Santiago Cruz

Hailing from Colombia, singer-songwriter Santiago Cruz has earned acclaim for his poignant fusion of ballads and mainstream pop. Breakthrough came via the chart-topping single “Una y otra vez” from his 2003 debut Solo Hasta Hoy, with Sentidos following in 2006. Multiple Latin Grammy nominations arrived for Cruce de Caminos (2009), A Quien Corresponda (2012), Equilibrio (2014), and Trenes, Aviones y Viajes Interplanetarios (2017). Subsequent romantic releases such as Elementales (2019), Dale (2021), and Nueve (2023) have kept him prominent on the Latin charts.

Born Santiago Cruz Vélez in Ibagué, Colombia, in 1976, he nurtured an early love for music. After military service and studies in Finance and International Relations, he chose a full-time career in songwriting and performance. The 2003 album Solo Hasta Hoy yielded the hit “Una y otra vez,” paving the way for the well-received Sentidos (2006) and Cruce de Caminos (2009), the latter securing a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Singer-Songwriter Album.

A Quien Corresponda appeared in 2012 and brought a Latin Grammy for Record of the Year with the track “Dede Lejos,” while Equilibrio (2014) earned another Best Singer-Songwriter Album nomination and featured contributions from Dani Martin, Abel Pintos, and Diana Fuentes. Trenes, Aviones y Viajes Interplanetarios (2017) likewise received a Best Singer-Songwriter Album nomination and included appearances by Elsa y Elmar and Pedro Capó. Elementales followed in 2019, led by the single “Baja la Guardia.”

Dale arrived in 2021 with Alejandro Sanz as a guest and spotlighted the track “Hay Dias.” Two years later, Juan Pablo Vega produced Nueve, on which Cruz delved into romance and nostalgia, including the duet “El Gran Teatro” with Andres Cepeda.