Alex Cuba was born in 1974 in Cuba and was initially named Alexis Puentes. He spent his early years in Artemisa in Cuba. His father was Valentin Puentes, a guitar player and a music teacher, and this influenced little Alex to play the guitar at the early age of six. He married a Canadian in Cuba and immigrated to Canada in 1999, accompanied by his wife and twin brother, Adonis. Victoria in British Colombia was the first home of and continued the music as Puentes Brothers. The twin brothers were nominated for the Juno Award for Best Global Album in 2001. By 2004, they started working on their music journeys.

Cuba wrote and sang songs in both Spanish and English languages. Following the launch of his music career away from his brother, he won two Juno Awards for the World Music Album of the Year. Although his music weighs more than Latin and African music, it is also a mix of jazz, funk and pop. He won it for Humo de Tabaco in 2006 and his second album, Agua del Pozo, in 2008. He was honoured with the Latin Grammy for Best New Artist in 2010. His album “Healer” won him the Latin Grammy Award for the Best Singer-Songwriter Album and a Grammy Award nomination for the Best Latin Pop Album.

He collaborated with artists like Ron Sexsmith and Corinne Bailey Rae during his career. He could hit the UK Singles Chart at No.52 with his duet with Sexsmith, “Lo Mismo Que Yo.” He paved the way to perform at the national Canada Day celebration on Parliament Hill in Ottawa in 2016. He was acknowledged for contributing to music with an honorary Doctorate in Law from Queen’s University in 2022.