Daniel Santacruz
Encyclopedia
Daniel Santacruz is a singer-songwriter
, recording artist and music producer. Born in New Jersey
and raised in the Dominican Republic
to a cuban
father and a dominican
mother, Santacruz is a three time Latin Grammy Award nominee.
with his parents, and immediately felt attracted to the dominican music, mostly merengue
.
His musical influences range from Johnny Ventura
, Wilfrido Vargas
, Fernando Villalona
, Sergio Vargas
and Juan Luis Guerra
to Luis Miguel
, Elvis Presley
, The Beatles
, Julio Iglesias
and Sting. Although Santacruz has cited that his biggest musical influence was his mother, who from an early age used to sing boleros to him and also used to make imaginary interviews to a young Daniel with a small tape recorder. His father, also a music lover, introduced him to classical music and to the 50's and 60's sound. The first musical notes are known from his maternal grandmother Ana Zulema Victoria who was a pianist and also a piano teacher.
. During that time Santacruz found to have writing skills and bought his first guitar. In this period he also participated in studio recordings as a background singer for other artists, and also for radio and TV commercials. In 2000 he was part of the MQV Church choir for two years next to Juan Luis Guerra
, who is the musical director of the church.
In 2003 together with Ambiorix Francisco, Santacruz produced his first solo album: Por un beso, earning a nomination for Premio Lo Nuestro as Best new artist.
From 2004 to 2007 Santacruz took a brake from the stage and started writing and producing for other artists.
At the end of 2008 his second album Radio Rompecorazones is released, produced by himself along with Alejandro Jaen. The single: Adónde va el amor? along with the album achieved two Latin Grammy Award nominations in 2009, Best Contemporary Tropical Album and Best Tropical Song. Both the single and the album received an incredible support in the United States, Latin America and Europe.
History repeats itself in 2011 when his third album Bachata Stereo produced again with Jaén in collaboration with Richy Rojas, with just two months on the market receives again a nomination in the Latin Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Tropical Album
), and "Me Duele Amarte" performed by the successful Mexican
band Reik
.
Nowadays several songs from the pen of Santacruz occupy important places in the Billboard charts as is the case of 'Aprenderé' by Hector Acosta "El Torito" written with Jorge Luis Piloto, and 'Mi alma loca' by Andy Andy.
Daniel has written songs for many artists including Monchy y Alexandra, El Torito, Reik, Domenic Marte, Wason Brazoban, Milly Quezada, Jose Feliciano, Eddy Herrera, Frank Reyes, Andy Andy, Tito Rojas among others.
Radio Rompecorazones 2008
Por un beso 2003
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, recording artist and music producer. Born in 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...
and raised in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
to a cuban
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
father and a dominican
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
mother, Santacruz is a three time Latin Grammy Award nominee.
Early years
While still very young he moved to Santo DomingoSanto Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
with his parents, and immediately felt attracted to the dominican music, mostly merengue
Merengue
Merengue can refer to one of the following:*Merengue music*Merengue *Merengue , a content management system*Méringue / Mereng Haitian Music*Venezuelan merengue music*An adjective referring to the Real Madrid football club....
.
His musical influences range from Johnny Ventura
Johnny Ventura
Juan e Dios Ventura Soriano, better known as Johnny Ventura is a singer and band leader of merengue.- Early History :...
, Wilfrido Vargas
Wilfrido Vargas
Wilfrido Radamés Vargas Martínez was born in Altamira, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.He was surrounded by musical influences; namely, his father Ramón, an accordionist and guitarist, and his mother Bienvenida, a flute player and guitarist...
, Fernando Villalona
Fernando Villalona
Fernando Villalona, the first artist named "El Mayimbe" , is a Dominican merengue singer whose popularity started to grow in the late 70s and has not declined ever since....
