Carlos Solis

Musician Carlos Solis escaped communist Cuba in 1961 and fled the capital of Havana in exchange for Little Havana in Miami. There, he struggled as a teenager until he discovered music, the one thing that calmed him and put his life in focus.

“Amid the harsh realities of the streets of Miami, music was my sanctuary,” Carlos says. “It was a lifeline that pulled me away from a terrible situation and provided a refuge where I could find solace and meaning.”

He started writing and composing in the early 70’s, became well known in the area and recorded at the Music Factory Studios and Dukoff Studios. He also played on AM Miami, Fusion and other local television programs.

Music was already a part of his life when Carlos met Sandy, his wife of 47 years. 

“I was 20 years old, attending a friend’s wedding and blissfully unaware that this night would change my life forever,” he says. “It took some persuading, but Sandy and I soon began dating and we were married on August 5, 1977.”

Shortly thereafter, he decided to put down his guitar and focus on his graphics business in order to provide for his growing family. They eventually relocated to Clermont, where they still reside. 

Carlos says the most heartwarming moments of his life involved his children and the immense pride they have brought. “Jessica, our eldest, embodies everything about her mother,” he says. “Charlie our middle son takes more after me, while Michael our youngest embodies a combination of the two of us.”

Carlos was inspired to write again when Sandy was diagnosed with cancer some years ago. He reconnected with the talents of Jerry and Richard Bravo, Jackson King, and Camilo Valencia and the team began recording a new CD fused with jazz, bossa nova, Latin and Big Band sounds. 

“I am a man of faith, and while Sandy and I have both battled cancer, we knew that we were blessed with our music, faith and family around us,” he says. 

Carlos is also a staunchly proud American and much of his music reflects his passion for the USA. 

“I am eternally grateful to my new country for welcoming us with open arms and granting my family the chance to escape the harsh realities of Marxist, communist Cuba,” he says. “This nation, despite the challenges and hardships we faced, offered us a beacon of hope and a pathway to a brighter future.”

*Carlos is writing a book and hopes to have it published next year. You can learn more about him at www.SolisBravo.com