Kevin Ceballo
Encyclopedia
Kevin Ceballo is a singer of Salsa music
of Puerto Rican descent.
and settled in Manhattan
where Ceballo was born. His parents are Seventh-Day Adventists. Ceballo was exposed to and enjoyed the gospel singing at his House of Worship. In his household "salsa" and other types of popular music were considered taboo
, this however did not keep young Ceballo from listening to Latin music, which he secretly enjoyed, behind his parents back. During his teen years he came more and more into contact with the music he would grow to love.
Ceballo attended the famed High School of the Performing Arts
in New York. There he dreamed of pursuing a career in singing and acting. At times when he was not in school, Ceballo would sing as back-up for any local salsa group that would require his services.
La India
, a Puerto Rican salsa singer, asked Ceballo to sing back-up for her CD "Sobre el Fuego" (On the Fire), which was nominated for a Grammy Award
.
, Tito Puente
and Eddie Palmieri
.
On October 20, 2002, Ceballo headlined a free concert at the Verizon Music Festival held in Washington, D.C.
with the participation of the late Celia Cruz
. On April 11, 2003, Ceballo played with Jimmy Bosch
at the Copacabana
Nightclub in New York. That year he also recorded "Yo Soy Ese Hombre" (I'm that Man) which was produced by Infante. The album included "Eternamente Te Amaré", a salsa interpretation of the Angela Via
and Frankie Negrón
duet recorded in 2000. On June 26, 2004, Ceballo performed as the headliner in the "Latino Fest" celebrated at Patterson Park in Baltimore, Maryland.
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...
of Puerto Rican descent.
Early years
Ceballo's parents immigrated from Puerto RicoPuerto 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...
and settled in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
where Ceballo was born. His parents are Seventh-Day Adventists. Ceballo was exposed to and enjoyed the gospel singing at his House of Worship. In his household "salsa" and other types of popular music were considered taboo
Taboo
A taboo is a strong social prohibition relating to any area of human activity or social custom that is sacred and or forbidden based on moral judgment, religious beliefs and or scientific consensus. Breaking the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent by society...
, this however did not keep young Ceballo from listening to Latin music, which he secretly enjoyed, behind his parents back. During his teen years he came more and more into contact with the music he would grow to love.
Ceballo attended the famed High School of the Performing Arts
Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts
Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts is a high school specializing in teaching visual arts and performing arts, located near Lincoln Center and the Juilliard School in the Lincoln Center district of Manhattan, on Amsterdam Avenue...
in New York. There he dreamed of pursuing a career in singing and acting. At times when he was not in school, Ceballo would sing as back-up for any local salsa group that would require his services.
Singing debut
In 1997, Ceballo caught the attention of pianist Isidro Infante, while singing at a local night club. Infante was impressed with Kevin and asked him if he would like to join his group as one of the lead singers. He took Infante up on his offer and soon was featured in the CD recording "Licencia Para Engañar" (License to Deceive), which was released in 1998. The CD included "Cuando Pienso en Tí" (When I think of You), composed by Ceballo. He traveled all over the world with Infantes band.La India
La India
La India , known also as "La Princesa de la Salsa" , is a singer of salsa. She has been nominated for both Grammy and Latin Grammy awards.-Early years:...
, a Puerto Rican salsa singer, asked Ceballo to sing back-up for her CD "Sobre el Fuego" (On the Fire), which was nominated for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
.
Solo debut
The year 2000, was the year that Ceballo made his debut as a solo singer, when he recorded his CD Mi Primer Amor" (My First Love). The CD also featured two other compositions by him, "Que Clase de Hombre" (What kind of Man) and "Quiero Bailar" (I want to Dance). His CD became a number one hit in the Latin music charts. Ceballo was named "New Artist of the Year'. Besides singing with La India, Ceballo had also performed with Celia CruzCelia Cruz
Celia Cruz was a Cuban-American salsa singer, and was one of the most successful Salsa performers of the 20th century, having earned twenty-three gold albums...
, Tito Puente
Tito Puente
Tito Puente, , born Ernesto Antonio Puente, was a Latin jazz and Salsa musician. The son of native Puerto Ricans Ernest and Ercilia Puente, of Spanish Harlem in New York City, Puente is often credited as "El Rey de los Timbales" and "The King of Latin Music"...
and Eddie Palmieri
Eddie Palmieri
Eddie Palmieri , is a Grammy Award winning Puerto Rican pianist, bandleader and musician, best known for combining jazz piano and instrumental solos with Latin rhythms.-Early years:...
.
On October 20, 2002, Ceballo headlined a free concert at the Verizon Music Festival held in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
with the participation of the late Celia Cruz
Celia Cruz
Celia Cruz was a Cuban-American salsa singer, and was one of the most successful Salsa performers of the 20th century, having earned twenty-three gold albums...
. On April 11, 2003, Ceballo played with Jimmy Bosch
Jimmy Bosch
Jimmy Bosch Jimmy Bosch Jimmy Bosch (c. 1960, aka "El Trombon Criollo", is an Afro-Cuban jazz and Cuban Music trombonist and bandleader born in Jersey City, New Jersey. Having performed since age eleven, by age thirteen he was playing in several local Latin music bands. While at Rutgers University...
at the Copacabana
Copacabana (nightclub)
The Copacabana is a famous New York City nightclub. Many entertainers, among them Danny Thomas, Pat Cooper and the comedy team of Martin and Lewis, made their debuts at the Copacabana. The 1978 Barry Manilow song "Copacabana" is named after, and is about the nightclub. Part of the 2003 Yerba...
Nightclub in New York. That year he also recorded "Yo Soy Ese Hombre" (I'm that Man) which was produced by Infante. The album included "Eternamente Te Amaré", a salsa interpretation of the Angela Via
Angela Via
Angela Vía is an American singer/songwriter from Texas. Initially marketed as a pop artist, Angela's catalog contains music of a variety of genres in both English and Spanish...
and Frankie Negrón
Frankie Negron
Frankie Negrón is a singer of Salsa music of Puerto Rican descent...
duet recorded in 2000. On June 26, 2004, Ceballo performed as the headliner in the "Latino Fest" celebrated at Patterson Park in Baltimore, Maryland.