I AM CUBA - Master Percussionist, Singer, Songwriter, and World's Best Conga PlayerTomasito Cruz is the most well-known Cuban musical group since the revolution.
Tomasito Cruze was born in Havana and has demonstrated his musical abilities since a very young age. A talented singer, songwriter, and musician. Tomasito grew up in Pinar Del Rio, where he studied art at a vocational school for the gifted. Tomasito was recruited by top Cuban band,Paulito FG y Su Elite. He chose to seek exile in Miami while the band was performing on US soil after a couple of years of touring internationally with the popular band.Tomasito's talents were welcomed in Miami, and he was soon earning a living as a musician in the Sunshine State. Having multiple jobs, he worked as a conga player alongside the house band on TV during the day and as a regular at a Miami beach club at night. At the age of eight, his talent was quickly recognized.He was accepted into Havana's prestigious National School of Art when he was fourteen years old.He studied Piano, Trombone, and Percussion, as well as Vocal, with prodigious musical abilities.Celia Cruz hired him as a conga player in her orchestra when he was 19 years old.Chelia Cruz, the band's youngest member, and her husband and manager, Pedro Knight, served as role models for young artists.Pedro Knight advised Tomasito to "SOUR HIGHER," and after taking his advice to heart, he was soon performing with Willy Chirino, Israel Lopez "CACHAO," and eventually Arturo Sandoval for four years.
Tomasito has written three international best-selling music books in the last two decades.Tomas Cruz Conga Method Volume 1 Beginners, Volume 2 Intermediate, and Volume 3 Advanced are among his titles.They're all aided by a DVD with instructions.
Tomasito Cruze has been nominated for five Grammy Awards and is a three-time Grammy winner for his work on Arturo Sandoval's "Rumba Palace," Willy Chirino's "Son Del Alma," and Alejendro Sanz's "No es lo mismo." Candala was his first album as a solo singer, songwriter, and producer, and it was nominated in Spain as the best album of Cuban music in 2010.
Tomasito is excited for the upcoming release of his most recent album, "I Am Cuba," which was inspired by his love for the diverse rhythms found on his native island.Tomasito fuses the diverse beats enjoyed throughout Cuba with a refreshing yet glorious energy that only a talent like his can achieve in his latest journey.
