Amaury Pérez Vidal, Cuban composer, poet, guitarist, and singer, was born on December 26, 1953, in the Vedado neighborhood of Havana. He was the son of two prominent figures of Cuban television, Amaury Pérez and Consuelito Vidal. His baptism was recorded by the cameras of the CMQ television station, the first televised baptism in all of Latin America.

When Amaury was just over a year old, he made his television debut, appearing in a few commercials and television spots, continuing to do so until 1959. His musical beginnings were self-taught; he learned to play the guitar in 1968. In 1963, he composed the anthem for his elementary school, Augusto César Sandino, and also began working as an actor on Cuban television, appearing in children’s programs. It was not until his adolescence that Amaury Pérez composed his first songs.

His work is framed within the Nueva Trova style, following his meeting with Silvio Rodríguez, Pablo Milanés, Sara González, and Noel Nicola in 1971. He sets poems by Cuban poets such as José Martí and Nicolás Guillén, among others, to music.

In 1972, he gave a concert at the National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC) (17th Street No. 354 between G and H, Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, Havana), thus launching his artistic career. It was a gathering of poets, where he premiered works with texts by Cuban poets and poets from various Latin American countries, including Julio Cortázar, Mario Benedetti, and Eduardo Galeano.

That same year, he founded the Nueva Trova Movement. He began working at the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC) (1155 Calle 23 between 10th and 12th, Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, Havana), working as a sound assistant. He also composed his first score for television theater. He participated in a solidarity album with Chile against the military coup with his song “Andes los que andes,” in the wake of the overthrow of Salvador Allende. He recorded his first album, “Acuérdate de abril,” which was his first solo work.

In 1976, Amaury Pérez won the Grand Prize at the Dresden Pop Festival in Germany. With the ICAIC Sound Experimentation Group, accompanied by Pablo Milanés and Sara González, he toured Poland, Bulgaria, and Spain. In the latter country, he performed with important musical figures such as Joan Manuel Serrat, Pi de la Serra, María del Mar Bonet, Lluis Llach, Miguel Ríos, Luis Eduardo Aute, Ana Belén, Víctor Manuel, and Teddy Bautista.

In 1978, he began working with the Síntesis Group, with which he participated in the Varadero ’81 Song Festival, and later toured Venezuela, Mexico, and Spain. A year later, he formed his first backing group with Ricardo Martínez (Eddy). Later, he founded another group, which at different times included musicians such as José Novás (piano), Frank Rubio (bass), Conrado García (drums), Mario Romeu Jr., and Manolo González (director and keyboards).

In the early 1980s, Amaury was expelled from the Nueva Trova Movement, a fact that negatively impacted his career; he stopped writing and performing publicly. By the mid-1980s, he continued touring abroad and performing in Cuba. He recorded his second album, “De vuelta,” during this time. It was critically acclaimed by both international critics and Cuban troubadours.

At the beginning of the 1990s, he recorded the album “Encuentros,” which includes a duet with Silvio Rodríguez. It reached number one on the Cuban hit parade. He then recorded the album “Retrato de Navidad,” one of the few of its kind in Cuba.

In 1995, sponsored by UNICEF, she recorded the song El escaramujo by Silvio Rodríguez, in which she performed with other excellent singers of the song. She also gave her Christmas Concert at the National Theater of Cuba. In 1997, she participated in the Cervantino Festival in Mexico, where she performed two songs from the Cuban Mass by composer José María Vitier. She sang the “Plegaria a la Virgen del Cobre” (Prayer to the Virgin of Cobre) during the Mass officiated by John Paul II during his visit to Havana on January 25, 1998. That same year, she traveled to Spain to present her album Amor difícil (Difficult Love). At the end of the decade, she worked on several Cuban films and began preparing an album with poetry by Dulce María Loynaz, which would be titled “Eternity.”

