Juan José Hernández

Together with his band San Juan-Habana, Juan Jose Hernandez champions an organic, son-based salsa hybrid that brings together influences from Cuba and Puerto Rico. A consummate musician, songwriter, and arranger, Hernandez has played with a number of groups on both islands, but the bulk of his recognition is derived from his compositions, which have been picked up by the likes of Gilberto Santarrosa, Elvis Crespo, and El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. For the latter, Hernandez wrote "Arroz con Habichuela," a song that became the title track of the powerhouse's 2006 album and later earned Hernandez a 2007 Latin Grammy nomination for Song of the Year. Hernandez's first disc as a bandleader, San Juan-Habana, was issued in 2008; the album contained the single "Mar y Tierra," which hit the Top 40 of Billboard's Latin Tropical Airplay chart that same year. ~ Andree Farias, Rovi