Carlos Fariñas was a prominent Cuban composer born on November 28, 1934, in Cienfuegos, Cuba, and passed away in July 2002 in Havana. He was a key figure in the Cuban avant-garde music scene during the 1960s, alongside contemporaries like Leo Brouwer and Juan Blanco. Fariñas began his musical education within his family before moving to Havana, where he studied under notable Cuban composers such as José Ardévol, Harold Gramatges, and Enrique González Mántici. In 1956, he attended the Tanglewood Music Center in the United States, where he studied composition with Aaron Copland. He furthered his education at the Moscow Conservatory from 1961 to 1963.

Fariñas was known for his versatility in composing across various modern techniques and styles, ranging from traditional symphonic music to electronic and computer music. He was instrumental in establishing the Electroacoustic and Computer Music Laboratory at the Art Superior Institute in Havana in 1989. His notable works include "Muros, rejas y vitrales para orquesta," "Oda a Camilo Cienfuegos," and the ballet "Despertar."

Throughout his career, Fariñas held several influential positions, including director of the Conservatorio Alejandro García Caturla and head of the music department at the Biblioteca Nacional José Martí. He also served as a faculty member at the Instituto Superior de Arte, where he founded the Estudio de Música Electroacústica y por Computadora. His compositions often reflected avant-garde influences and incorporated Afro-Cuban folk elements, showcasing his commitment to both cultural roots and technological innovation.