15 Latin Artists Who Became Musical Idols
27/03/2024
By
Andrea Recalde
March 26, 2024
Within Latin music, a select few artists have crossed borders and genres to become true idols, resonating with audiences worldwide through their chart-topping hits and culture-shifting artistry.
Many of these artists have been featured in Berklees annual dolos Latinos showcase. In this playlist, dive into the stories of 15 such artists featured in this years showcase concert (March 28 at the Berklee Performance Center) and discover what their music means to the student performers interpreting their songs onstage. Through their diverse perspectives, we can gain deeper insights into the impact of these idols, offering a more nuanced view of their lyrics, styles, and music.
Listen to the playlist below, and read on to learn more about each artist and see what Berklee students say about them.
Tracklist and Notes1. Caballo Viejo, Sim n D azSim n D az (1928-2014) was a Venezuelan singer, composer, and actor, celebrated as one of the most influential figures in Venezuelan music. Born in Barbacoas, T chira State, D az's career began in the 1950s, blending traditional Venezuelan folk music with contemporary elements to create a distinctive sound. He became widely known for his compositions, such as Caballo Viejo and Tonada de Luna Llena. His charismatic personality and contributions to Venezuelan culture earned him the nickname T o Sim n (Uncle Sim n). He is a symbolic figure of Venezuelan folklore and music and will forever be revered for his talent and cultural impact.
I grew up listening to him, and thanks to him, Venezuelan folkloric music had a bigger stage in Caracas' music industry, says Valentina Garcia, interpreting him at the dolos showcase. If it weren't for his influence, I probably wouldn't be at Berklee. . . . No matter which part of the world you are in, we can all relate to his lyrics. The love and respect with which he treats and discusses all of the elements of his lyrics inspire me so much and makes me feel connected to the music when I perform these songs.
2. El Alma en Los Labios, Julio JaramilloJulio Jaramillo (1935-1978) was an Ecuadorian singer known for his powerful voice and emotional performances in the pasillo, bolero, and vals genres. He earned the nickname El Ruise or de Am rica (the Nightingale of America) for his iconic contributions to Latin American music. Despite a tragic personal life marked by struggles with alcoholism, Jaramillos passionate singing and enduring hits like Nuestro Juramento and the classic El Aguacate continue to inspire fans across the region even after his death.
I grew up listening to boleros, waltzes, and tangos, and as a singer-songwriter, these genres shaped how I write and compose, says Luisa Yamille, who will interpret Jaramillo at the showcase. The song I am performing is very vulnerable and emotional, and during this process, I have learned a lot about connecting with the lyrics, the audience, and the artists intent. . . . The genre resonates with me, with my writing style, and has been a great inspiration for me in these months.
3. Reggaeton Latino, Don OmarDon Omar, born William Omar Landr n Rivera in Puerto Rico in 1978, is a renowned reggaeton artist and actor. In the early 2000s, he became an essential figure in the genres global expansion. His breakout hit Dale Don Dale catapulted him to success, followed by numerous chart-topping singles like Dile and Reggaeton Latino. He achieved widespread recognition with albums such as The Last Don and King of Kings, solidifying his status as a reggaeton icon.
Roots of Dembow, a Latin Groove
Learn how the dembow beat, one of reggaetons signature rhythms, took over global pop.
Laura Prias speaks to this, saying, The stage presence that is necessary to be able to sing in this genre is what has captivated me. Nothing is [really] sung; its more spoken, but [you] always remember the attitude with which you say things. . . . Don Omar always manages a very intense vibe. Still, it never feels overacted or exaggerated. . . . He has three things that I dont think many people consider when listening to him: attitude, connection with the audience, and intonation.
4. Te He Querido, Te He Llorado, Ivy QueenIvy Queen, born Martha Ivelisse Pesante Rodr guez in 1972 in Puerto Rico, is a renowned reggaeton artist and songwriter. She became a prominent figure in the genre during the late 1990s and early 2000s, thanks to her powerful voice, provocative lyrics, and fierce persona. Ivy Queens breakthrough album Diva (2003) propelled her to international fame with hits like Quiero Bailar and Te He Querido, Te He Llorado. She has been recognized for her contributions to reggaeton as a female artist, breaking stereotypes and paving the way for future generations.
