Ruben Rada

Ruben Rada, a percussionist from Uruguay, entered the music scene in the mid-1960s as a member of El Kinto. During his teenage years, the artist known then as Zapatito performed with the Punta del Este ensemble Hot Blowers before moving on to La Nueva Milonga. Friends and admirers refer to this vocalist and percussionist as El Negro Rada, who developed an innovative form of candombe by incorporating atypical instruments into the genre and elevating it into a contemporary style. His shows have drawn the admiration of notable figures including Milton Nascimento, Paul McCartney, Pablo Milanés, and Jon Anderson.