Biography:

Grammy nominated Raúl was born on Valentines day in february of 1965. Raised in the quarters of San Martín, El Cerro, just behind Plaza de la Revolution in Havana, Cuba. Music came natural to Raúl, in a family of dancers and musicians. And for as long as he can remember he has loved, listened to and played Cuban music.

The greatest groups and his first inspiration came from groups of his childhood like Benny Moré, Arsenio Rodríguez, La Sonora Matancera, Sierra Maestra, Pacho Alonso, Rolando Laserie, Conjunto Los Latinos, Rumbavana, Los Van Van, Son 14 etc.

As a child Raúl played for fun with groups at school and with kids on the block. African Cuban rumba as well as Son was always present on the street corners. The culture of music and dancing was present in everyday life.

In the 80's Raúl was playing with different hobby groups at Casa de Cultura. From the mid 80's Raúl was tutored by José Luis Quintana, also known as Changuito, one of the worlds top percussionists. At the same time Raúl started off his professional career on different shows and groups playing mainly the large hotels in Havana, for example Hotel Itabo and Hotel Mar Azul.

In 1990 Raúl packed his bags heading for Sweden. And has since continued playing with different groups. In the groups Timba Odara, Rey Changó, Son Entero and Laroye Raúl has cherished the cooperation with his brother Rolando Lara. Raúl has mainly toured the northern parts of Europe, always with latin rhythms but he has also explored Jazz, different kinds of African music, Caribbean, Pop, European Folk Music and so on. But his is, and always will be, steadily rooted in the African Cuban tradition.

Since the early years in Sweden Raúl has also evolved as a composer. And he has his own unique sound with bits and pieces of inspiration from different époques of the Cuban Music such as Rumba, Bolero, Danzon and Son. Raúl also has his own way with the words and his lyrics contains references to everyday life on Cuba as well as the African Cuban religion, Santeria, which plays an important part of his life. He has also been recognized and awarded as a composer on different occasions. Raúl has also studied music at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

Raúl has also formed a number of salsa and son groups of his own. But never ever has he been so close to his preferred sound as with Raúl Lara y sus Soneros.