Born and raised in Manzanillo, Cuba. Juan holds a master degree in musical education. He taught musical education in middle school back home. Also taught in college at the Polytechnic Institute Jose A. Echevaria in La Havana. His musical inclination began at the age of 7 when his grandfather taught him to play several traditional songs "guajiras campesinas" in the guitar. In high school, Juan played the guitar with a group that accompanied vocalists singing "boleros and trovas". After graduated from high school, Juan joined the army when he had the chance for the first time to play the bass guitar in a Cuban band. After his service in the army, he attended college at the Institute of Pedagogy Enrique Jose Varona, Habana, Cuba where he was awarded with a five-year degree in Musical Education. During his college years, he played the bass guitar with the group "Son Imagen". During his teaching years at the Polytechnic Institute Jose A. Echevaria, he played the bass guitar and percussion with the band "Encuentro". Besides his role as a bass player for "Son Imagen" and "Encuentro", Juan wrote original compositions and made musical arrangements for both bands. Juan has also worked with a Cuban show business celebrity, Ulises Toiras. In 1996, Juan and his wife arrived in the USA. Juan has also played in several salsa and latin groups in the St. Louis area. Some of these are "El Caribe Tropical", "La Solucion Latina" and "Del Alma".