Charlie Cruz
Encyclopedia
Charlie Cruz is one of the new stars of the salsa music
genre. His start was well received by the Puerto Rican recording industry. Born in 1975 in Puerto Rico
Cruz was the oldest of seven siblings. He lived his adolescent years in Paterson, New Jersey
, in the United States, where he grew to love salsa music. His models were exponents of the Afro-Caribbean genre such as Héctor Lavoe and Frankie Ruiz. His musical career started by singing chorus for his father, Fonzy Cruz, who recorded three records. In 1996, the younger Cruz decided to move to Puerto Rico to be closer to his family and musical roots. By so doing, he entered the salsa scene, working for two years as a vocalist in Domingo Quiñones‘ orchestra. At that time he took singing classes and studied piano as well.
In his 2nd CD as a soloist, Cruz hit the international scene with his album Imaginate. With the WEA Latina label, the production was helped by Sergio George who directed and arranged. In that album, Cruz was co- songwriter of “Y gritaré”, together with Guadalupe García and Sergio George.
Few people know that before becoming a singer he worked for five years as a boxer and became a professional in the 132 pound weight class. But the pull of music was stronger still, impelling him into a career as professional music artist. His latest release: Asi Soy featured the song Hoy es el Dia.
Charlie Cruz, who today divides his time between Puerto Rico and Tampa, grew up in the small town of Naguabo. His love of salsa began as a 10 year old, when he became a backup singer in the orchestra of his father, Fonzy Cruz. The more he was exposed to music, the more he loved it. As he gained stage experience and worked with established salsa hit makers, Cruz realized how much he truly loved the genre. His life changed drastically when he was invited to perform at a concert and share the stage with top acts like Gilberto Santa Rosa, Victor Manuelle and Tito Nieves. As a result of this performance, he was signed by Sir George Records. Under this label, he produced such hits as "Bombon de Azucar" and "Amarte es un problema." "Dejala que Baile," the first single off Mas de mi, features an upbeat, catchy flavor that will have every salsa fan swinging their hips on the dance floor.
dinamico(2008)
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
genre. His start was well received by the Puerto Rican recording industry. Born in 1975 in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
Cruz was the oldest of seven siblings. He lived his adolescent years in Paterson, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, in the United States, where he grew to love salsa music. His models were exponents of the Afro-Caribbean genre such as Héctor Lavoe and Frankie Ruiz. His musical career started by singing chorus for his father, Fonzy Cruz, who recorded three records. In 1996, the younger Cruz decided to move to Puerto Rico to be closer to his family and musical roots. By so doing, he entered the salsa scene, working for two years as a vocalist in Domingo Quiñones‘ orchestra. At that time he took singing classes and studied piano as well.
In his 2nd CD as a soloist, Cruz hit the international scene with his album Imaginate. With the WEA Latina label, the production was helped by Sergio George who directed and arranged. In that album, Cruz was co- songwriter of “Y gritaré”, together with Guadalupe García and Sergio George.
Few people know that before becoming a singer he worked for five years as a boxer and became a professional in the 132 pound weight class. But the pull of music was stronger still, impelling him into a career as professional music artist. His latest release: Asi Soy featured the song Hoy es el Dia.
Charlie Cruz, who today divides his time between Puerto Rico and Tampa, grew up in the small town of Naguabo. His love of salsa began as a 10 year old, when he became a backup singer in the orchestra of his father, Fonzy Cruz. The more he was exposed to music, the more he loved it. As he gained stage experience and worked with established salsa hit makers, Cruz realized how much he truly loved the genre. His life changed drastically when he was invited to perform at a concert and share the stage with top acts like Gilberto Santa Rosa, Victor Manuelle and Tito Nieves. As a result of this performance, he was signed by Sir George Records. Under this label, he produced such hits as "Bombon de Azucar" and "Amarte es un problema." "Dejala que Baile," the first single off Mas de mi, features an upbeat, catchy flavor that will have every salsa fan swinging their hips on the dance floor.
Albums
- La Magia De Amor (1997)
- Imagínate (album) (1999)
- Así Soy (2000)
- Un Chico Malo (2001)
- Juntos (2002)
- Ven a Mí (2003)
- Como Nunca (2004)
- Mala Remix Featuring Tonny Tun Tun produced by G1E Productionz (2005)
- Más De Mí (2006)
- Dinámico (2008)
- Sigo Aqui (2010)
External links
dinamico(2008)