Quique Neira
Quique Neira, born Enrique Neira Leiva on April 11, 1973 in Santiago de Chile. He is a reggae singer, composer and producer who has risen to iconic status in Latin America as a Reggae singer. Known as the “Chilean Rootsman” he is considered to be one of the most famous musicians of Latin America and one of the pioneers of the Reggae movement in Chile which started in the decade of the 1980’s.
His First Encounter With Reggae
The first time that he has ever heard Reggae was in the mid 1980’s. His father who was living in Europe used to record songs that he liked from David Rodigan’s radio programme. He made several cassettes and sent them to him in Chile. He received songs of Third World, Aswad, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Mighty Diamonds, Yellowman among others.
He immediately fell n love with the rhythm and cadence of this newly encountered musical genre. He was about thirteen years old. Some time later he got “Confrontation”, Bob Marley’s last studio album. It was then that he understood that Reggae evokes a lifestyle; that it was more than just music; that it involved a philosophy of life.
” I knew, that it would be my way of living; my philosophy of life also; that I would dedicate my life to making this music,but with the characteristics of singing it in Spanish, Thirty years later the people know me as The Chilean Rootsman.”
Career Launch
He began his musical career in 1991 when he formed a band called Bambú. His goal was to make Reggae music in Spanish. They started by doing Reggae versions of “Wild World” by Cat Stevens and some other classics Rock which they played in clubs and pubs.
Bambú, is credited as the band which pioneered the Jamaican sound in Chile, with their fusion of Rock, Pop and Reggae. In this their first project, Neira and his band managed to become a popular name on the music scene in Chile
In 1995 they made their first studio album called “Bambú”, The singles “Mama Yo Quiero” and “In Jamaica” were popular on the rankings of the MTV ntinternationalusic channel. As lead singer of the group he has influenced an entire generation of Chilean musicians during the 90’s decade.
In 1996 he left Bambú and became lead singer and composer of the Gondwana band with whom he has made three albums that have set records in Chile for highest album sales.
He launched his career as a solo artiste in 2003. He has since performed extensively in Australia. the United States, Europe and Latin America,
Awards
In 2006 he received the National Arts Award of Chile (ALTAZOR) for Best Album of the Year for the album “Cosas Buenas” and Best Singer of the Year for the song “Cosas Buenas”. Also in 2006 he won the chilean APES Award for Best Composer with the song “Cosas Buenas”.
In 2012 he won the ALTAZOR Award for Best Album of the Year with his album “Alma”.
Reflections and Life’s Lessons
“Each time that we were playing in pubs and clubs, the owners would say to me, “Quique, that kind of music will never ever be liked by Latinos and even least liked by Chileans.” Twenty-five years later I realised how wrong they were.”
Latest Album
On October 22, 2014 He released his latest album “Un Amor” (One Love). The album features Reggae artistes such as Ky-Mani Marley, son of Bob Marley and Dread Mar I of Argentina, another of the great Reggae musicians in Latin America.
“Un Amor” is the first album in his career which includes songs done in three languages: Spanish, Portuguese and English.The album was produced by Jamaican producer, Jason “J-Vibe” Farmer, who has produced music that has received Grammy nomination for artistes such as Sean Paul, Estelle and the Third World band. Read More
Solo Albums
Eleven (2003)
Cosas Buenas (2005)
Jah Rock (2007)
Jah Dub (2010)
Alma (2012)
Un Amor (2014)
Read also Quique Neira | Quique blog
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