Adalberto Santiago

Adalberto Santiago (born April 23, 1937) is an internationally known salsa singer.

Career Born April 23, 1937, in Pozas barrio, Ciales, Puerto Rico, Between 1966 and 1972, Adalberto made eight studio albums with Ray Barretto,

Los Kimbos had a similar sound to both the pre-split Ray Barretto and Típica 73 outfits. With Los Kimbos, Adalberto recorded Los Kimbos (1976) and The Big Kimbos With Adalberto Santiago (1977). That year he also made his solo debut on Adalberto, which was produced by Barretto. Los Kimbos continued under the leadership of Orestes Vilató. Santiago sang lead on one track on Louie Ramírez y Sus Amigos by Louie Ramírez. In 1979, Adalberto and Ramírez co-produced his solo follow-up, Adalberto Featuring Popeye El Marino. The same year, he reunited with Barretto on Rican/Struction. Barretto produced Adalberto's next solo album, Feliz Me Siento (1980). Sonora Matancera member, Javier Vázquez, produced, arranged, directed and played piano on Adalberto Santiago, which was Adalberto's contribution to the early 1980s típico salsa revival. In 1982, Santiago joined with Roberto Roena for Super Apollo 47:50. Santiago then co-produced Calidad with Papo Lucca, who also played piano, and oversaw musical direction. His Cosas Del Alma was an album of boleros which included his third recorded version of "Alma Con Alma" (which was previously contained on Barretto's The Message and Gracias ), and featured arrangements made by Steve Sacks, Ray Santos and Alberto Naranjo, among others. He returned to Salsa Dura in 1985 on Más Sabroso.

Adalberto did his own version of salsa romántica on Sex Symbol, with production, arrangements, musical direction and piano by Isidro Infante. This album produced one of Santiago's biggest solo hit songs "La Noche Mas Linda Del Mundo". In 1990, he again performed "Alma Con Alma", this time arranged by Infante in a salsa romántica style for Louie Ramírez's second album entitled Louie Ramírez y Sus Amigos.

Santiago has written songs for a number of the albums on which he has appeared, both as lead singer and solo artist, and provided compositions for other artists to record, such as Joe Cuba. He has appeared in Robin Williams's movie Moscow on the Hudson, and provided music for Al Pacino's Carlito's Way as well as appearing as himself in the film Our Latin Thing and the Academy Award winning documentary Summer Of Soul.

Adalberto, now in his 80s, continues to record and perform in the US, Europe, and South America. In 2022 he recorded a Trap / Reggaeton style song "Quitate" with noted rappers Jon Z and Ñengo Flow. His discography is at over 100 and counting. He is celebrating more than 70 years as a professional musician. He resides in his native Puerto Rico and in New York City. His nephews Johnny Rivera and Tony Vega are also notable salsa singers.

Discography

Solo Adalberto. Fania Records; 1977 Adalberto Santiago Featuring Popeye El Marino. Fania Records JM 536; 1979 Feliz Me Siento. Fania Records; 1980 Adalberto Santiago. Fania Records; 1981 Calidad. Fania Records; 1982 Cosas del Alma. WS Latino 4163, 1984 Más Sabroso. Budda Records 011; 1985 Fania Dancing Club Collection #7. Fania Records; 1985 Sex Symbol. Mayor Music 001; 1989 Hay Algo En Ella. JV Music 001; 1991 Romantico Y Salsero, Exitos. La Ola Musical; 2009 Exitos. Edenways Records EDE 1310-1; 2010

With Chuito Velez Chuito Velez. Chuito Velez Y Sus Estrellas Boricuas. La Flor Records; 1958 Chuito Velez. Hojas Muertas. DECCA Records; 1960 Chuito Velez. Si Pancha Plancha. La Flor Records; 1962 Chuito Velez. A Go-Go. SEECO Records; 1964

With Ray Barretto Ray Barretto. Latino Con Soul. UA Latino 6593, WS Latino 4053; 1967 Ray Barretto. Acid. Fania Records LP 346; 1968 Ray Barretto. Hard Hands. Fania Records LP 362; 1968 Ray Barretto. Together. Fania Records LP 378; 1969 Ray Barretto. Barretto Power. Fania Records LP 391; 1970 Ray Barretto. The Message. Fania Records LP 403; 1971 Ray Barretto. Qué Viva la Música. Fania Records LP 427; 1972 Ray Barretto. Tomorrow: Barretto Live. Atlantic SD 2-509, Messidor 15950; 1976 *GRAMMY NOMINATION* Ray Barreto. Gracias. Fania Records JM 528; 1979 Ray Barretto. Rican/Struction. Fania Records JM 552; 1979 Ray Barretto, Celia Cruz, Adalberto Santiago. Tremendo Trío!. Fania Records JM 623; 1983 *GRAMMY NOMINATION* Ray Barretto. Fuerza Gigante (The Giant of Salsa): Live 50th Anniversary. AJ Records-Sony Discos; 2001

With Típica 73 Típica 73. Típica 73. Inca Records SLP 1031; 1973 Típica 73. Típica 73 (Volume 2 with the "Stock Certificate Cover"). Inca Records SLP 1038; 1974 Típica 73. La Candela. Inca Records SLP 1043; 1975 Típica 73. Típica 73...74...75...76. Inca Records SLP 1063; 1978 Típica 73. Típica 73 Live. AJ Records; 2002

With Los Kimbos Los Kimbos con Adalberto Santiago. Cotique CS 1083; 1976 The Big Kimbos with Adalberto Santiago. Cotique CS 1091; 1977

