Jorge Drexler
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Jorge Abner Drexler Prada (born September 21, 1964) is a Uruguayan musician, actor and doctor specializing in
otolaryngology Otorhinolaryngology ( , abbreviated ORL and also known as otolaryngology, otolaryngology–head and neck surgery (ORL–H&N or OHNS), or ear, nose, and throat (ENT)) is a surgical subspeciality within medicine that deals with the surgical a ...
. In 2004, Drexler won wide acclaim after becoming the first Uruguayan to win an
Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
, which he won for composing the song "
Al Otro Lado del Río "Al otro lado del río" () is a song, written and performed by Uruguayan singer Jorge Drexler for the film '' The Motorcycle Diaries'' (2004).
" from '' The Motorcycle Diaries''.


Early life

Drexler was born in
Montevideo Montevideo () is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Uruguay, largest city of Uruguay. According to the 2011 census, the city proper has a population of 1,319,108 (about one-third of the country's total population) in an area of . M ...
. In 1939 his father, a
German Jew The history of the Jews in Germany goes back at least to the year 321, and continued through the Early Middle Ages (5th to 10th centuries CE) and High Middle Ages (''circa'' 1000–1299 CE) when Jewish immigrants founded the Ashkenazi Jewish ...
, fled to Uruguay with his family at the age of four to escape the
Holocaust The Holocaust, also known as the Shoah, was the genocide of European Jews during World War II. Between 1941 and 1945, Nazi Germany and its collaborators systematically murdered some six million Jews across German-occupied Europe; a ...
. His mother is a Christian of mixed Spanish, French, and Portuguese descent. Drexler was raised Jewish, but does not follow any organized religion. Like many of his family, he studied medicine and became an
otorhinolaryngologist Otorhinolaryngology ( , abbreviated ORL and also known as otolaryngology, otolaryngology–head and neck surgery (ORL–H&N or OHNS), or ear, nose, and throat (ENT)) is a surgical subspeciality within medicine that deals with the surgical a ...
—an ear, nose and throat specialist. Drexler began playing
piano The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keyboa ...
at age five, before attending guitar and composition classes. Although he had an interest in music, he became a doctor like both of his parents. He attended medical school in Montevideo. During his time in medical school, Drexler took a break to
hitchhike Hitchhiking (also known as thumbing, autostop or hitching) is a means of transportation that is gained by asking individuals, usually strangers, for a ride in their car or other vehicle. The ride is usually, but not always, free. Nomads hav ...
through
Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
. He also studied music and recorded two albums, which were only released in Uruguay.


