Kelvis Ochoa is a Cuban musician, singer, and songwriter born in Las Tunas in 1970.
Although he was born in Las Tunas, he moved to the Island of Youth at the age of three, where he lived until he was 19, at which point he relocated to Havana and began to gain recognition for his career as a singer-songwriter.
In his unique interpretation style, the sucu-sucu particularly stands out, an indigenous rhythm from the Isle of Youth. His music is a fusion that combines traditional rhythms such as son, sucu-sucu, Cha Cha Cha, Macuta, Songo, Conga, Merengue, Milonga, among others, with influences from Funk, Chili Peppers rock, and pop.
His interest in music stems from his roots, as both his grandfather and father were also musicians. At the young age of 9, he was singing in a duo with his sister, and at 10, he began his training at the Casa de la Cultura in Gerona. By 18, he joined the Asociación Hermanos Saíz.
His true leap to fame occurs with Habana Oculta (Havana, 1995), produced by Gema Corredera and Pável Urquiza. From this first work, a project emerged that gathered the singer-songwriters from the Peña de 13 y 8 – to which Kelvis did not belong – and established its name and identity with his second work, Habana Abierta, in 1996. This project featured many Cuban musicians in the 90s whose goal was to create a unique sound filled with foreign influences mixed with national rhythms. Alongside this group, he also recorded 24 Horas (1999) and Boomerang (2005).
In addition to his well-known association with Habana Abierta, highlights of his solo career include the albums: La Isla (1999), Kelvis (2001); Amor Y Musica (2008) and Dolor con amor se cura (2014).
He has also composed soundtracks for Más vampiros en La Habana (2003), Barrio Cuba (2005), Habana Blues (2005), Corazón del tiempo (2009), Lisanka (2009).
In 2006, he was awarded the Goya Award for Best Original Music as a co-author of the soundtrack for the film "Habana Blues."
Kelvis Ochoa is one of the most frequent Cuban artists on the island's stages. His gatherings, jam sessions, and concerts have traveled throughout the country, sharing the spotlight with other important Cuban singer-songwriters such as David Torrens, Athanai, Raúl Paz, Descemer Bueno, Alex Cuba, and Pancho Céspedes.
Kelvis joined the famous Puerto Rican salsa artist Gilberto Santa Rosa in a duet for the single "Loco loco," which is part of the album "Otra cosa" by the Cuban duo Gente de Zona released in 2019.
In February 2020, El Chacal announced his collaboration with Kerlvis Ochoa as part of the new album that the artist is recording in Cuba, titled 50 grados.
Discography:
1996: Hidden Havana (compilation, BMG Ariola)
1997: Open Havana (with Habana Abierta, BMG Ariola)
1999: 24 Hours (with Habana Abierta, BMG Ariola)
1999: The Island
2001: Kelvis (BMG Ariola)
2005: Boomerang (with Habana Abierta)
2008: Love and Music (EGREM)
2014: Pain is Healed with Love (BIS)
