George Noriega
Encyclopedia
George Noriega is a Grammy-winning American songwriter and record producer. He is the owner of Cutting Cane Studios and Cutting Cane Publishing, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Noriega came to prominence in the late 90s as he helped Latin artists such as Ricky Martin
, Shakira
and Jennifer Lopez
cross over into the English pop music market. He has been a producer and/or songwriter on albums that have sold over 30 million copies worldwide.
He attended the University of Miami
as a Jazz Vocal major, and received a Bachelor's Degree in Music in 1995.
's "Evolution" World Tour. By the end of the tour, he joined Estefan Enterprises as a songwriter and producer.
In 1999 he co-wrote "She's All I Ever Had
" ("Bella"
), which was recorded by Ricky Martin and was certified Platinum and reached #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 and #1 on the Hot Latin Tracks charts. The follow-up single "Shake Your Bon Bon" was also co-written and produced by Noriega. The full length album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 Chart and has sold over 17 million copies worldwide.
Noriega later teamed up with Emilio Estefan
and Robert Blades to write and produce Gloria Estefan's album Alma Caribeña, which immediately went to #1 on the Billboard Latin 50, and led George to receive a Grammy for Best Latin/Tropical Producer. The production team's first two singles "No Me Dejes de Querer" and "Como Me Duele Perderte" also topped the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart at #1.
In 2001, Noriega wrote and produced with Shakira
for her highly successful English language debut Laundry Service, which has sold more than 13 million copies worldwide. During 2002 and early 2003 he teamed up with Robi "Draco" Rosa to write and produce ten tracks for his groundbreaking, Grammy-winning album Mad Love.
2005 saw the release of another Noriega production: Ricky Martin's English-language album Life, and found George collaborating with The Matrix, Scott Storch
, Timbaland
, Billy Mann and Sean Garrett. In 2006 George worked with Jodi Marr on Alejandra Guzmán
's album Indeleble. The Grammy Nominated album (which reached the #1 spot in Mexico) has been certified double-platinum and won two awards at the Premios Oye! 2006.
Noriega continued to collaborate with Draco Rosa
on several projects, including Vino
, which won a Latin Grammy for "Best Rock album", and the "Teatro Live DVD", in which Noriega can be seen performing. In 2009, Draco recorded all his vocals and several other elements for the album Amor Vincit Omnia at Cutting Cane Studios with George. The album was released in January 2010, went to #1 in Puerto Rico soon after was nominated for a Grammy for best Rock/Alternative album.
He also has several other songs/production releases coming out in 2010: Paloma Faith
(Sony/UK), The Hoosiers
(RCA/UK), Clare Maguire (Polydor/UK), Alicastro and Sarah Packiam.
Noriega came to prominence in the late 90s as he helped Latin artists such as Ricky Martin
Ricky Martin
Enrique "Ricky" Martín Morales , better known as Ricky Martin, is a Puerto Rican and Spanish pop singer and actor who achieved prominence, first as a member of the Latin boy band Menudo, then as a solo artist since 1991.During his career he has sold more than 60 million album copies worldwide...
, Shakira
Shakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
and Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
cross over into the English pop music market. He has been a producer and/or songwriter on albums that have sold over 30 million copies worldwide.
Early life
Noriega was born in Miami, Florida, to Cuban/American parents who migrated to the United States in 1961, and later moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida when George was 2 years old. At 15 years of age, he got his first taste of the Rock-n-roll life while drumming for his first band "The Scoundrels" with brothers Jason Christopher and Kenneth John. He later found success as a singer and guitar player with the band "Utrec" alongside brothers Rich and Andy Kwiat, Eddie Mejia and Robert Gomez. They wrote and produced over sixty songs and shared the stage with bands such as Winger, The Guess Who and The Outfield.He attended the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
as a Jazz Vocal major, and received a Bachelor's Degree in Music in 1995.
Career
Immediately following graduation, Noriega became a background vocalist for Gloria EstefanGloria Estefan
Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García de Estefan; known professionally as Gloria Estefan is a Cuban-born American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known as the "Queen Of Latin Pop", she is in the top 100 best selling music artists with over 100 million albums sold worldwide, 31.5 million of those...
's "Evolution" World Tour. By the end of the tour, he joined Estefan Enterprises as a songwriter and producer.
