Haydée Milanés Álvarez is a Cuban singer, songwriter, arranger, and music producer, daughter of the renowned Cuban singer-songwriter Pablo Milanés. She was born on September 28, 1980, in Havana, Cuba.
From a very early age, influenced by the music and celebrity of her father, she showcased her artistic talents and at the age of 6 began studying piano at the Manuel Saumell Conservatory, where she also studied choral conducting. She eventually graduated in music theory subjects from the Amadeo Roldán Conservatory in Havana. At only 10 years old, she accompanied her father, Pablo Milanés, on stage for the performance of the song "Canto a la abuela."
In 1999, she began her artistic career in the quartet of pianist and composer Ernán López-Nussa. Haydee has performed on national and international stages. Her music encompasses the genres of feeling, son, and traditional Cuban trova. Additionally, she has a strong influence from Brazilian popular music.
In 2004, she released her first solo album, Haydée, produced and written by Descemer Bueno. This was followed by Haydée Milanés en Vivo (2008), A la felicidad (2010), Palabras, Haydée Milanés sings the works of Marta Valdés (2015), and Amor, a duet with Pablo Milanés (2017).
In this album, he has joined his voice with figures such as Santiago Feliú, Aldo López Gavilán, David Torrens, Omara Portuondo, Pedro Aznar, David Blanco, Pablo Milanés, among others.
In January 2019, along with other artists, the Cuban singer toured some of the sites devastated by the F4 tornado in Havana to assist those affected.
Haydée Milanés is part of a group of Cuban artists and intellectuals who, from the island, support a change in Cuba that puts an end to censorship, repression, and the mistreatment that the government inflicts on activists engaged in peaceful opposition. The singer has publicly expressed her outrage with the authorities following the events involving members of the San Isidro Movement (MSI) and regrets the lack of willingness from the authorities to engage in dialogue with their opponents.
In January 2020, Milanés made headlines by creating through her Facebook page the solidarity initiative with the Cuban LGBTQ+ movement Podemos Cambiar Las Cosas. This campaign aims to raise awareness, encourage reflection, and amplify solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community in Cuba.
In March 2021, through his Facebook, he called for an end to the repression in Cuba against those citizens who think differently and express it without fear.
"I am wholly in favor of freedom of expression for all Cubans, and I call for an end to the persecution and arbitrary detentions of young artists, journalists, and any Cuban citizen for thinking differently and expressing it."
Haydée has expressed her support for Oscar Casanella, a member of MSI, whom she visited on January 1, 2021. He was one of the prominent faces of the island who raised his voice for the liberation of Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara in March 2020, who was imprisoned in the Valle Grande penitentiary for the alleged crime of property damage.
