Maykel Blanco was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1982. A percussionist, pianist, composer, and arranger, he became a professional musician at the age of 18. On October 10, 2004, Blanco debuted as the leader of the group Salsa Mayor, establishing the modern Cuban timba and salsa orchestra Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor. Serving as the band's director, composer, arranger, and pianist, he quickly established the group in Cuba's contemporary popular dance music scene.
In 2010, the orchestra released the album "Soy lo que te hala," which helped expand their recognition within the global salsa and timba communities. The group's arrangements consistently blend aggressive, modern timba rhythms with traditional elements of son cubano.
In recent years, the orchestra has maintained its production of new material. Their recent catalog features the 2024 album "Presente!" alongside several singles, including "La Pieza" and "La Tía Yamilet" in 2023, "Hasta Feo Estoy Bonito" and "Popurrit #3" in 2024, "Frito" and "Deja La Duda" in 2025, and "Cuando Nadie Me Ve" in 2026.
