Ilan Chester

Infobox Person
name= Ilan Czenstochowski


caption=
birth_date= Birth date and age|1952|7|30|mf=y
birth_place= Jaffa, Israel
origin= flagicon|Venezuela Venezuela

Ilan Chester ( born Ilan Czenstochowski) is a celebrated Venezuelan singer, keyboardist, arranger and composer.

Biography

Chester was born in Jaffa, Israel on July 30th 1952, but was raised in Venezuela. His parents, from Jewish roots, zionists escaping from the aftermath of World War II, arrived in Venezuela in 1954. He graduated at the "Colegio Moral y Luces" in Caracas.

Ilan Chester has incorporated a wide range of influences into his music. Inspired by Tito Rodríguez, the Puerto Rican multi-instrumentalist who was one of the spearheads of New York's Latin music scene, Chester was equally enamored of American R&B and British rock. His music has grown to include elements of classical music, jazz, Afro-Caribbean and Venezuelan music. A former member of several Venezuelan bands such as Sugar, Cocoa & Milk, Gerry Weil & His Band, Bacro, Syma, and Sky White Meditation, Chester has had phenomenal success since launching his solo career.

After producing a series of memorable albums, including "Venezuelan Love Songbooks", Vols. 1 & 2, he attracted international attention with the platinum-selling album "Corazón Navideño" ("Chistmas Heart") in 2002.

To the dismay of his father Walter Czenstochowski, who was one of the top authorities of the Ashkenazi community in Venezuela, Chester embraced the Hare Krishna religion.

In 2003 he married Merci Mayorca, who hosted a Venezuelan TV Show named Supercrópolis, with MC Raúl González. Nowadays he lives in Florida with his wife and nine children. They own "The vibe, zona cero stress" a spa in Caracas.

Discography

1979Por Principio... FinColor/Corp. Los Ruices 1983Canciones De Todos Los DíasPhilips/Sonográfica 1984AmistadPhilips/Sonográfica 1985Ilan Chester (Sólo Faltas Tú)Philips/Sonográfica 1987Al Pie De La LetraSonográfica 1988Ilan En VivoSonográfica 1990Opus # 10CBS/Sonográfica 1992Un Mundo MejorSony Music/Sonográfica 1994TerciopeloSony Music 1995 Ilan Chester En VivoSony Music 1998 Cancionero Del Amor VenezolanoIndependent 1998 BhaktiAlcione 1999 Ofrenda Para Un NiñoIndependent 2000 Ilan C. En Vivo (Gira Nac. Amor Vzlano)CD Manía El Nacional 2000 Sínfonico - En VivoIndependent 2000 Cancionero Del Amor Venezolano IIIndependent 2001 Corazón NavideñoLatin World 2002 Ilan Canta Onda NuevaIndependent 2002 Cancionero Del Amor PuertorriqueñoIndependent 2004 AsíSonográfica Compilations 1991Lo Mejor de Ilan ChesterSonográfica Ilan Chester de ColecciónSonográfica Ilan Chester de Colección Vol. 2Sonográfica 199932 Grandes Exitos (Serie 32)Sonográfica/Universal 2000 Ilan Chester El Músico de VenezuelaCD Manía El Nacional 2003 20 Exitos de Ilan Chester (Lo Máximo)Sonográfica 2006 HitsEMI International

External links

* [http://www.ilanchester.com Ilan's Official Web Site]
* [http://www.zerostresszone.com Ilan's Spa]