Gustavo Laureano

Like Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, and numerous other standout performers, Gustavo Laureano first developed his musical skills inside a church setting. Beginning at age 13, he mastered bass, drums, guitar, and vocals amid the dynamic worship music that thrives throughout Puerto Rican congregations. After finishing high school he enrolled at the University of Orlando, where his passion for 1980s rock prompted him to search for fellow musicians among his peers; there he met bassist Mark Kilpatrick. The two collaborated on songs for the remainder of their studies and, upon graduating, relocated to Miami. With a full lineup assembled, the musicians began local performances as La Secta Allstar. The band’s momentum quickly grew, leading artists such as Ricky Martin and Ednita Nazario to record material written by the group. Under producer Andres Levin the ensemble cut five albums and rose to flagship status at Universal Latino. Those consistent commercial successes and large-venue draw supplied Laureano the visibility and leverage to pursue a personal goal in 2007. His debut solo project, King Callero del Amor, honors his grandfather by adapting the term quincallero (hardware merchant) to evoke the elder’s life as an itinerant vendor in San Juan’s La Perla neighborhood. Although his commitment to La Secta remains firm, Laureano has embarked on a course that could open fresh creative territory.