Robi Rosa

Born in New York yet raised in Puerto Rico, Robi Rosa first encountered music during childhood through the Beatles and nearby salsa performers. His earliest performances, however, centered on covers drawn from classic hard rock and heavy metal catalogs, beginning with the band Admir and leading to his later stint in Menudo. He became the first member to exit the group, stepping away mid-tour. A short stay in Brazil followed, where he laid down tracks sung in Portuguese, while separate interests in literature and painting also claimed his attention. Returning to the United States, he briefly pursued acting and landed a part in the 1988 film Salsa. He next joined the alternative outfit Maggie’s Dream before issuing his debut solo album, Frio, in 1994. Vagabundo arrived two years later, helmed by Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanara, and Songbirds & Roosters followed in 1998 as the English-language counterpart to that 1994 release. His songwriting for Ricky Martin proved decisive, with “Maria,” “The Cup of Life,” and “Living La Vida Loca” all emerging as major successes and securing three Grammy nominations in 2000. In 2004 he unveiled Mad Love, a thirteen-song, genre-defying set shaped by Miles Davis, actress/director Angela Alvarado, and the marriage of jazz and rock, featuring the likes of Van Dyke Parks and Nelson Gonzalez among its many contributors.