, Sergio Vargas
Sergio Vargas
For the Chilean football goalkeeper with the same name see Sergio Vargas Sergio Vargas is a Dominican merengue singer. He has been a member of the bands La Banda Brava and Los Hijos del Rey.- References :...
and Juan Luis Guerra
Juan Luis Guerra
Juan Luis Guerra is a singer, songwriter and producer from the Dominican Republic who has sold over 30 million records, and won numerous awards including 12 Latin Grammy Awards, two Grammy Awards, and two Latin Billboard Music Awards...
to Luis Miguel
Luis Miguel
Luis Miguel Gallego Basteri is a Mexican singer. He is widely known only by the name Luis Miguel and is often referred to as "El Sol de México"...
, Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, Julio Iglesias
Julio Iglesias
Julio José Iglesias de la Cueva , better known simply as Julio Iglesias, is a Spanish singer who has sold over 300 million records worldwide in 14 languages and released 77 albums. According to Sony Music Entertainment, he is one of the top 15 best selling music artists in history,...
and Sting. Although Santacruz has cited that his biggest musical influence was his mother, who from an early age used to sing boleros to him and also used to make imaginary interviews to a young Daniel with a small tape recorder. His father, also a music lover, introduced him to classical music and to the 50's and 60's sound. The first musical notes are known from his maternal grandmother Ana Zulema Victoria who was a pianist and also a piano teacher.
Career
His career began in 1996 as a member of various bands in the Dominican RepublicDominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
. During that time Santacruz found to have writing skills and bought his first guitar. In this period he also participated in studio recordings as a background singer for other artists, and also for radio and TV commercials. In 2000 he was part of the MQV Church choir for two years next to Juan Luis Guerra
Juan Luis Guerra
Juan Luis Guerra is a singer, songwriter and producer from the Dominican Republic who has sold over 30 million records, and won numerous awards including 12 Latin Grammy Awards, two Grammy Awards, and two Latin Billboard Music Awards...
, who is the musical director of the church.
In 2003 together with Ambiorix Francisco, Santacruz produced his first solo album: Por un beso, earning a nomination for Premio Lo Nuestro as Best new artist.
From 2004 to 2007 Santacruz took a brake from the stage and started writing and producing for other artists.
At the end of 2008 his second album Radio Rompecorazones is released, produced by himself along with Alejandro Jaen. The single: Adónde va el amor? along with the album achieved two Latin Grammy Award nominations in 2009, Best Contemporary Tropical Album and Best Tropical Song. Both the single and the album received an incredible support in the United States, Latin America and Europe.
History repeats itself in 2011 when his third album Bachata Stereo produced again with Jaén in collaboration with Richy Rojas, with just two months on the market receives again a nomination in the Latin Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Tropical Album
Latin Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Tropical Album
The Latin Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Tropical Album is an honor presented annually at the Latin Grammy Awards, a ceremony that recognizes excellence and creates a wider awareness of cultural diversity and contributions of Latin recording artists in the United States and internationally .The...
Songwriter
Since 2004, Daniel has received four ASCAP awards (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), one Billboard, and a Premio Lo Nuestro for the songs 'Perdidos' and 'No Es Una Novela' (performed by the famous Dominican duet Monchy y AlexandraMonchy y Alexandra
Monchy y Alexandra were a bachata musical group from the Dominican Republic. They sang together as a duo beginning in 1999. Their first big hit was "Hoja en Blanco", which they released in 1999. Since then, they had many other hits, such as "Hasta El Fin" and "Perdidos", both from their 2004...
), and "Me Duele Amarte" performed by the successful Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
band Reik
Reik
Reik is a Latin Grammy-winning Mexican band from Mexicali, Baja California formed by Jesús Alberto Navarro Rosas , Julio Ramírez Eguía , and Gilberto Marín Espinoza...
.
Nowadays several songs from the pen of Santacruz occupy important places in the Billboard charts as is the case of 'Aprenderé' by Hector Acosta "El Torito" written with Jorge Luis Piloto, and 'Mi alma loca' by Andy Andy.
Daniel has written songs for many artists including Monchy y Alexandra, El Torito, Reik, Domenic Marte, Wason Brazoban, Milly Quezada, Jose Feliciano, Eddy Herrera, Frank Reyes, Andy Andy, Tito Rojas among others.
Discography
Bachata Stereo 2011Radio Rompecorazones 2008
Por un beso 2003
External links
- http://www.danielsantacruz.com