Chino Pons

Chino Pons was born in San Miguel del Padron, Havana, Cuba, in 1971. San Miguel del Padron is one of the poorest neighborhoods in Havana, and it is surrounded by the Abakua Plantes, Bembe, and Rumba cultures. Chino Pons's father was a mechanic for industrial machinery, and his mother taught geography. Growing up in a household filled with traditional and Afro-Cuban music, as well as being surrounded by musicians and iconic dancers from the 1940s and 1950s, had a significant impact on him and encouraged him to compose music. Chino's relatives provided him with a strong foundation in the music of Son Cubano, and he absorbed their knowledge of Rumba Guaguanco, Yambu, Columbia, Cha Cha Cha, Danzon, and Bolero. This gave him the desire to create a new sound that was more modern while still retaining many elements of traditional Cuban music. Chino is known as "El Son Cubano." In 1997, Chino Pons started his career in the music industry by joining the band Tropical Sound in Miami as a band boy. In 1998, he relocated to New York City in order to pursue a career in music. He began by playing music in the subway and on the streets of the city before enrolling in a workshop taught by Ramon Rodriguez at the Boys Harbor (El Museo del Barrio). Chino collaborated with a variety of bands over his career, including Cafe with Crema, Many Puventud, and Conjunto Classico (as a band boy). It was in 2007 that he co-founded Grupo Irek alongside Hensy Perez, Tosso Hettinger, and Heriberto Valentin. The following year, in 2008, he released his debut album as a bandleader with Grupo Irek. Grupo Irek became one of the most well-known and respected Salsa acts on the New York City circuit during this time period. During this time, they played alongside the runway at fashion shows, played regularly at The Socialista Club while it was open, and performed at Gala events for Sting's Rainforest foundation. Chino also began performing at the Vanidades Magazine anniversary gala, which has previously honored legendary artists like as Gloria Estefan, Paquito de Rivera, Ruben Blades, and Juan Luis Guerra. Chino began this tradition in 2005. Chino went on a visit to Japan in 2013, during which he performed at the Cuban Japan festival. Since then, he has garnered quite a following among those who enjoy listening to salsa music in Japan. The year 2014 marked the release of Chino Pons' debut studio album, titled "Mueve Despacito." "Mueve Despacito" is a highly danceable album that consists of the majority of original material written by Chino, his uncle, the famous guitarist Reynaldo Sotomayor "Chiquitiko," and several other notable Cuban composers. "Mueve Despacito" was produced by Chino. "Mueve Despacito" was released in 2010. Additionally, the album has been highlighted on the NY1 channel, NBC TV, and WBAI 99.5 FM in New York City, all of which have contributed to its increased sales on CD Baby, Amazon, and iTunes. Chino Pons, who is now well-established in New York City, plays on a consistent basis at a number of the city's most prestigious venues and has performed extensively in Central and North America. Chino continues to play live and is now working on his next record, both of which contribute to his mission of disseminating his own perspective on traditional Cuban music all over the world. The record company Guanabacoa Records, which specializes on traditional Cuban music, was recently established by him.