Eddie Santiago

Multi-platinum-selling sonero Eddie Santiago transformed salsa upon issuing his first solo album, Atrevido y Diferente, in 1986. The project deliberately ignited the salsa romantico movement and shattered existing sales and airplay benchmarks through its pop melodies, hip arrangements, and rhythms that drove forward yet remained laid-back and sensual.

Santiago began performing salsa vocals at age ten. The classics drew him in and fueled his goal of becoming a professional sonero. As a teenager he sang with Generación 2000, La Potente Orchestra, Opus Orchestra, and the Saragüey Orchestra. In March 1984 he joined Willie González as co-lead vocalist of Conjunto Chaney, directed by bongo player Nicolas Vivas. Several of the band’s hits, among them “Desesperado” and “Que Maravilla Fue Sentirte,” featured his voice. He and González exited Conjunto Chaney at roughly the same moment, signed to separate labels, and released debut albums in 1986.

Willie González & Noche Sensual Orquesta earned platinum certification and captured Album of the Year and Best New Salsa Artist of the Year honors. By comparison, Santiago’s Atrevido y Diferente on Rodven Records drew sharp criticism from traditionalists and reviewers for its calculated commercial focus. The album nevertheless outsold both González’s release and virtually every other salsa title that year. Together the two records reversed salsa’s commercial decline after five years of merengue dominance.

Santiago’s approach centered on his partnership with producer Frank Torres and arranger Tommy Villariny, musicians he had met while working with Conjunto Chaney. He ruled the charts for the remainder of the 1980s and well into the 1990s. His next six albums each reached number one on the U.S. Tropical Albums chart, and Sigo Atrevido! received a Grammy nomination. Hits such as “Lluvia,” “Todo Empezo,” and “Insaciable” kept arriving as Santiago developed a touring circuit spanning the Caribbean, Latin America, the United States, and Europe. The title track from his collaborative album Los Principes de la Salsa with Luis Enrique held the top position on the Tropical Songs chart for five consecutive weeks.

Santiago did not secure an international major-label contract until 1999, when he signed with Sony. His first release for the label, Celebración: Epic Duets, presented re-recordings of his biggest hits alongside Elvis Crespo, Melina Leon, Charlie Zaa, Victor Manuelle, and others; it peaked at number eight on the Latin Albums chart. Ahora, issued in 2001, earned some of his strongest critical notices. Despues del Silencio arrived in 2004, performed solidly on radio and the charts, and earned a 2006 Grammy nomination for Best Salsa/Merengue Album. Also that year came Eddie Santiago Interpreta los Grandes Exitos de Luis Angel, a tribute to a fellow artist. Although En Su Estilo Romantico y Sensual, released in 2006, remains his final collection of new studio material, numerous compilations from assorted labels have appeared since, several of which charted; 2013’s Iconos: 25 Exitos reached number two on the Tropical Albums chart.