Sierra Maestra are a Cuban band started in 1976. They sought to revive 1920's classic son, which came from the mountain range on the east of Cuba, after which the band was named. Their members included Juan de Marcos Gonzalez, before he left to join the Afro-Cuban All Stars and Jesus Alemany, who formed Cubanisimo. The band is still together.
Damian Marley (born July 21, 1978 in Kingston, Jamaica), is a Grammy-winning reggae artist and is the youngest male child (or 'veteran,' as stated in the song "Me Name Jr. Gong") of reggae legend Bob Marley, and the only child born to Marley and Cindy Breakspeare, Miss World 1976. Damian's nickname is Junior Gong which is derived from his father's nickname of Tuff Gong. Damian has been performing since the age of 13. He shares with most of the Marley family a full-time career in music.
Traditions are kept alive as a result of ones ancestral ties. Asere, a group of young Cuban musicians, follows in the footsteps of the forefathers of the Cuban Son. Ignacio Piñiero, Miguel Matamoro, Arsenio Rodriguez, and all those masters of the Cuban Son that came before these young musicians are paid homage in this debut release. While bands like Irakere, Los Van Van, and NG La Banda experiment with the basic structure of Cuban music, it has been la vieja guardia that has had the greatest impact on the international music market.