Raul Paz was born in 1969 in Pinar De Rio - a western Cuban province. Paz started studying music at a very early age. He learned Cuban styles listening to Guajira – Cuban country music. Raul always dreamed of a music career and devoted his early years to studying.
When Paz was growing up in Pinar de Rio, he wasn’t much interested in jam sessions. Guajira wasn’t attracting him as much as it did in the early childhood. He leaned toward music from other countries, such as Led Zeppelin or Bob Marley. Raul spent hours listening to the radio, waiting for his favorite songs to be played.
Paz started writing his own songs when he was just 10 years old. He also learned how to play guitar and came up with melodies for his lyrics. Paz’s parents didn’t support his passion for music and hoped he would find something more promising to do. They were dreaming that he would become a doctor. However, Raul wasn’t about to listen to his folks. When he turned 17, the artist left Pinar De Rio and moved to Havana.
He enrolled in Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA), where he studied for ten years. Raul learned singing, conducting, and playing various instruments. While studying, Paz listened to jazz and classical music. He also became interested in opera.
