- published: 04 Jun 2015
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Jorge Drexler (born Jorge Abner Drexler Prada; September 21, 1964) is an Uruguayan musician, actor, and doctor specialized on otolaryngology.
In 2004 Drexler won wide acclaim after becoming the first Uruguayan ever to win an Academy Award. He won for composing the song "Al Otro Lado del Río" from The Motorcycle Diaries.
Drexler was born in Montevideo. His father, a German Jew, fled to Uruguay with his family at the age of four to escape the Holocaust. His mother is a Christian of mixed Spanish, French and Portuguese descent. Drexler was raised Jewish, but embraces Christian tradition as well.
Like much of his family, he studied medicine and became an otolaryngologist 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.