Nicola learned how to play the guitar by himself. He composed his first songs at 13. He is regarded as one of the pioneers of Nueva Trova Cubana since 1968.

In 1969, Nicola joined the Grupo de Experimentacion Sonora [Sound Experimentation Group] of the Instituto Cubano del Arte e Industria Cinematograficos (ICAIC). There, he expanded his musical education by attending workshops by Cuban masters Leo Brouwer, Juan Elosegui and Federico Smith. He became the first president of the now extinct Movimiento de la Nueva Trova (1972 - 1977).

Nicola's body of work includes 350 songs, movie and TV soundtracks, theater scores, and orchestrations. His better known songs are "Por la vida juntos," "Para una imaginaria Maria del Carmen," "Comienzo el dia," "Son oscuro" and "Es mas, te perdono."

He died of cancer on August 7, 2005.

Discography:

Comienzo el dia (Areito-EGREM, 1977)

Asi como soy (Areito-EGREM, 1981)

Lejanias (Areito-EGREM, 1985)

Canta a Cesar Vallejo (Areito-EGREM, 1986)

Tricolor (Areito-EGREM, 1987)

Animo trovador (Areito-EGREM, 1989)

Soy y no soy el mismo (Areito-EGREM, 1998)

Dame mi voz (Unicornio, 2000)

Noel Nicola y Santiago Feliu (2002)

Entre Otros (Iberautor, 2003)

Official Web Site: http://www.noelnicola.net