Gilberto Santa Biography

Gilberto Santa Rosa

Gilberto Santa Rosa, Singer of Salsa, Bolero, and Bandleader

Birthdate: August 21, 1962

Birthplace: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Gilberto Santa Rosa also known as "El Caballero de la Salsa" (The Gentleman of Salsa) was born in San Juan Puerto Rico on August 21, 1962. He grew up in the Santurce area of San Juan, Puerto Rico's capital, on the north eastern part of the Island. This is where he received his primary and secondary education and where he first became interested in music. His teacher Marion Ortiz would later offer him more experience than he could imagine.

Santa Rosa built his performance experience early on by performing with various orchestras. He performed in his first concert as a teenager. In 1976, he debuted as a backup singer with the Mario Ortiz Orchestra and made his recording debut with the same Orchestra.

Soon after his debut, he became the lead singer for La Grande Orchestra and spent a bit of time with the Puerto Rican All-Stars in 1979. Santa Rosa worked with the orchestra for two years. During this time he met Elias Lopes, who helped to mold and polish Santa Rosa as a singer.

In the 1980's, Santa Rosa started recording with the orchestras of Tommy Olivencia, Willie Rosario and El Gran Combo. He also recorded "Homenaje a Eddie Palmieri" (Tribute to Eddie Palmieri) with the Puerto Rican All Stars. His early experiences with large bands and orchestras motivated Santa Rosa to express his goal of performing in the first Salsa Symphony that would tour the world.

In 1986, Santa Rosa started his own band and signed with Combo Records. This record deal led to a series of hits such as "De Amor Y Salsa", "Vivir Sin Ella" and "Good Vibration".

Santa Rosa signed with CBS Sony (Sony Discos) in 1990. He married Nelida Acevedo, who has been his manager and tour organizer since he signed with Sony Discos. With the new Sony deal and with his wife as his manager, Santa Rosa's career spiraled to the forefront. The new deal expanded his exposure.

His first album with CBS Sony was Punto de Vista, which went platinum. This CD brought about the classic hit song "Vivir Sin Ella". His next hit album was Perspectiva in 1991.

Santa Rosa developed a unique style of "sonero" (improvisation) in salsa that ushered him to be successful in both the "tropical" and "romantic" styles of music. He is known to be an exceptional improvising salsa singer (sonero) and is considered one of the true "soneros" of his generation. He is also well known for his unique interpretation of "salsa romantica" and as a great singer of the "tropical" style of music.

1995 proved to be a big year for Santa Rosa as he became the first Puerto Rican singer of tropical music to perform at the Carnegie Hall Theater, in New York, . He performed his version of the salsa tune, "Represento" (I Represent), composed by Lou Briel as the opening number. The monumental event was recorded live and later released as an album.

Santa Rosa went on to release Expresion in 1996, followed by Romantica in 2001 and Viceversa in 2002. Viceversa was a huge hit in Latin America and the US. His later album, Autentico, was released in 2004.

Santa Rosa has taken it upon himself to keep the memory of Tito Rodriguez alive. He staged several concerts and dances honoring the late singer. He also recorded an album, where with the use of modern technology, he sings "En la Soledad" (In Solitude), composed by Puchi Balseiro in a duet with him.

In 2005, protege Victor Manuelle and Santa Rosa released a joint live album, Dos Soneros, Una Historia. In 2006, he released, Directo Al Corazon, and in 2007 he released major hit album Contraste.

After selling over 1,500,000 copies, Contraste received Gold and Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America in June 2008. At the moment of certification, the album's first single "Conteo Regresive" had been number one among Billboard's tropical list for sixteen weeks.

Santa Rosa participated in New York City's Puerto Rican Day Parade and then prepared to begin an international tour. His concert in Chile, on June 28, 2008, was Santa Rosa's first ever in that country. Approximately 8,000 fans attended. On July 5, 2008, Santa Rosa became the first salsa singer to perform at the Palau de la Música in Barcelona. He Sold Out the event.