At the turn of the millennium, he performed both nationally and internationally, primarily in Mexico. He continued producing new albums, including “Equilibrio,” which covers the blues genre; “Solo en Septiembre,” an album with multiple musical facets; and “Algo en Común,” which successfully explores the salsa genre.

In 2003, he collaborated with Silvio Rodríguez on the album “Trovador.” On December 31, 2003, he was awarded the Order of Félix Varela, Cuba’s highest official cultural honor.

In 2006, the album “Los Duos” was released, a compilation of all the songs he has performed with several of the most important interpreters of Cuban and Latin American song. In November 2007, he joined the celebrations for the 35th anniversary of the Nueva Trova Movement, performing several concerts. In 2008, he was part of a songbook launched to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Triumph of the Cuban Revolution. In September 2009, he organized and participated in the “Peace Without Borders” concert, held in Revolution Square.

“Bardo” is the name of her most recent album, released in November 2009. It also includes a DVD and contains 13 songs, including “Yo quería cantar,” “Algo de mujer,” and “Que me quiero.”

Amaury’s early compositions were influenced by jazz, others by rock. Later, his creative direction shifted toward the romantic song style, highlighting the lyrical melody and the distinctive vocal and performance qualities that characterize this artist. He used diverse musical genres such as ballads, disco, pop, and salsa. His lyrics are dominated by a profound poetic spirit that undoubtedly makes him one of the most important Cuban composers of the second half of the 20th century.

Her songs, set to lyrics by José Martí, were recorded by the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Armando Guerra. Her works have been recorded by numerous performers, including Marco Antonio Muñiz, Lucecita Benítez, Sheena Easton, Mercedes Sosa, Nacha Guevara, Danny Rivera, Ana Belén, Alfredo Sadel, Tania Libertad, Cheo Feliciano, Guadalupe Pineda, Alina Sánchez, Sara González, Omara Portuondo, Mirta Medina, Beatriz Márquez, Anabell López, Farah María, and Rebeca Martínez.

Amaury Pérez has a broad and extensive musical output. In film, he has composed the music for Hombres del mar (Men of the Sea) and Isla de la Juventud (Isle of Youth). For Cuban television, he composed the themes for Mañana es domingo (Tomorrow is Sunday) and the theme for the series Hasta el último aliento (Until the Last Breath), Muy personal (Very Personal with Amaury Pérez).

His compositions include: Gabriela; They won’t stop it; Give me; For when I leave; Alphabet; Remember April; Ten; If I could; Fly away, sorrow; Make you come, among others.

He has released twenty albums. Other works include “Equilibrio,” “Solo en septiembre,” and “Algo en común.”

Amaury has directed highly rated television programs, winning the 1987 National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba award for his program “De vuelta.” In 1994, he was awarded the Distinction for National Culture. He also hosted radio programs, including “Amaury y los otros” and “Como en casa.” He also acted in the film “Legend.” He recorded a duet with Xiomara Laugart, featuring a song composed by José María Vitier and Silvia Rodríguez Rivero, for the film “Un paraíso bajo las estrellas.” He appeared as an actor in the Cuban-American film “Zapphires, locura azul.” He participated as a musical comedian in “Cincuenta años de amor” (Fifty Years of Love) by playwright Nelson Dorr.

Amaury Pérez is one of the most popular Cuban music artists, both in Cuba and internationally. He is one of the few figures to have been included in the “Book of Honor of the Grand Theater of Havana.”
Discography: Remember April (1976), Poems by José Martí (1978), Waters (1979), Greatest Hits (1981), Alphabet (1982), Halves (1985), Back (1987), Glass Seasons (1989), Difficult Love (1988), When I Look at Your Eyes, The Guitar, General Song, Who Knows More, Where the Water Is, Wherever You Go, You Will Be Left Without Me, Just Like Me, I Wanted to Caress You, For When I Leave, Caresses, Why Won’t You Love Me, Murmur, Long Live Free Puerto Rico.