Gilberto Santa Rosa

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Biography

Gilberto Santa Rosa , also known as "El Caballero de la Salsa" (The Gentleman of Salsa) (born August 21, 1962), is a Puerto Rican people|Puerto Rican bandleader and singer of salsa music|salsa and bolero .

Early years

Santa Rosa was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico , a city on the north eastern part of the Island. Here he received his primary and secondary education and became interested in music. He took part in his first concert while a teenager and in 1976, he made his recording debut as a backup singer with the Mario Ortiz Orchestra ; soon afterwards he was recruited by La Grande Orchestra , where he became the lead singer. He remained with the orchestra for two years, during which time he met Elias Lopes who helped to mold and polish him as a singer.

Singing career

During the 1980s, he recorded " Homenaje a Eddie Palmieri " (Tribute to Eddie Palmieri) with the Puerto Rican All Stars . He also recorded with various orchestras, amongst them the Tommy Olivencia Orchestra, the Willie Rosario orchestra and El Gran Combo .
Santa Rosa developed a unique style of "soneo" (improvisation) in salsa that permitted him to be successful in both the "tropical" and "romantic" styles of the music.

In 1986, Santa Rosa formed his own band and signed with Combo Records; a string of hits followed, such as " Good Vibration ", " De Amor y Salsa " (Of Love and Salsa), " Punto de Vista " (Point of View), " Vivir Sin Ella " (Living without Her) and " Perspectiva ".

Santa Rosa was also the first singer of tropical salsa to carry out a concert at the Carnegie Hall|Carnegie Hall Theater , in New York , where he performed as the opening number, his unique version of the salsa tune, "Represento" (I Represent), composed by Lou Briel . This event was recorded recorded live track|live at the hall, and later released as an album. A highlight of the night was the four-minute unscripted addition he made to his song " Perdoname " (Forgive Me), which solidified his improvisational talent. This live version became such a sensation thereafter that Santa Rosa had to memorize his own improvised lines for future concerts, and Perdoname became the closing song to his shows.

In 1990, Santa Rosa joined the all star "La Puertoriqueña" project which included Andy Montañez ; in the same year he was awarded the Billboard magazine|Billboard Lo Nuestro Award for Best Male Singer. He also participated in the play " La Pareja Dispareja " (The Odd Couple) alongside Luis Vigoreaux and Rafo Muñiz . In 1995, Santa Rosa traveled to Japan as Puerto Rico's Good Will Ambassador, where he sang " De Cara al Viento " (Facing the Wind) in Japanese. In 1996, the greatest hits album " Caballero de la Salsa, Vol 2 " was released and he also participated in the First "Festival Presidente" in the Dominican Republic (a Latin music festival sponsored by local Presidente beer). In 1997, he sang with Andy Montañez in New York s Lincoln Center and later that year, with Olga Tañon at the Amphitheater|Universal Studios Amphitheater in Hollywood, California .

2000s

Santa Rosa's hits continued with the album " Expresion " which included the single " Fulana " (What's her name) and in 2001 with the album " Romantico ". He released " Viceversa " in 2002 which became a "hit" in the Latin community in the United States and in all of Latin-America .

Santa Rosa has taken on himself the task of keeping Tito Rodríguez 's musical legacy alive and has acquired much of Tito's memorabilia, including articles of clothing, music and furniture from his home in Puerto Rico. Santa Rosa has staged several concerts and dances honoring the late singer, and recorded an album of his where with the use of modern technology, he sings "En la Soledad" (In Solitude), composed by Puchi Balseiro in a duet with him . During the week of February 24, 2003 Santa Rosa organized a two-night concert at the Center of the Performing Arts in Caguas, Puerto Rico . As an introduction to the event, he arranged for his private collection of Tito Rodríguez memorabilia to be exhibited in the lobby of the center. In 2004, he released "Autentico".

In addition, he has long played an important role in the career of his friend and protege, Víctor Manuelle , who Santa Rosa discovered. The two released a joint live album late in 2005, " Dos Soneros, Una Historia ." In 2006, he released, "Directo Al Corazon", and in 2007 he carried out a concert acknowledged by the critics, in Plaza Colón at Santo Domingo and released Contraste with Conteo Regresivo being a major album hit. Furthermore, he performs alongside Chucho Avellanet , a musical comedy club-act called, Cantando y Contando , ( Singing & Telling Stories ), throughout the island.

On February 9, 2008 Santa Rosa participated in an event named "Concierto del amor" which was organized in the Madison Square Garden . In June 2008, "Contraste" received Gold and Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America . According to the organization, the production has sold over 1,500,000 copies. At the moment of certification, the album's first single "Conteo regresive" had been sixteen weeks in the first place among Billboard's tropical list. Meanwhile "No te vayas" began gaining positions in the same list. After participating in New York City's Puerto Rican Day Parade , Santa Rosa prepared to begin an international tour beginning on June 13, 2008, in New Orleans before proceeding to Tampa, Florida , Ecuador , Chile , Spain, Colombia and Mexico. The concert in Chile, on June 28, 2008, was Santa Rosa's first ever in said country. the event took place in the Caupolicán Theatre and was attended by approximately 8,000 fans. On July 5, 2008, Santa Rosa became the first salsa singer to perform at the Palau de la Música in Barcelona . The event was a Sold Out, filling the venue with an attendance of 2,000. Santa Rosa was selected to perform at the "Balón de Oro" award ceremony, the most important condecoration in Mexican Football. Santa Rosa was selected to take part in "La Nueva Salsa", where he would perform along several young salsa artists. Santa Rosa has also contributed to improving Puerto Rico's public education system. He participated in Sapientis Week, an initiative sponsored by the non-profit Sapientis which brings distinguished public figures into classrooms in order to raise the public's awareness of the education crisis in Puerto Rico. On July 17, 2010, he participated in the opening ceremony of the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games.

Awards and recognition

On September 28, Gilberto Santa Rosa was honored by Union City, New Jersey with the key to the city and a star on the Walk of Fame at Union City's Celia Cruz Park.Staab, Amanda. "UC first stop for Latin Grammies" The Union City Reporter ; October 5, 2008; Pages 1 & 21 As of 2010, he holds the record for the most number-one albums on the Tropical Albums| Billboard Tropical Albums chart.

Discography

1986 - Good Vibrations (album)|Good Vibrations

1987 - Keeping Cool (album)|Keeping Cool

1988 - De Amor Y Salsa

1988 - Salsa... En Movimiento

1990 - Punto de Vista (album)|Punto de Vista

1991 - Perspectiva (album)|Perspectiva

1992 - A Dos Tiempos de un Tiempo

1993 - Nace Aquí

1994 - De Cara al Viento

1995 - En Vivo Desde El Carnegie Hall

1996 - Esencia

1997 - De Corazón

1998 - Salsa Sinfonica en Venezuela

1999 - Expresión

2000 - Oro salsero

2000 - Perdoname...Exitos!

2001 - Romántico

2001 - Intenso

2002 - Viceversa (album)|Viceversa

2003 - Sólo Bolero

2004 - Auténtico

2006 - Directo Al Corazón

2007 - Contraste

2008 - Una Navidad con Gilberto

2010 - Irrepetible

Copyright Citations

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1. Michael Stuart 2. Gisselle 3. La Academia 4. Simon Diaz 5. Vico C 6. Victor Manuelle 7. Yolandita Monge 8. Charlie Cruz 9. Kany Garcia 10. Tony Vega 11. Tommy Olivencia

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