I am learning that I want to feel empowered and confident in my boldness, prominent character, and personality, says Elianny Perez, who is taking on her role in the showcase. Her great way of encouraging assertive and playful femininity has stuck out to me.
5. En Barranquilla Me Quedo, Joe ArroyoJoe Arroyo (1955-2011) was a Colombian singer and songwriter celebrated as one of the most influential figures in Latin music, particularly in tropical music. In the 1970s, he rose to fame as the lead singer of Fruko y sus Tesos, one of Colombias most famous salsa bands. With his powerful voice and charismatic stage presence, he became known for hits like Rebeli n and La Noche. His music blended various Caribbean rhythms with elements of Colombian folk, creating a different and vibrant array of sounds.
Ursula Eyzaguirre, who will interpret Arroyo, says, Being born and growing up in Peru helped me a lot becaus
LINK: | https://www.berklee.edu/berklee-now/news/15-latin-artists-who-became-m... |
See more stories from berklee |
More from Berklee
24/05/2024
Boston Conservatory Plays a Leading Role at the 41st Annual Elliot Norton Awards
Boston Conservatory Plays a Leading Role at the 41st Annual Elliot Norton Awards With six wins and eight additional nominations, the Conservatory's theate...
22/05/2024
Berklee's Summer in the City Brings Free Concerts to Boston Area
Berklee's Summer in the City Brings Free Concerts to Boston Area The series will feature Berklee students, faculty, and alumni performing at popular venue...
21/05/2024
Dr. Ray Seol Awarded Grant for Creative Individuals from Mass Cultural Council
Dr. Ray Seol Awarded Grant for Creative Individuals from Mass Cultural Council The grant will expand his Seu Aprendiz project designed to help individuals bui...
15/05/2024
Berklee Artists to Perform at Major US Music Festivals this Summer and Fall
Berklee Artists to Perform at Major US Music Festivals this Summer and Fall The Berklee Popular Music Institute arranged placements at top festivals including...
12/05/2024
Berklee Honors Ledisi, Q-Tip, and Gilberto Santa Rosa at Commencement
Berklee Honors Ledisi, Q-Tip, and Gilberto Santa Rosa at Commencement This years honorary doctorate recipients were recognized for their profound influence as...
10/05/2024
Berklee Announces 2024 Songs for Social Change Contest Winners
Berklee Announces 2024 Songs for Social Change Contest Winners Student songwriters shine in the annual contest that recognizes music with a socially conscious...
10/05/2024
Meet Graduates from Berklees Class of 2024
Meet Graduates from Berklees Class of 2024 Members of this years graduating class reflect on their proudest moments at Berklee and look ahead to whats next. ...
10/05/2024
Berklee and Audio Engineering Society to Host Symposium on AI in Music
Berklee and Audio Engineering Society to Host Symposium on AI in Music The inaugural AES International Symposium on AI and the Musician will highlight excitin...
08/05/2024
Q&A with Visiting Artist Lei Liang
Q&A with Visiting Artist Lei Liang The acclaimed composer discusses his collaboration with Boston Conservatory, his work as a research artist, and what it mea...
04/05/2024
Three Boston Conservatory at Berklee Alums Nominated for Tony Awards
Three Boston Conservatory at Berklee Alums Nominated for Tony Awards An additional eight alums and two current students performed in nominated productions. ...
02/05/2024
Two Boston Conservatory at Berklee Alums Nominated for Tony Awards
Two Boston Conservatory at Berklee Alums Nominated for Tony Awards An additional eight alums and two current students performed in nominated productions. By...
30/04/2024
Next Jazz Legacy Announces 2024 Cohort of Women and Nonbinary Awardees
Next Jazz Legacy Announces 2024 Cohort of Women and Nonbinary Awardees The program was created by New Music USA and the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender J...
27/04/2024
Berklee's Music and Health Institute Launches Community Health Musician Certificate
Berklee's Music and Health Institute Launches Community Health Musician Cert...
25/04/2024
Berklee Student Riko Sasaski Named 2024 Yamaha Young Performing Artist
Berklee Student Riko Sasaski Named 2024 Yamaha Young Performing Artist The accomplished saxophonist secured a spot among the elite winners of this year's ...
