Bio:
Tomas Diaz was born in Matanzas, Cuba. He spent his teenage years captivated by the sounds of rock and roll. He dreamt of a life in the United States, a place, free from tyranny, where he would be able to express himself freely through music.
Influenced by greats such as Jimmy Hendix, James Bown, Bob Marley, Fela Kuti, Michael Jackson, Orquesta Aragon, Celia Cruz, Pello el Afrokan, Tomas grew an afro, sported peace signs on his jeans and joined an underground rock band. He made a name for himself invoking the spirit of Jimi Hendrix in town square renditions of Purple Haze every September 18th – the day that marks Tomas’ birth and Hendrix’s death.
Tomas was incarcerated in 1978 for his pro-American fervor. During his nearly two years in jail, he tattooed the American flag above his heart. His passion for the “Yankee enemy” earned him a spot on a Key West bound shrimp boat at the Mariel Port in 1980.
Today, Tomas looks back on his musical career with pride. He has collaborated with world class musicians including, Bruce Springstein, Celia Cruz, Clarence Clemmons, Phish, Snoop Dogg, Chayanne, Ricky Martin, Tania Leon, Suenalo, Elastic Bond, Nag Champyons and many more. He is currently a member of The Spam Allstars, a pioneering Miami band that, with Tomas’ influence, has created a unique sound that is often imitated.
In 2014, Tomas released his first solo album named Genesis, a fusion of more than eight musical genres including Roots Reggae, Afrobeat, Blues, Compas/Merengue, Salsa, Olodum (Samba-Reggae), Reggae and Latin Pop.
Tomas is looking forward to continuing his musical journey and influencing tomorrow’s musical talent through his work.