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 fame of her father, she showed her artistic talents, and at the age of 6, she 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 performed on stage alongside her father, Pablo Milanés, in the interpretation 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 to Marta Valdés (2015), and Amor, Haydée Milanés duets 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 visited some of the areas 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 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 towards the authorities following the events involving members of the San Isidro Movement (MSI) and laments the authorities' unwillingness to engage in dialogue with their opponents.
In January 2020, Milanés made headlines by launching a solidarity initiative for the Cuban LGBTQ+ movement on her Facebook page called Podemos Cambiar Las Cosas. This campaign aims to raise awareness, encourage reflection, and amplify solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community in Cuba.
In March 2021, he called for an end to the repression in Cuba against citizens who think differently and express themselves without fear through his Facebook.
"I am completely in favor of the 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.