24/04/2024
Berklee Online to Hold 2024 Berklee Onsite Music Conference May 31-June 1
Berklee Online to Hold 2024 Berklee Onsite Music Conference May 31-June 1 The in-person conference is open to Berklee Online students and the music community ...
18/04/2024
Krisha Marcano Announced as Dean of Theater for Boston Conservatory at Berklee
Krisha Marcano Announced as Dean of Theater for Boston Conservatory at Berklee The theater educator, choreographer, and performer will join Boston Conservator...
18/04/2024
Berklee's Yoon-Ji Lee Receives Guggenheim Fellowship
Berklee's Yoon-Ji Lee Receives Guggenheim Fellowship Lee, an assistant professor of composition, creates music based on unconventional and nonlinear struc...
17/04/2024
Simone Pilon Appointed Executive Director at Berklee Valencia
Simone Pilon Appointed Executive Director at Berklee Valencia Pilon, who has served as Berklee Valencia's interim executive director since March 2023, has a...
17/04/2024
FINNEAS and Ashe Talk Confidence and Collaboration in the Music Industry
FINNEAS and Ashe Talk Confidence and Collaboration in the Music Industry Days before his sister Billie Eilishs new album announcement, producer and songwriter...
12/04/2024
Youssou NDour to Receive Honorary Doctorate at Berklee Valencia's 2024 Commencement
Youssou NDour to Receive Honorary Doctorate at Berklee Valencia's 2024 Comme...
12/04/2024
Berklee and Electronic Arts Celebrate Annual EA Day
Berklee and Electronic Arts Celebrate Annual EA Day The second annual EA Berklee Day celebrated women in the screen scoring industry and presented the Electro...
11/04/2024
Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Honor LaChanze and Lar Lubovitch at Commencement Ceremony
Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Honor LaChanze and Lar Lubovitch at Commenceme...
11/04/2024
Berklee Hosts Leading Artists and Entertainment Pros at Annual Career Jam
Berklee Hosts Leading Artists and Entertainment Pros at Annual Career Jam Grammy-winning producer and singer-songwriter FINNEAS and hitmaker Ashe BM 15 headli...
10/04/2024
Ledisi, Q-Tip, and Gilberto Santa Rosa to Receive Honorary Doctorates at Berklee 2024 Commencement
Ledisi, Q-Tip, and Gilberto Santa Rosa to Receive Honorary Doctorates at Berklee...
05/04/2024
Berklee Honors Three Outstanding Artists at Alumni Achievement Awards
Berklee Honors Three Outstanding Artists at Alumni Achievement Awards Natalie Toro, Gustavo Borner, and Mark Kelley were recognized for their achievements in ...
05/04/2024
Berklee's Africana Studies Department to Host its First Annual Symposium
Berklee's Africana Studies Department to Host its First Annual Symposium The inaugural event will feature scholar, political commentator, and author Dr. E...
04/04/2024
Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Present Five Iconic Works at Spring Dance Concert: Limitless
Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Present Five Iconic Works at Spring Dance Conc...
04/04/2024
Morton Subotnick Named 2024 Herb Alpert Visiting Artist for Electronic Production and Design Department
Morton Subotnick Named 2024 Herb Alpert Visiting Artist for Electronic Productio...
03/04/2024
Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Present Four Iconic Works at Spring Dance Concert: Limitless
Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Present Four Iconic Works at Spring Dance Conc...
03/04/2024
Berklee's Signature Series Presents Gospel Extravaganza 2024
Berklee's Signature Series Presents Gospel Extravaganza 2024 Gospel singer and composer Bishop Hezekiah Walker will be among this year's inductees int...
30/03/2024
Celebrating Women's History Month with Berklee and Spelman College Students
Celebrating Women's History Month with Berklee and Spelman College Students Idriemeka Bailey and Madyson S. McSwain open up about their experiences in the...
29/03/2024
Student Spotlight: Bethanie Liu
Student Spotlight: Bethanie Liu The electronic musician shares how Berklee helped shape her desire to be a songwriter and arranger into something that incorpo...
