Haydée Milanés

Haydée Milanés Álvarez is a Cuban singer, songwriter, arranger, and music producer, and the 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 fame of her father, she displayed 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 just 10 years old, she shared the stage with her father, Pablo Milanés, performing the piece "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, with a significant influence from Brazilian popular music.

In 2004, she released her debut 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 canta a Marta Valdés (2015), and Amor, Haydée Milanés a dúo con Pablo Milanés (2017).

In these albums, she has joined her voice with notable figures such as Santiago Feliú, Aldo López Gavilán, David Torrens, Omara Portuondo, Pedro Aznar, David Blanco, and Pablo Milanés, among others.

In January 2019, alongside 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, advocate for a change in Cuba that ends censorship, repression, and the mistreatment of activists engaged in peaceful opposition. The singer has publicly expressed her outrage towards the authorities following the events involving members of the San Isidro Movement (MSI) and laments the lack of willingness on the part of the authorities to engage in dialogue with their opponents.

In January 2020, Milanés made headlines by launching a solidarity initiative with the Cuban LGBTQ+ movement called Podemos Cambiar Las Cosas through a Facebook page. This campaign aims to raise awareness, encourage reflection, and amplify solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community in Cuba.

In November 2020, the artist spoke out about the eviction of MSI activists, stating, "I feel shame and horror."

In March 2021, through his Facebook, he called for an end to the repression in Cuba against those citizens who express different thoughts without fear.

"I am fully 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 the MSI, whom she visited on January 1, 2021. He was one of the well-known faces on the island who raised his voice for the release of Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara in March 2020, who was imprisoned in the Valle Grande penitentiary for the alleged crime of property damage.