Gardi Vázquez Suárez, a prominent Cuban performer, was born on September 13, 1973, in the province of Holguín. He began his career in the amateur music scene. He was a student of maestros Raúl Camayd, Náyade Proenza, and Latzis Méndez. He later joined the Rodrigo Prats Lyric Theater.

He enrolled at the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA) (1110 Calle 120 between 9th and 13th, Cubanacán, Playa, Havana), where he pursued his singing studies. At this institution, in 1998, Gardi founded the institution’s Traditional Septet. With the Septet, he traveled to Spain, where he performed at a festival dedicated to Cuba. He also performed with prominent Cuban musicians such as Pancho Amat, Omara Portuondo, Pío Leyva, Compay Segundo, Eliades Ochoa and his Cuarteto Patria, and Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, among others.

The following year, he joined the group Otra Visión, led by flautist Orlando Valle. He participated in several jazz festivals, including the 1999 Jazz Plaza Festival. He shared the stage with musicians such as Changuito, singer Rolo Martínez, Michel Camilo, and Giovanni Hidalgo.

He was invited by Japanese singer Nora, former vocalist of La Orquesta de la Luz, to sing in a concert held in Havana. Cheo Feliciano, Isaac Delgado, and Pedrito Calvo also participated.

He later joined the Clave Cubana orchestra, which allowed him to participate as a guest artist on various recordings. It was with this group that he began his career as a leading soloist.

Gardi Vázquez Suárez founded his own group in 2000, with the goal of performing a repertoire of his own compositions and those of other composers. With this group, he performed at various nightclubs in the country, such as Macumba, Café Cantante Mi Habana, Turquino, and the Hotel Habana Libre (Calle L, corner 23, Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, Havana).

That same year, she performed at the Adolfo Guzmán Competition Gala, where she participated in the tribute to Cesar Portillo de la Luz, directed by maestro José Luís Cortés. On that occasion, she performed some of her songs, even alongside Portillo.

He was also invited by the Cubanismo orchestra for nine months to tour various cities in the United States, including New Orleans, Atlanta, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Colorado, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego. He performed at the BB King Jazz Club in New York. In Canada, he appeared in Vancouver and Toronto. In Singapore, he performed at the Theatre Auditorium in Hong Kong and at the Grand Auditorium in Macau, China. Later in Tokyo, he shared the stage with Rolo Martínez and Haila María Mompié.

Her debut album, Gardi, was recorded in 2002 on the Cuban label Bis Music. The musical production was directed by Germán Velazco. Pancho Amat and Andrés Alén collaborated on this album. It features songs written by her and those of other composers.

In 2005, she received the Gold Record Award for her performance of “Leña apagada,” which was included in the Official Record series, at the 25th Latin American Song Festival, held in California.

“Lo que tú querías” (What You Wanted) was released in 2008, showcasing him as one of today’s greatest performers of salsa and ballads. The songs included include “Cómo me rid de ti” (How Do I Get Rid of You), “Con quien te ves” (Who Told You), “Déjame morir” (Let Me Die), “Desierto sin ti” (Desert Without You), “Abre las puertas de la vida” (Open the Doors of Life), and “Another Day.”

Gardi Vázquez has shared the stage with internationally renowned musical figures such as Cheo Feliciano, Isaac Delgado, and Pedrito Calvo, among others. As a guest, he has made his mark on productions by María Elena Pena, Coco Freeman, José Luís Cortés, Los Van Van, Los Papines, and Lázaro Valdés, among others.

He has participated as a guest in concerts held in Panama with the Roberto Delgado Orchestra, which has accompanied such musical greats as Gilberto Santa Rosa, Víctor Manuelle, and Rubén Blades.

His vast repertoire includes a variety of musical genres, both Cuban and foreign. He performs traditional Cuban music, such as Son, Bolero, Salsa, Ballads, and international repertoires.

Among his works as a composer are Búscame por toda La Habana (Best Me in Havana), Ganas (Give Me a Win), and Prefiero (Prefer), which quickly rose to the top of the list among young audiences. These songs were also among the most requested on radio programs such as El Exitazo and Disco Fiesta.

Discography: Gardi (2002); What You Wanted (2008).