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Founded by Francisco Cobos La O in 1939, in Santiago de Cuba, aimed at performing the trova music born in that eastern city of the island. It was the time when quartet formats began to flourish in Cuba, made up by singers accompanied by plucked strings and minor percussion instruments.
Since 1978, Patria is conducted by Master Eliades Ochoa, who besides making the musical arrangements, performs the first voice and plays the guitar. The other four members of the group are: Humberto Ochoa (second voice and guitar player), Roberto Torres (singer and percussion), William Calderón (singer and bass player) and Eglis Ochoa (singer and maracas player). Boleros, sones and guarachas turn unforgettable when played by the Quartet, as well as other Latin genres such as the cumbia and the merengue, performed in the Cuban way.
Patria has participated on a regular basis in important musical events such as the Son Festival or the Caribbean Culture Festival, which take place in the City of Santiago de Cuba. They are warmly welcome in the scenarios of all over the world and since 1978 their performances are recorded in several phonograms made by the Cuban EGREM label. Particularly important is the record Chanchaneando, made in 1989 by the Patria Quartet and Compay Segundo (second voice and harmonic) because it is the first recording of the Chan Chan by Francisco Repilado.
Considered as great institution of the Santiago de Cuba´s trova, and conducted by Eliades, the Patria Quartet has successfully become an important musical asset in Cuba and abroad. However, its greatest cultural contribution has been its faithful association with the musical traditions of the legendary eastern region of the country.
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