28/03/2024
Boston Conservatory to Present Center Stage Production of A Midsummer Night's Dream at The Huntington
Boston Conservatory to Present Center Stage Production of A Midsummer Night'...
27/03/2024
15 Latin Artists Who Became Musical Idols
15 Latin Artists Who Became Musical Idols Listen to iconic Latin musicians across genres in this playlist and read about how they've influenced Berklee st...
22/03/2024
Berklee, A3 Communication, and the Gnaoua and World Music Festival Launch Berklee on the Road Program
Berklee, A3 Communication, and the Gnaoua and World Music Festival Launch Berkle...
19/03/2024
What Is Dembow? Tracing the Roots of a Global Phenomenon
What Is Dembow? Tracing the Roots of a Global Phenomenon The story of the dembow beat, which can be found in reggaeton, hip-hop, pop, and far beyond, speaks t...
19/03/2024
Berklee's Roger H. Brown Jr. Building Honored by Boston Society for Architecture
Berklee's Roger H. Brown Jr. Building Honored by Boston Society for Architec...
19/03/2024
Applications Open for 2024 Berklee at Umbria Jazz Clinics
Applications Open for 2024 Berklee at Umbria Jazz Clinics The 39th edition of the program will be held from July 9-21. By Callista Chan March 21, 2024 Ima...
14/03/2024
Berklee Career Jam Concert Showcases Student Artists for Music and Entertainment Industry
Berklee Career Jam Concert Showcases Student Artists for Music and Entertainment...
14/03/2024
BPMI to Host 22nd Annual Showcase at Brighton Music Hall on April 17
BPMI to Host 22nd Annual Showcase at Brighton Music Hall on April 17 The Berklee Popular Music Institute will showcase performances from six rising stars who ...
08/03/2024
Berklee Presents the Michael Jackson Ensemble: Human Nature
Berklee Presents the Michael Jackson Ensemble: Human Nature The Signature Series concert honors the King of Pop, surveying the entirety of his iconic career. ...
07/03/2024
Bruce Hornsby Is Still Seeing What He Can Get Away With
Bruce Hornsby Is Still Seeing What He Can Get Away With Since The Way It Is, the visionary songwriter has made his mark on so many genres. His latest, Deep Se...
06/03/2024
Student Spotlight: Mehrpouya Daneshvar
Student Spotlight: Mehrpouya Daneshvar The clarinetist from Iran talks about discovering a love for Iranian classical music and how coming to Berklee has allo...
02/03/2024
Applications Open for Berklee in Puerto Rico 2024
Applications Open for Berklee in Puerto Rico 2024 Registration is open now through April 11. By Colette Greenstein March 1, 2024 Students perform at Berklee...
01/03/2024
Student Spotlight: Shivaraj Natraj
Student Spotlight: Shivaraj Natraj The vocalist, konnakol beatboxer, and percussionist reflects on his musical journey from Oman to India and beyond, and how ...
01/03/2024
Berklee to Present American Master Award to Arturo Sandoval
Berklee to Present American Master Award to Arturo Sandoval Berklee will recognize the Cuban-American legend's legacy and impact on jazz and Latin music. ...
28/02/2024
Announcing the 2024 Issue of STAGES Magazine: Future Proof
Announcing the 2024 Issue of STAGES Magazine: Future Proof This issue takes a deep dive into how a Boston Conservatory education lays the foundation for futu...
28/02/2024
40 Years Later, Thriller's Grammy Sweep Still Resonates
40 Years Later, Thriller's Grammy Sweep Still Resonates Professors Lil John Roberts and Mimi Jones, part of the team leading the upcoming Michael Jackson ...
27/02/2024
The Rubin Brothers Bring Circus Spectacle to American Idol
The Rubin Brothers Bring Circus Spectacle to American Idol Berklee alum Colescott Rubin and his brother, current student A.J., rode unicycles and sang about lov...
24/02/2024
Berklee International Hip-Hop Symposium Spotlights Local Artists, Entrepreneurs
Berklee International Hip-Hop Symposium Spotlights Local Artists, Entrepreneurs SAMMUS, DJ Troy Frost, and DJ WhySham are among featured guest speakers for th...