Career

In 1995 he was invited to
Madrid Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), and ...
by well-known Spanish songwriter
Joaquín Sabina Joaquín Ramón Martínez Sabina (born 12 February 1949) is a Spanish musician, singer, composer, and poet. His songs usually treat about love, heartbreaks and society with a large usage of literary figures similarly to the baroque-literature st ...
, who introduced him to other important Spanish singers. Drexler went to Spain to record the album ''Vaivén'' in 1996 with Spanish musicians. ''Vaivén'' included some old songs from his previous releases mixed with new compositions. He moved to Spain and recorded another four albums: ''Llueve'' (1997), ''Frontera'' (1999), ''Sea'' (2001) and ''Eco'' (2004). In 2001, Drexler co-wrote two songs for Spanish singer
Rosario Flores Rosario del Carmen González Flores better known as Rosario Flores (; born 4 November 1963) is a two-time Latin Grammy Award-winning Spanish singer. She was born in Madrid, Spain, as the daughter of Antonio González ('El Pescaílla') and famou ...
("Agua y Sal" and "Rosa y Miel") for her album '' Muchas Flores''. Drexler's song "
Al Otro Lado del Río "Al otro lado del río" () is a song, written and performed by Uruguayan singer Jorge Drexler for the film '' The Motorcycle Diaries'' (2004).
" appeared in the internationally acclaimed film '' The Motorcycle Diaries''. Though Drexler himself sang the song on the movie soundtrack, he was not allowed to perform the song at the 2005 Academy Awards, since "he was not popular enough," according to Spanish newspaper ''
El País ''El País'' (; ) is a Spanish-language daily newspaper in Spain. ''El País'' is based in the capital city of Madrid and it is owned by the Spanish media conglomerate PRISA. It is the second most circulated daily newspaper in Spain . ''El Pa ...
''; Spanish actor
Antonio Banderas José Antonio Domínguez Bandera (born 10 August 1960), known professionally as Antonio Banderas, is a Spanish actor and singer. Known for his work in films of several genres, he has received List of awards and nominations received by Antonio Ba ...
and Mexican-American musician
Carlos Santana Carlos Humberto Santana Barragán (; born July 20, 1947) is an American guitarist who rose to fame in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band Santana, which pioneered a fusion of Rock and roll and Latin American jazz. Its sound featured ...
sang the track instead. Upon winning, Drexler recited two verses of the song at the podium. Drexler became the first Uruguayan to win an Academy Award. After that, he released ''12 Segundos de Oscuridad'' (2006); this album contained ten original songs and two covers: "
High and Dry "High and Dry" and "Planet Telex" are songs by the English rock band Radiohead. They were released as a double-A side single from their second studio album, '' The Bends'' (1995), on 5 March 1995. "High and Dry" was recorded as a demo durin ...
" from British band
Radiohead Radiohead are an English rock band formed in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards); brothers Jonny Greenwood (lead guitar, keyboards, other instruments) and Colin Greenwood (bass) ...
and "Disneylandia" from Brazilian
Titãs Titãs () are a Brazilian rock band from São Paulo. Though they basically play pop/alternative rock, their music has touched a number of other styles throughout their 30-year career, such as new wave, punk rock, grunge, MPB and electronic mu ...
. Although he lives most of the year in Spain, his albums were partially recorded in Uruguay with Uruguayan musicians.
Juan Campodónico Juan Campodónico ( Montevideo, Uruguay, 1971), sometimes working under his stage name Campo, is an Uruguayan musician, producer, composer, creator and former member of El Peyote Asesino, Bajofondo and Campo. He produced albums by Jorge Drexler (F ...
and
Carlos Casacuberta El Peyote Asesino is an Uruguayan hip-hop and hard rock band that was active from 1994 to 1999. The band members included L. Mental (vocals), Daniel Benia (bass), Juan Campodónico (guitars), P.P. Canedo (drums), and Carlos Casacuberta. The grou ...
, former members of rock band
El Peyote Asesino El Peyote Asesino is an Uruguayan hip-hop and hard rock band that was active from 1994 to 1999. The band members included L. Mental (vocals), Daniel Benia (bass), Juan Campodónico (guitars), P.P. Canedo (drums), and Carlos Casacuberta. The group ...
, had produced Drexler's albums from ''Frontera'' to ''12 Segundos De Oscuridad''. In 2008, he released a double live album, recorded in diverse concerts in Spain: ''Cara B'' (2008), mainly filled with songs previously unreleased. During 2009, Drexler worked with Colombian performer
