Photo: Dunia Alvarez Palacios
At the age of 70, José Luis Cortés, El Tosco, died of a hemorrhagic stroke, according to the Cuban Institute of Music.
El Tosco was born in El Condado, the humblest neighborhood of Santa Clara, in the central province of Villa Clara.
Cuba bids farewell to “a musician and teacher of musicians whose excellence confirms how much education and art can do for human development”, as the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel, defined Bermúdez when his birthday was in October 2021.
José Luis Cortés, flutist, arranger, composer, music producer and director of the NG la Banda Orchestra since its inception in 1988, has had an extensive and successful career in the Cuban music scene.
Awarded the National Music Prize in 2017, he is considered one of the creators of the new school of flutists in our popular music and a forerunner of the timba.
Just a few months ago we congratulated him on his 70th birthday, today the news of his death hits us hard. Cuban culture must mourn. A talented product of the National School of Art has died, a humble and legitimate son of the #cuban revolution pic.twitter.com/Jw9RwC1KDc
— Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (@DiazCanelB) April 18, 2022
Another heavy blow to Cuban culture: José Luis Cortés, “el Tosco”, has died. My condolences to family, friends and followers. pic.twitter.com/5gCD1rH42r
— Abel Prieto (@AbelPrieto11) April 18, 2022
Unfortunate loss this afternoon, Farewell to José Luis Cortés, Flutist, Composer, Director of NG La Banda, National Music Award 2017. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends #cuban music Grief pic.twitter.com/UMAJRf8Khh
-Inst. Cubans of M (@inst_la) April 18, 2022
We mourn the death of José Luis Cortés, El Tosco, paradigm of Cuban music.
National Music Award, precursor of “la timba”, virtuoso flautist, composer, music producer and director of NG la Banda.
Thank you Master for your imperishable work.#UNEAC pic.twitter.com/QM2nAkVL5s
— UNEAC (@UNEAC_online) April 18, 2022
José Luis Cortés, lovely Tosco, said goodbye. Universal influence and undeniable charisma. From EGREM we say goodbye to the man, but not to the genius. Thank you for the music, master #LaMusicaVive pic.twitter.com/gfkiP2kWm5
— EGREM (@EGREMOFICIAL) April 18, 2022