Havana. I am also a pianist and singer. My early studies were in my city, Santa Clara, at the Vocational School of Arts, where I had top-notch teachers who later became my colleagues.
For example, my violin teacher Juan Águila Mendoza, an excellent instructor and concertmaster of the Villa Clara Symphony Orchestra.
You are in the land of opportunities, what do you intend to achieve?
I continue making music and working hard. I adhere to the style of traditional trova and Cuban bolero, among others, always reinterpreting and incorporating instruments into the musical arrangements.
I believe there are songs that never go out of style, and not covering them can deprive many people of getting to know them. By the way, I recently released my version of the classic "Vieja Luna," which is included in my album Mis Versiones, which I already mentioned to you and is available on all digital platforms.
The song was recorded between 2019 and 2020 at the José Vandor studios in Santa Clara, and it is part of a project that compiles a decade of my artistic career.
Since his arrival in the United States, Juan Manuel has maintained an active presence in the music scene, performing at venues such as the Real Café in Miami, the Miami-Dade County Auditorium, and Lili's Fusion in Coral Gables, among others.
His passion for music and commitment to Cuban culture are evident in this young man from Santa Clara, whom I hope to see soon at one of his performances in the City of the Sun.
Thank you for the interview, Julita, and I promise to invite you to one of my concerts when you visit Miami.
Filed under: