Gilberto Santa Rosa is a legendary salsa romántica and bolero singer and bandleader with over 25 albums and six Grammy Awards behind him. Known for his improvisational skills, Gilberto is a big fan of Puerto Rican bolero, mambo, and salsa legend Tito Rodríguez. His collection of Rodríguez memorabilia includes Tito’s old house in Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico. [Kíko Keith: I used to live down the street.] 🇵🇷
In 1995, Santa Rosa became the first Puerto Rican salsa singer to perform at Carnegie Hall. The most famous version of his most famous song is “Perdoname” from that live recording.
We got to have Thanksgiving dinner in 2019 with the photographer who made this picture, J. Perez-Mesa. He does publicity work for many of Puerto Rico’s biggest stars including Santa Rosa and El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. Check him out at jperezmesaphotographer.com 🇵🇷
Gilberto Santa Rosa in New York City
St. George, Staten Island
Gilberto Santa Rosa “Auténtico Tour” brings “El Caballero de la Salsa” to the St. George Theatre in Staten Island; on Friday, October 4, 2024 at 8pm. From $70. 🇵🇷
Jericho, Long Island
Gilberto Santa Rosa “Auténtico Tour” brings “El Caballero de la Salsa” to Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair in Jericho, Long Island; on Saturday, October 5, 2024 at 8pm. From $60. 🇵🇷
Englewood, New Jersey
Gilberto Santa Rosa “Auténtico Tour” brings “El Caballero de la Salsa” to the Bergen Performing Arts Center (Bergen PAC), in Englewood, New Jersey; on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 8pm. From $51. 🇵🇷
New Brunswick, New Jersey
Gilberto Santa Rosa “Auténtico Tour” brings “El Caballero de la Salsa” to the State Theater, in New Brunswick, New Jersey; on Sunday, October 20, 2024 at 7:30pm. From $49. 🇵🇷
New York City Venues
- Beacon Theatre
- Bergen Performing Arts Center (Bergen PAC)
- Carnegie Hall
- Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair, Jericho, Long Island
- Kupferberg Center for the Arts
- Madison Square Garden
- National Puerto Rican Day Parade
- New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)
- Radio City Music Hall
- State Theater, New Brunswick, New Jersey
- St George Theatre
- Theatre at Westbury
Gilberto Santa Rosa is “El Caballero de la Salsa”
Gilberto Santa Rosa was born in Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico on August 21, 1962. He came up in the New York salsa boom of the 1970s, went solo in the 1980s, and is still going strong. Santa Rosa’s style varies from dance-oriented to romantic. Lately he sounds jazzy.
Santa Rosa is a big fan of Latin legend Tito Rodríguez who was also famous for his boleros (soft romantic lullabies) back in the Palladium Ballroom days of the 1950s. Santa Rosa collects Rodríguez memorabilia and has recorded an album of Rodríguez songs.
On his way up, Santa Rosa recorded with the Tommy Olivencia Orchestra. We would have loved to see that. Olivencia’s orchestra was a salsa school back in the day, the way El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico has been more recently. Olivencia and another Puerto Rican salsa legend Ismael Rivera are from Villa Palmeras, which is sort of the Harlem or The Bronx of Santurce. Many famous artists are from there or lived there. Life is different there because it’s where immigrants live, but it is sacred ground. The bomba and plena are there too.
In 1995, Santa Rosa became the first Puerto Rican salsa singer to perform at Carnegie Hall. The live recording “En Vivo Desde El Carnegie Hall” (Live from Carnegie Hall) reached number 2 on the Billboard Tropical/Salsa chart and made “Perdóname” (Forgive me) his signature song.
Santa Rosa always has such a tight band. It’s interesting how he keeps the Puerto Rican sound. Nowadays musicians come out of music school. Sometimes they are so good that they play without soul. Santa Rosa’s band is clean, but still full of the flavor of the island.
A Great Live Show
We got to see Santa Rosa perform a Christmas show in the city plaza of Carolina, Puerto Rico in 2019. Wow! He is a great singer with a hot band. He really is a gentleman. It’s a refreshing change from all the salsa bad boys.
Santa Rosa did a troubadour battle with a guest singer. It was charming to hear them tease each other back and forth live like in a rap battle. Puerto Rico does have this troubadour tradition in the mountains. Apparently Santa Rosa is famous for his improvisations.
The band had a great young lady tres player. We danced all night. When it rained, the entire plaza turned into a sea of umbrellas, but everybody stayed. It was magical.
Santa Rosa performs in New York City a lot. It’s worth it to go see him.
Recent Albums
- “Debut y Segunda Tanda” (2022)
- “Colegas” (2020)
- 40… Y Contando (En Vivo desde Puerto Rico) (2019)
Information
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