Shakira Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll ( , ; born 2 February 1977), professionally known by the mononym Shakira, is a Colombian singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Barranquilla, she has been referred to as the " Queen of Latin Music" and is ...
on the Spanish-language versions of her singles "
She Wolf ''She Wolf'' ( es, Loba, link=no) is the eighth studio album and third English-language album by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira. It was released on 9 October 2009, by Epic Records and Sony Music Latin. As executive producers, Shakira and Am ...
", " Did it Again" and "
Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)", also known as "Waka Waka (Esto es África)" in Spanish, is a song by Colombian singer Shakira, featuring the South African band Freshlyground. Written, composed, and produced by Shakira and John Hill, it was ...
. Drexler recorded '' Amar la Trama'' (2010) from November 1–4, 2009 in Madrid, Spain in just four days, with musicians playing live on studio. Drexler described the album as playful, without "the melancholy and anguish" of ''12 Segundos''. ''Amar la Trama'' was recorded in a television studio in front of a small audience who were selected in an online contest. He chose this format to avoid the "coldness" of the
recording studio A recording studio is a specialized facility for sound recording, mixing, and audio production of instrumental or vocal musical performances, spoken words, and other sounds. They range in size from a small in-home project studio large enoug ...
. His album '' Bailar en la Cueva'', released in 2014, shows a new facet of the artist leaning towards rhythm and dance, a contrast to his previous albums which he describes as more introspective and nostalgic. In particular, he has pointed out that it is a very different album to the last one, describing it as the opposite pole to "Amar la Trama". In 2017, he released
Salvavidas de Hielo ''Salvavidas de Hielo'' (English: ''Ice Life Jackets'') is the eleventh studio album by Uruguayan singer and songwriter Jorge Drexler, released on September 22, 2017, through Warner Music. It was produced by Carles Campón, frequent collaborato ...
, an album of increased musical, if not lyrical, complexity. In this album, Drexler set out to explore the limits of the guitar, using that instrument alone (or the human voice) for every sound on the album (including percussion). ''Tinta y Tiempo'' was released in 2022. In many ways, this was Drexler's most challenging album, as the pandemic made it difficult for him to compose. In particular, he struggled to complete songs without being able to play them for others. At times, he questioned whether or not he would be able to finish the album without these crucial interactions. As the pandemic eased, however, and society slowly reopened, he was able to reconnect with the public and finish the album. One of the themes of this album is experiencing life, love, and the world in general with fresh eyes, a message that resonates most strongly in his hit song
Cinturón Blanco
'. His music is a combination of Uruguayan traditional music (
candombe ''Candombe'' is a style of music and dance that originated in Uruguay among the descendants of liberated African slaves. In 2009, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) inscribed ''candombe'' in its Repres ...
,
murga Murga is a form of popular musical theatre performed in Montevideo, Uruguay, Panama, Argentina and Badajoz, Spain during the Carnival season. Murga groups also operate in the Buenos Aires Carnival, though to a lesser extent than in Montevideo; ...
, milonga,
tango Tango is a partner dance and social dance that originated in the 1880s along the Río de la Plata, the natural border between Argentina and Uruguay. The tango was born in the impoverished port areas of these countries as the result of a combina ...
),
bossa nova Bossa nova () is a style of samba developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is mainly characterized by a "different beat" that altered the harmonies with the introduction of unconventional chords and an innovativ ...
, pop,
jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...
and
electronic music Electronic music is a genre of music that employs electronic musical instruments, digital instruments, or circuitry-based music technology in its creation. It includes both music made using electronic and electromechanical means ( electroac ...
, which results in very personal compositions with original arrangements. The words also play an important role in his songs. Apart from love, reflections about identity, race and religions are a constant in his work.