With The Fania All Stars Fania All Stars. Live at the Red Garter, Vol. 1&2 (2-LPs). Fania Records LP 355 + LP 364; 1968 Fania All Stars. Our Latin Thing. Fania Records LP 431; 1972 Fania All Stars. Live At the Cheetah Vol. 1&2 (2-LPs). Fania Records LP 415 + LP 416; 1972 Fania All Stars. Greatest Hits. Fania Records LP 511; 1977 Fania All Stars. Habana Jam. Fania Records FA 116; 1979 Fania All Stars. Commitment. Fania Records JM 564; 1980 Fania All Stars. Latin Connection. Fania Records JM 595; 1981 Fania All Stars. Lo Que Pide La Gente. Fania Records JM 629; 1984 Fania All Stars. "Live" June 11, 1994, Puerto Rico. Fania Records JM 684; 1995 Fania All Stars. Viva Colombia (En Concierto) (2-CD). Latina 225; 1996 Fania All Stars. Bravo 97. Fania Records JM 711; Sony 82351; 1997 Fania All Stars. Hot Sweat: The Best of FAS Live (2-CD). Vampi Soul Records 046; 2005 Fania All Stars. Campeones (Anthology) (2-CD). Fania/Codigo Music; 2010 Fania All Stars. Ponte Duro: The Fania All Stars Story (4-CD). Fania/Codigo Music; 2010

Contributions Willie Rosario. Boogaloo y Guaguanco. ATCO Records; 1968 Willie Rodriguez. Colorin Colorao. Fonseca Records; 1968 Willie Rodriguez. Heat Wave. Fonseca Records; 1969 Larry Harlow. Hommy, A Latin Opera. Fania Records; 1973 Impacto Crea. Christmas. VAYA Records; 1973 Impacto Crea. Cobarde. VAYA Records; 1974 Various Artists. Franklin Key Presenta Rumba Con Los Mejores. Inca Records; 1975 Lou Perez. Fantasia Africana. WSL Records; 1975 Lou Perez. Nuestra Herencia. TICO Records; 1976 Pancho Cristal. Super Típica De Estrellas. All-Art Records; 1976 Andy Harlow. Pura Salsa! Con Lo Mejor De Andy Harlow. Discos Completo, S.A.; 1977 Louie Ramírez. Louie Ramírez Y Sus Amigos. Cotique Records 1096; 1978 Linda Leida. Electricando Linda. TR Records; 1978 Tito Puente. Homenaje A Beny More, Vol 1&2 (2 LP's). TICO Records; 1979 *GRAMMY WINNER* Mario Allison. A Fondo. FTA Records; 1979 Louie Ramírez. Salsero. Cotique Records 1104; 1980 Artistas de La Fania. Aeropuerto 81. Fania Records; 1980 Roberto Roena y su Apollo Sound. Super Apollo 47:50. Fania Records LP 609; 1982 Celia Cruz & Tito Puente. Homenaje A Beny More. VAYA Records; 1985 Alfredo Rodriguez. Monsieur Oh La La. Caiman Records; 1985 Alfredo Valdes Jr. Charanga Ranchera. The Mayor Records; 1989 Isidro Infante. Salsa Sudada. Valdesa Records; 1990 Various Artists. Bailoteca Vol: 12. FM Records; 1990 Various Artists. Peligro Llego La Salsa. BMC; 1990 Louie Ramirez. Louie Ramirez Y Sus Amigos. CaChe Records; 1990 Linda Ronstadt. Frenesi. Elektra, Rhino; 1992 *GRAMMY WINNER* Candido Antomattei. Candido Y Las Super Estrellas. La Plata Records; 1994 Orquesta Inmensidad. La Danza De Los Millones. Orlcon Records; 1995 Various Artists. Latin Jazz. Intermusic S.A.; 1996 David Rothschild. Lookin'Up!. Via Jazz Records; 1998 Larry Harlow. Larry Harlow's Latin Legends Band 1998. Sony Music; 1998 Various Artists. Coleccion Estelar De Salsa Dura. BCI Latino: 2000 Various Artists. Salsa ! Demon Music Group; 2000 Son 80s. Live At S.O.B.s. Exclusivo Records; 2001 David Gonzalez with Larry Harlow. Sofrito. RainArt Productions; 2001 Papo Lucca. Festival De Boleros. Flowmusic; 2002 Jazz Hamilton. Jazz Hamilton Y Las Estrellas Del Pueblo. La Rosevelt Records; 2004 Homenaje A Frankie Ruiz. Va Por Ti Frankie! Sony Music; 2004 Johnny Pacheco. Entre Amigos. Bronco Records; 2005 Ralph Irizarry & Soncafe. Tribute. BKS Records; 2006 Various Artists. FANIA Soneros De Siempre Vol. 1. Universal Music; 2006 Johnny Cruz. Back To The Classics. Tiffany Records; 2006 Larry Harlow. Larry Harlow's Latin Legends Of Fania. Image Entertainment; 2007 Mario Ortiz All-Star Band. Tributo A Mario Ortiz. Sony Music; 2009 Luis Gonzalez. Tributo A Un Gigante. Tsunami Records; 2010 Estrellas De La Salsa. 25 Aniversario Tropical Budda Records Vol. 1. West Side Beat; 2011 Tribute To Ray Barretto. La Era Del Palladium. Sony Music; 2011 Alfredo De La Fe & Rodry-Go. Sin Limites. No Borders Entertainment; 2013 Edwin Clemente. Dos Generaciones En Salsa. Epacaje Records; 2015 Orquesta Abran Paso. Back To The 70s. Abran Paso Records; 2015 Orquesta Abran Paso. Salsa Radio-Activa. Abran Paso Records; 2019 Johnny Cruz. Trayectoria De Clasicos. Cruz Music Inc.; 2019 Orquesta Abran Paso. Clasicos En Vivo Vol. 1. Abran Paso Records; 2021