Jorge Drexler

Drexler was born Jorge Abner Drexler Prada on 21 September 1964 in Montevideo, Uruguay. He is of Spanish, French, Portuguese descent from his mothers’ side and Jewish descent from his father’s side. Drexler’s father lived in Germany during the Holocaust as a boy, but escaped with his family to Urugauy.

Though Drexler followed in his family’s footsteps by becoming a doctor, he was intrigued with music from a very young age. He was 5 years old when he first started taking piano lessons and eventually moved on to guitar and composition classes. He pursued his career as a doctor while simultaneously following his interest in music. He did however take a short break from medical school, soaking up the Brazilian culture by hitchhiking across the country’s vast terrain.

Drexler released two albums around this time through the label Ayui: “La luz que sabe robar” (1992) and “Radar” (1994). Drexler later became acquainted with acclaimed Spanish musician Joaquin Sabina and upon his invitation flew out to Madrid to connect with other respected Spanish singers. He recorded his 3rd studio album “Vaiven” in Spain and eventually ended up moving to the country. The album was his 1st to be released through Virgin records. Drexler’s three succeeding albums were also released through this label: “Llueve (1997), “Frontera” (1999), and “Sea” (2001). His follow up album “Eco” and it’s sequel Eco2 were both issued through the label, Dro.“12 Segundos De Oscuridad” also came out through Dro and featured 10 originals songs in addition to the Radiohead cover “High & Dry” and the Titas’ cover “Disneylandia”.

In 2007 he released the iTunes exclusive album “La Edad del Cielo” and followed it up a year later with his Grammy nominated live album “Cara B”. Drexler put out perhaps his most successful release in 2010, “Amar la Trama”. The album peaked at No. 5 on the Spanish Albums Chart and received four Grammy Nominations. It also earned a perfect score from Rolling Stone magazine and featured the standout track “Una Cancion Me Trajo Hasta Aqui”.

Drexler has also been involved in film, both as a music consultant/composer and occasionally as an actor. He scored the soundtrack for the 2007 film “The City of Your Final Destination” and in 2005 wrote the song “Al Otro lado del Rio” for “The Motorcycle Diaries”. The latter of the two compositions earned Drexler an Academy Award for Best Original Song, making him the 1st Uruguayan artist to have done so.