Son De Mi Tierra

Son De Mi Tierra - Cuban Son band/ensemble

Son De Mi Tierra is the best acoustic traditional music ensemble in the Miami scene today. Bringing our own unique, innovative sounds, we will take you back to the old Cuba, interpreting and redefining classic Cuban Son at its best

Son De Mi Tierra plays traditional Cuban music, trova, musica campesina, boleros, changui, and of course son, which is our specialty. Our music is similar to Buena Vista Social Club, Pedro Luis Ferrer, Los Compadres, and other artists playing in the tradition of the Son Cubano. The ensemble is composed of six members well known and respected in the Cuban musical community.

Tresero and the groups musical director is Araelio Guerra who started playing his instrument the Cuban tres, at age of eight, maintaining a family tradition. He has directed and performed with Cuarteto Puerto Principe, Sexteto Turquino de Santiago De Cuba, Sonero de Camacho, Tipico de Cuba, Manguare, and many others. Since his arrival in the USA he has performed and recorded with artists as Roberto Torres, Willy Chirino, Hansel y su Orquesta Calle Ocho, Israel Kantor, La Fania All Stars, and has been a regular on Miami’s channel 41 ( America TV) as well. Araelio has garnered quite a reputation for his knowledge and ability on his instrument the time-honored Tres Cubano.

Bass player Rafael Lopez started playing music at nine years old, and has played with many of the best local bands around his native province of Camaguey in Cuba. In 1993 he became a member of Maravilla de Florida, one of the best orchestras in Cuba. Rafael displays a passion for his native music, exceeded only by his dexterity on the bass.

Guitar player Ramon Caña also started out very young as part of the septet Ecoson, and went on to play with Guarañico, who performed regularly on TV, cafes and theaters. He has since been a member of Los Armonicos, Los Tres Cancioneros, and Los Hidalgos. He brings a vast amount of experience and profound comprehension of the music to the group.

Percussionist Heriberto Camacho is the rhythm master of the bongo and conga drums. He spent many years in bands in Cuba as Salsa de Esquina, and NG La Banda. Once transplanted to the states, he has played Orquesta Sensacion de Miami, Eddie Santiago, and El Trabuco de Israel Kantor.

Lead vocalists for Son de mi Tierra are Gilberto Gonzales and Elaine Hernandez, two accomplished singers in their own rights that have mastered the genre of traditional Cuban music.

Gilberto started singing in Cuba while also very young, and sang with Rumba Habana, Iyakarey, Cuba 95, and others. In 1993 Gilberto left Cuba and headed to Lima, Peru, where he joined up with tresero Araelio to form a Cuban son group which lasted three years. He also appeared with Isaac Delgado in various salsa festivals. Now residing in Miami, he is acknowledged as a true sonero based on his delivery and improvisational skills.

Elaine is the most recent addition to the group, and had added a new versatile dimension to the vocalization. Coming from a family of musicians, she honed her skill as a youngster but was not until 1996 that she was discovered by Curtis Womack. (of the great R&B Womack family) Based in the Los Angeles area, she sang with the Curtis Womack Jazz Ensemble, Blue Harmony, and Son y Clave. In 2000 Elaine created her own band Elaine y su Cubaney, which was produced by Alberto Torres in Los Angeles. She recently participated in the Festival de la Cancion Latino Americana Internacional, in San Francisco where she won first place in the Songwriters category for her song “Homenaje a Celia,” and Best Vocal Interpretation of another original song “Que Porque Te Amo,” in the Pop/Ranchera category.

Son De Mi Tierra is the best kept secret yet to be discovered, a group whose time has come. Our music knows no boundaries, and no language barriers. We offer an open invitation for all to join with us in our musical journey influenced by our ancestors the pioneers of the Son Cubano.
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