Alex Cuba promises 'love' and 'positivity' at Saskatoon concert

When Cuban-Canadian singer-songwriter Alex Cuba hits the stage Friday night at The Bassment in Saskatoon he intends to deliver.

I'm going to be happy to make him proud once again.- Alex Cuba

"You can dance if you want. You can listen if you want to, but you are going to walk away you know with your heart full of positivity and full of love, for sure."

It's a big promise from a performer who grew up in rural Cuba, about an hour's drive west of Havana.

"I come from a small town in Cuba," he said.

And so it only makes sense that Cuba, upon arriving in Canada, would pick another small town in which to lay down his roots. Cuba and his family live in Smithers, BC.

But in many respects, the small-town boy has made it big. Since arriving in Canada, Cuba has claimed a number of Latin Grammy awards and two Juno awards. His latest record Healer is now crossing boundaries and has been nominated for the main Grammy awards in the Best Latin Pop Album category.

• Alex Cuba's Healer blends Latin grooves with pop hooks

Cuba calling

Cuba's success is now echoing to the far away shores of his homeland.

"It's now that they are playing my music on the radio and I'm showing up on TV down there and all of that, it's wonderful. I'm expecting an invitation to go play there," he said.

It has been more than a decade since Cuba left, and now with the prospect of playing back home for the first time since he arrived in Canada, Cuba's thoughts are with his father, the man who taught him to play the guitar.

"He's going to very proud, and I'm going to be happy to make him proud once again."

Cuba is, in fact, headed home soon to help work on a Canadian documentary. The plan is to outfit a bus with a recording studio and tour the island looking for undiscovered musical talent. Cuba is thrilled to be going. But not before his stop in Saskatoon. Cuba will play Friday night as part of Winterruption.

• CBC is a proud sponsor of Winterruption