Gilberto Santa Rosa

Infobox musical artist 2
Name = Gilberto Santa Rosa

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Img_capt =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Gilberto Santa Rosa
Alias = "El Caballero de la Salsa"
Born = birth date and age|1962|8|21
Birth place = flagicon|Puerto RicoCarolina, Puerto Rico
Died =
Genre = Salsa, Bolero
Occupation: Singer-Songwriter
Years_active = 1976—Present
Label =
URL =

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

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 whilst 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. [http://latinmusic.about.com/od/artistsoz/p/PRO01GSR.htm Latin Music] ]

inging 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:
*Tommy Olivencia,
*Willie Rosario 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. [http://www.musicofpuertorico.com/index.php/artists/gilberto_santa_rosa/ Music of Puerto Rico] ]

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 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 live at the hall, and later released as an album. [ [http://www.salsaspirit.com/html/news/News.html Latin News] ]

In 1990, Santa Rosa joined the all star "La Puertoriqueña" project which included Andy Montañez; in the same year he was awarded the 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 Ambassader, where he sang "De Cara al Viento" (Facing the Wind) in Japanese. In 1996, he recorded "Caballero de la Salsa, Vol 2" 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 Yorks Lincoln Center and later that year, with Olga Tañon at the Universal Studios Amphitheater in Hollywood, California. [http://www.musicofpuertorico.com/index.php/artists/gilberto_santa_rosa/ Music of Puerto Rico] ]

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. [http://latinmusic.about.com/od/artistsoz/p/PRO01GSR.htm Latin Music] ]

Recent years

Santa Rosa has taken on himself the task of keeping Tito Rodriguez'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". [ [http://uk.real.com/music/artist/Gilberto_Santa_Rosa/ GSR] ]

In addition, he has long played an important role in the career of his friend and protege, Victor 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. [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FXV/is_4_11/ai_75331013 Latin Beat Magazine 2001] ]

On February 9, 2008 Santa Rosa participated in an event named "Concierto del amor" which was organized in the Madison Square Garden. [cite web| url=http://www.primerahora.com/noticia/musica/espectaculos_asi/don_omar_y_gilberto_santa_rosa_juntos_en_concierto_del_amor/150846| title=Don Omar y Gilberto Santa Rosa juntos en concierto del amor| author=Frances Tirado| publisher=Primera Hora| date=2008-01-25| accessdate=2008-01-29] 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 a international tour beginning on June 13, 2008, in New Orleans before proceeding to Tampa, Florida, Ecuador, Chile, Spain, Colombia and Mexico.cite web| url=http://www.primerahora.com/noticia/musica/espectaculosasi/gilbertito_vende_mas_oro_y_platino_en_estados_unidos/199611| title=Gilbertito vende más oro y platino en Estados Unidos| publisher=Primera Hora| language=Spanish| date=2008-06-11| accessdate=2008-06-12] 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. [cite web| url= http://www.primerahora.com/noticia/musica/espectaculos_asi/enamora_a_chile_en_su__primera_cita/205879| title=Enamora a Chile en su primera cita| publisher=Primera Hora| language=Spanish| date=2008-07-01| accessdate=2008-07-01] On July 5, 2008, Santa Rosa became the first salsa singer to perform at the "Palau de la Música" in Barcelona. [cite web| url=http://www.primerahora.com/noticia/otros/espectaculosasi/gilbertito_santa_rosa_comienza_gira_por_espana/207284| title=Gilbertito Santa Rosa comienza gira por España| publisher=Primera Hora| date=2008-07-04| accessdate=2008-07-06] The event was a Sold Out, filling the venue with an attendance of 2,000. [cite web| url=http://www.primerahora.com/noticia/musica/espectaculos_asi/pone_a_salsear_a_los_catalanes/207583| title=Pone a salsear a los catalanes| publisher=Primera Hora| language=Spanish| date=2008-07-07| accessdate=2008-07-08] Santa Rosa was selected to perform at the “Balón de Oro” award ceremony, the most important condecoration in Mexican Football. [cite web| url=http://www.primerahora.com/noticia/otros/espectaculosasi/imparable_gilberto_santa_rosa/212543| title=Imparable Gilberto Santa Rosa| publisher=Primera Hora| language=Spanish| date=2008-07-21| accessdate=2008-07-22] Santa Rosa was selected to take part in “La Nueva Salsa”, where he would perform along several young salsa artists. [cite web| url=http://www.primerahora.com/noticia/musica/espectaculos_asi/sabroso_abrazo_a_los_que_van_subiendo/236218| title=Sabroso abrazo a los que van subiendo| author=Rosalina Marrero-Rodríguez| publisher="Primera Hora"| language=Spanish| date=2008-10-06| accessdate=2008-10-11]

Discography

*1986 - "Good Vibrations"
*1987 - "Keeping Cool"
*1988 - "De Amor Y Salsa"
*1988 - "Salsa... En Movimiento"
*1990 - "Punto De Vista"
*1991 - "Perspectiva"
*1992 - "El Caballero de la Salsa - Vol. 1"
*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"
*1999 - "Expresión"
*2001 - "Romántico"
*2001 - "Intenso"
*2002 - "Viceversa"
*2003 - "Sólo Bolero"
*2004 - "Auténtico"
*2006 - "Directo Al Corazón"
*2007 - "Contraste"

See also

*List of famous Puerto Ricans

References

External links

* [http://www.musicofpuertorico.com/index.php/artists/gilberto_santa_rosa/ Music of Puerto Rico]