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Hugo Cancio was born in Havana, Cuba in 1964, in a decade marked by events that changed people’s lives forever: his country disputing with the United States and Kennedy, Kruschev and Castro fighting for opposing ideals in a world that seemed to have lost its path.
But his life was different. He grew up surrounded by music, art, dreams and a very unique family. His father, Miguel Cancio was part of Los Zafiros, one of the most influential quartets of Cuban music. His mother, Monica, was also a singer. At the age of seven, he moved from the capital to Varadero, in Matanzas District, where he completed elementary and middle school. He was later accepted into Colegio Vocacional, an important institution for outstanding students.
I wanted to be a doctor, he remembers. Most of my family members were musicians, poets, painters and artists. My grandfather was a doctor, but none of his seven children followed in his footsteps, so, I promised him I would, he says.
When I woke up every morning, there were still folks there from the night before. My father would bring home his friends from the night clubs, singers like Elena Burke and Omara Portuondo and many other famous artists of the time, he says recognizing that at the time, I wanted a different life for myself. Not because of the music, but because I couldn’t come to terms with the bohemian lifestyle. | 