Personal life

Drexler was previously married to singer-songwriter Ana Laan. His girlfriend is Spanish actress/singer
Leonor Watling Leonor Elizabeth Ceballos Watling (born 28 July 1975) is a Spanish film actress and singer. Early life Leonor Ceballos Watling was born on 28 July 1975 in Madrid, to a Spanish father from Province of Cádiz, Cádiz and an English mother, the ...
, with whom he has two children. Watling is in the band
Marlango Marlango is a Spanish music band deeply influenced by Tom Waits. The members of the band are Leonor Watling, Alejandro Pelayo and Óscar Ybarra. Discography References External links Official site
{{Authority control Spanish musical gro ...
. His cousin is the scientist
Alejandra Melfo Alejandra Melfo (born 26 February 1965) is a Uruguayan-born Venezuelan physicist. She is known for her efforts studying and conserving glaciers, especially the Humboldt Corona, the last glacier in Venezuela. Early life Melfo was born in Monte ...
.


Awards and nominations

Aside from his
Academy Award for Best Original Song The Academy Award for Best Original Song is one of the awards given annually to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is presented to the ''songwriters'' who have composed th ...
, Drexler has been nominated five times at the
Grammy Awards The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...
, for the albums ''Eco'' (2004), ''12 Segundos de Oscuridad'' (2006), ''Cara B'' (2008), '' Bailar en la Cueva'' (2014), and ''
Salvavidas de Hielo ''Salvavidas de Hielo'' (English: ''Ice Life Jackets'') is the eleventh studio album by Uruguayan singer and songwriter Jorge Drexler, released on September 22, 2017, through Warner Music. It was produced by Carles Campón, frequent collaborato ...
'' (2017); and received five
Latin Grammy Awards The Latin Grammy Awards are an award by The Latin Recording Academy to recognize outstanding achievement in the Latin music industry. The Latin Grammy honors works recorded in Spanish or Portuguese from anywhere around the world that has been r ...
, twice for Best Singer-Songwriter Album and
Record of the Year The Grammy Award for Record of the Year is presented by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without reg ...
and one for Song of the Year. For his work writing Spanish-language versions of singles by Colombian singer-songwriter
Shakira Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll ( , ; born 2 February 1977), professionally known by the mononym Shakira, is a Colombian singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Barranquilla, she has been referred to as the " Queen of Latin Music" and is ...
, he has received five ASCAP Latin Awards. Drexler also received a
Goya Award The Goya Awards ( es, Premios Goya) are Spain's main national annual film awards, commonly referred to as the Academy Awards of Spain. The awards were established in 1987, a year after the founding of the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sci ...
in 2010 with the song "Que El Soneto Nos Tome Por Sorpresa", written for the Spanish film '' Lope''; the same year he was named Commander of the
Order of Isabella the Catholic The Order of Isabella the Catholic ( es, Orden de Isabel la Católica) is a Spanish civil order and honor granted to persons and institutions in recognition of extraordinary services to the homeland or the promotion of international relations a ...
for his musical contributions. Overall, Drexler has received 13 awards from 46 nominations. In November 2018, Drexler took home record of the year and the song of the year for "Telefonía" and the best singer-songwriter album for ''
Salvavidas de Hielo ''Salvavidas de Hielo'' (English: ''Ice Life Jackets'') is the eleventh studio album by Uruguayan singer and songwriter Jorge Drexler, released on September 22, 2017, through Warner Music. It was produced by Carles Campón, frequent collaborato ...
'' at the Latin Grammys 2018.


Discography

*''La Luz Que Sabe Robar'' (Ayui, 1992) *''Radar'' (Ayui, 1994) *''Vaivén'' (Virgin, 1996) *''Llueve'' (Virgin, 1997) *''Frontera'' (Virgin, 1999) *''Sea'' (Virgin, 2001) *''Eco'' (Warner, 2004) *''12 Segundos de Oscuridad'' (Warner, 2006) *''La Edad del Cielo'' (Warner, 2007) *''Cara B'' (Warner, 2008) *'' Amar la Trama'' (Warner, 2010) *'' Bailar en la Cueva'' (Warner, 2014) *''
Salvavidas de Hielo ''Salvavidas de Hielo'' (English: ''Ice Life Jackets'') is the eleventh studio album by Uruguayan singer and songwriter Jorge Drexler, released on September 22, 2017, through Warner Music. It was produced by Carles Campón, frequent collaborato ...
'' (Warner, 2017) *''30 Años'' (Warner, 2021) *''Tinta y tiempo'' (Warner, 2022)


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Drexler, Jorge 1964 births Living people Best Original Song Academy Award-winning songwriters Latin Grammy Award winners Latin music songwriters Male film score composers Male songwriters Recipients of the Order of Isabella the Catholic Singers from Montevideo Uruguayan expatriates in Spain Uruguayan film score composers Uruguayan Jews Uruguayan people of French descent Uruguayan people of German-Jewish descent Uruguayan people of Portuguese descent Uruguayan people of Spanish descent Uruguayan pop singers Uruguayan physicians Uruguayan songwriters Warner Music Latina artists 20th-century Uruguayan male singers 21st-century Uruguayan male singers Otolaryngologists Jewish otolaryngologists