Haila María Mompié González

Name:  Haila María Mompié González
Date of birth: 28 January 1974
Place of birth: Las Tunas, Cuba

Haila has been described by Marianela Dufflar, MusicaliaOnline, as a ”Huge torrent of Cubaness, voice carrying beautiful feelings and undoubted scene domain are the main adjectives to qualify Haila María Mompié González, artist that is currently classified as one of the most outstanding Cuban interpreters, faithful defender of Son, musical genre created in Cuba and well-known around the entire world.”

Haila was born in Las Tunas, eastern province of Cuba in 1974.
As a daughter of a singer father and a stylist mother her interest in art, dance and music emerged in her early ages.

1994    She joined the ensemble Bamboleo were she showed her excellent vocal qualities and high improvisational skills.
1998    With Leonel Limonta musical project they founded the ”Azúcar Negra” band and made worldwide tour (Europe, U.S.)
2000-2002 Haila performed at various Japanese scenes with the following artists: Cheo Feliciano, Oscar de León, Rey Ruiz, Celia Cruz, José Alberto El Canario, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Chucho Valdés, Muñequitos de Matanzas, Mario Rivera, Juan Manuel Ceruto, David Calzado and Isaac Delgado
2001     Haila starts her solo career, achieving huge success and won Latin Grammy Award with ”La Rumba Soy yo” album.

Discography:
1997    ”Te gusto o te caigo bien”, Bamboleo
1997    Gracias, Formell
1998    Yo no me parezco a nadie, Bamboleo
2001    Andar Andando, Azúcar Negra
2001    Haila (Debut como solista)
2002    Haila Live
2004    Diferente

With other recording productions in collaboration with other groups
1997    Te querida presencia
1999    Briyumba Palo Congo
2001    La Rumba Soy yo
2001    Deep Rumba
2002    Las más famosas de Cuba II.
2002    Me gusta así
2002    Latin Man
2002    Homenaje a Richard Egues


by Zsuzsa Melkvi
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About the Author: Zsuzsa Melkvi is a salsa dancer and teacher, having competed in Latin-American and Standard dances from 1995-1998. She is also the founder of Baila Cuba (www.bailacuba.hu), a Dance company focused on giving exclusively pure Afro-Cuban workshops in Hungary. Zsuzsa holds a BA degree in Economics from the University of Hertfordshire.