About Luis Kalaff
Lived 1916 – 2010 (aged 93). Luis Kalaff was a Dominican composer, singer, guitarist, musician and bandleader.
Luis Kalaff (October 11, 1916 -July 2, 2010 ) was a Dominican singer, composer and guitarist.
Life and career His father, Juan Kalaf, was of Lebanese origins. His mother was Bernavelina Perez. Deborah Pancini Hernández, author of Bachata: A Social History of a Dominican Popular Music, described him as "popular".
In 1958 he moved to New York City.
Kalaff used boogaloo and merengue as influences in his work. Other artists like Celia Cruz and Julio Iglesias began playing songs written by Kalaff. In 2000, Kalaff was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Luis Kalaff's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Luis Kalaff's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Luis Kalaff?
musical artist
When was Luis Kalaff born?
Luis Kalaff was born on 11 October 1916.
When did Luis Kalaff die?
Luis Kalaff died on 2 July 2010 in Santo Domingo.
What was Luis Kalaff's occupation?
Luis Kalaff was a composer, singer, guitarist, musician and bandleader.
What nationality was Luis Kalaff?
Luis Kalaff was Dominican.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Luis Kalaff. https://biography.guide/luis-kalaff/
MLA: "Luis Kalaff." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/luis-kalaff/.
Chicago: "Luis Kalaff." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/luis-kalaff/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 04:59 UTC