Leonardo Diaz Morales

Leonardo Díaz Morales came up in Minas, Uruguay, where he grew up around candombe, the Afro-Uruguayan rhythm that would shape his music. He put out "Água, Um Candombe Pra Ti" in 1982, and that song became his calling card, its melody sticking with listeners in Uruguay and beyond.

Some critics questioned whether he was borrowing from a sacred tradition, but Morales saw his work as a form of respect. He kept writing and performing, touching on folk elements in songs like "Aos Olhos do Luar" and "De Las Vertientes de Mi Alma." In the mid-1990s he toured Europe, playing for audiences who responded to his sound.

He spent time working with younger musicians too, passing along what he knew about Uruguayan music. His recordings include "Bem Mais Que Tudo" and "Coração Poeta," straightforward songs that don't try to dress up the feeling.