In 1999 he co-wrote "She's All I Ever Had
She's All I Ever Had
"She's All I Ever Had" is the second single taken from the multiplatinum first English-language album by Ricky Martin, called simply Ricky Martin. It was released on June 15, 1999...
" ("Bella"
She's All I Ever Had
"She's All I Ever Had" is the second single taken from the multiplatinum first English-language album by Ricky Martin, called simply Ricky Martin. It was released on June 15, 1999...
), which was recorded by Ricky Martin and was certified Platinum and reached #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 and #1 on the Hot Latin Tracks charts. The follow-up single "Shake Your Bon Bon" was also co-written and produced by Noriega. The full length album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 Chart and has sold over 17 million copies worldwide.
Noriega later teamed up with Emilio Estefan
Emilio Estefan
Emilio Estefan, Jr. is a Cuban-American of Lebanese ancestry who is a musician and producer. Estefan's first taste of celebrity came as a member of the Miami Sound Machine, but he is also recognized as the producer of many famous singers. He is the husband of singer Gloria Estefan...
and Robert Blades to write and produce Gloria Estefan's album Alma Caribeña, which immediately went to #1 on the Billboard Latin 50, and led George to receive a Grammy for Best Latin/Tropical Producer. The production team's first two singles "No Me Dejes de Querer" and "Como Me Duele Perderte" also topped the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart at #1.
In 2001, Noriega wrote and produced with Shakira
Shakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
for her highly successful English language debut Laundry Service, which has sold more than 13 million copies worldwide. During 2002 and early 2003 he teamed up with Robi "Draco" Rosa to write and produce ten tracks for his groundbreaking, Grammy-winning album Mad Love.
2005 saw the release of another Noriega production: Ricky Martin's English-language album Life, and found George collaborating with The Matrix, Scott Storch
Scott Storch
Scott Storch is an American record producer. He produces a variety of music, particularly hip hop, reggaeton, and R&B. His label, Storch Music Company responsible for signing Brooke Hogan and Nox...
, Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
, Billy Mann and Sean Garrett. In 2006 George worked with Jodi Marr on Alejandra Guzmán
Alejandra Guzmán
Alejandra Gabriela Guzmán Pinal , better known as Alejandra Guzmán, is a Latin Grammy Award–winning Mexican rock singer and actress. She has had a dedicated fanbase throughout Latin America since the late 1980s, and is known as the "Queen of Rock" in the Hispanic world...
's album Indeleble. The Grammy Nominated album (which reached the #1 spot in Mexico) has been certified double-platinum and won two awards at the Premios Oye! 2006.
Noriega continued to collaborate with Draco Rosa
Draco Rosa
Draco Cornelius Rosa Suárez , also known as Robi Draco Rosa, Robby Rosa, Draco Rosa or simply Draco, is a Puerto Rican Grammy Award and Latin Grammy Award...
on several projects, including Vino
Vino (album)
Vino is a lyrical rock album released by Draco Rosa in 2008 under Phantom Vox and a followup to Vagabundo. It was first published during the summer of 2007 under the alternate title of El Teatro del Absurdo in certain territories.-Background:...
, which won a Latin Grammy for "Best Rock album", and the "Teatro Live DVD", in which Noriega can be seen performing. In 2009, Draco recorded all his vocals and several other elements for the album Amor Vincit Omnia at Cutting Cane Studios with George. The album was released in January 2010, went to #1 in Puerto Rico soon after was nominated for a Grammy for best Rock/Alternative album.
He also has several other songs/production releases coming out in 2010: Paloma Faith
Paloma Faith
Paloma Faith is a British singer-songwriter and actress. In 2009, she released her debut single "Stone Cold Sober", then her debut album, Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?, which was certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry. Her debut album stayed within the top 40 album...
(Sony/UK), The Hoosiers
The Hoosiers
The Hoosiers are an English pop/rock band, consisting of members Irwin Sparkes , Martin Skarendahl and Alan Sharland ....
(RCA/UK), Clare Maguire (Polydor/UK), Alicastro and Sarah Packiam.
External links
- Cutting Cane Studios
- Official Twitter
- Universal Music Publishing Group article
- [ George Noriega's credits on AllMusic.com]
- [ George Noriega's songwriting on AllMusic.com]