Descemer Bueno is a Cuban musician, singer, songwriter, and
producer whose professional career ranges from jazz to hip-hop,
traditional son, and Latin pop. Born in the Alquizar neighborhood of
Havana in 1971, Bueno’s first professional job was as the bassist for
singer/songwriter Santiago Feliú. In 1990, he started his own jazz band,
Estado de Animo, with guitarist Elmer Ferrer and pianist Roberto
Carcassés. They garnered national attention and toured Europe and South
America.
Bueno later reunited with Carcassés in Dafnis Prieto's jazz
band, Columna B. The band signed to Mas y Mas, recorded their
self-titled debut album, and toured America before eventually moving to
New York. The exposure to rap in the Bronx inspired Bueno (along
with Andres Levin, Xiomara Laugart, and Cucu Diamantes) to co-found the
hip-hop group Yerba Buena. Under the musical direction of Tato Torres,
they cut four pioneering albums between 2003 and 2007 and incorporated a
wide variety of Caribbean rhythms. After Yerba
Buena split, Bueno returned to Cuba where he signed with Universal Music
Latino and released his first album, Siete Rayo in 2005. The album
combined Afro-Cuban rhythms, reggaeton, calypso, reggae, cumbia, and
rap.
SHAPE \* MERGEFORMAT Bueno became
an in-demand producer and songwriter on both sides of the Atlantic. He
participated in the soundtracks for American films such as Dirty
Dancing: Havana Nights and Cheaper by the Dozen as well as composing and
producing soundtracks for films shot in Cuba and Mexico. In 2008, he
and Kelvis Ochoa released a duo album entitled Amor y Musica.
Bueno's tunes were also being recorded by an astonishing number
of artists, from Andres Levin and Ana Torroja to Thalía, Baby
Lores, Reyli Barba, and Fonseca. He received ASCAP awards in 2009 and
2010 for "Lloro por Ti," recorded by Enrique Iglesias. In 2011 he won
the Grammy Award for Latin Song of the Year for penning the hit duet
"Cuando Me Enamoro," which the singer recorded with Juan Luis Guerra.
The year 2012 saw him net yet another ASCAP award for composing Wisin y
Yandel's "No Me Digas Que No."
In 2013, Bueno recorded "Dragonfly" with legendary Cuban
vocalist Omara Portuondo, and produced tracks by Omi Hernández and Luna
Manzanares. Bueno collaborated with Iglesias again in 2014, this time sharing the billing on the hit single "Bailando" with the singer, Luan Santana, and Gente De Zona.
