Jorge Drexler

Jorge Abner Drexler Prada (born September 21, 1964) is a Uruguayan musician, actor and doctor specializing in otolaryngology. In 2004, Drexler won wide acclaim after becoming the first Uruguayan to win an Academy Award, which he won for composing the song "Al Otro Lado del Río" from The Motorcycle Diaries. Early life Drexler was born in Montevideo. In 1939 his father, a German Jew from Berlin, fled to Uruguay with his family at the age of four to escape Nazi persecution. His mother is a Christian of mixed Spanish, French, and Portuguese descent. Drexler was raised Jewish, but does not follow any organized religion. Like many of his family, he studied medicine and became an otorhinolaryngologist—an ear, nose and throat specialist. Drexler began playing piano at age five, before attending guitar and composition classes. Although he had an interest in music, he became a doctor like both of his parents. He attended medical school in Montevideo. During his time in medical school, Drexler took a break to hitchhike through Brazil. He also studied music and recorded two albums, which were only released in Uruguay.