José Alberto Tamayo Diaz

Cuban Salsa Singer and Bandleader

A native of Sierra Maestra in the Eastern part of Cuba, José Alberto Tamayo Diaz is better known as “El Ruiseñor” (nightingale).José was born into a musical family, his father a tres player and mother a singer. His professional singing career began at the age of 14 in the band “Grupo Rock Lasser”. Now in his 50s he has become a symbol of Bayamo and Eastern Cuba. During his professional life he has shared stages with many national and International artists, touring the world with them. Theseinclude: Elena Burque (Carnival 1995), José Valladares (Santiago de Cuba Carnival 1997), Celina González, Dan Den, Original de Manzanillo, Adalberto Álvarez (Bayamo Carnival 1998), Ana Caona (Carnival 1999), Cándido Fabre, Mundito González, Rebeca Martínez (Carnival Manzanillo 1999), Manolito Simonet (Carnival Bayamo 2001). More recently he has performed with national artists such as Coco Friman, Marielena Peña, Rojitas, Van Van, Los Zafiros, Miriam Hernández, amongst others, and internationally with the Chicas de Can, Duo Almendras (Canada, 2000), SongByFour, Mariache 2000 (group - companion of Luis Miguel), Latin Dimension, Oscar de León, Rojitas, Barrí Tatita, Omara Portuondo and Eliades Ochoa y la compañía de Danza Habana AllStars. During his career El Ruisenor has achieved great national and international recognition as an outstanding singer including the “Festival de la canción Toronto”in Canada in 2000 and in 2011 he was awarded Best Artist of the Year in Ecuador.He is the most internationally awarded solo vocalist of Granma and his vocal interpretations have been enjoyed in Spain, Canada, Russia, Mexico, Jamaica, Colombia, Peru, Panama, Ecuador, Martinique, Guyana and Guadeloupe. In Granma he has received awards at the “Sindo Garay” festival in various years as well as in competitions on the theme of Carnival and won an award of maximum recognition of the UNEAC in Granma. Before lockdown was instigated in Cuba - he would perform every Saturday in the main street of Bayamo where the road is closed and turned into a street night club with seating and food. He has previously recorded two long plays - “Ojos de Tigres” and “Amantes de la noche” in 2007