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VICTOR HUGO (SALSA SINGER)

Victor Hugo – the revolutionary renaissance man! The Salsa revolutionary, Victor Hugo was born over 150 years after his French namesake in Caracas, Venezuela to Maria Luisa Toro, actress, jazz singer, and well-known soap star. With such a famous name, how could he fail to succeed? Our Latino renaissance man grew up to became a singer, songwriter, producer, director, photographer as his love of Venezuelan, Puerto Rican and Cuban music inspired him to sing and compose his own music A teenage Victor starred and directed musical productions including Gospel, Hair, and Jesus Christ Superstar. He went on to compose and direct his own musicals Vimazoluleka and Pascall European dreaming After graduating from Universidad Central de Venezuela in the unusual combination of Biology and Performing Arts he moved to London at the tender age of 18. A scholarship from the Venezuelan government gave him the enviable opportunity to study filmmaking and continue his musical career in London. His first band was King Salsa, which he co-founded with percussionist Robin Jones. Victor Hugo & La Clave was his next band and one of the original Salsa bands in the UK with Jim Lemessurier, another London percussionist who collaborated with Victor’s new Salsa project. The Palmieri Factor Victor’s big break came when he performed with piano virtuoso Charlie Palmieri in London. Palmieri asked Victor to replace Hector Lavoe on a short European tour. This kick started Victor‘s Salsa singing career in Europe. Sadly, Charlie passed away soon after, but not before inspiring and encouraging Victor to pursue a career in salsa music. With turbulent political change in Venezuela, and withdrawal of his film making scholarship, Victor continued to pursue his dream of becoming the premiere European Latino artist from his London base. His multi-talents also saw him working as a professional photographer where he organised shoots for major artists such as Pink Floyd and other LP percussion protégées. He formed his own Latin pop band No Way Jose and released Tequila on Island Records. A huge hit across Europe it went top 40 in over twenty European and American countries. The Latin Thing released later on Faze Records also entered high into the charts. Despite Victor’s commercial success with Latin related pop music he always longed to sing Salsa and reformed his group, Victor Hugo con Picante. This huge Salsa extravaganza went on the road with over 25 people – musicians and dancers - joining Victor on stage. Victor recorded his first solo album Oye Latino with his band Picante. Another album entitled Tropicalisimo featured master percussionist Alex Sarria from Cali Colombia. It was only after a chance encounter with Grupo Niche that things really begin to take off. Colombian collaborations An exciting live collaboration with Julio Cortez, pianist with Colombian band Grupo Niche, resulted in the album El Niche soy yo - recorded with Julio and the band in 2002. This was the first of several albums recorded with Latin Grammy award winners Son de Cali from Colombia in 2005. International Victor Concerts across Europe have seen Victor performing with chart-topping artists The Corrs, Ricky Martin, Ronan Keating and Beverley Knight. He has also shared stages with a who’s who of Salsa legends: Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Oscar D’Leon, El Canario, Palmieri, Grupo Niche, Gabino Pampini, Son de Cali, David Pabone, Pedro Conga and Tito Nieves. Even international royalty have not escaped Victor’s South American pizzazz! Royal Brits such as HRH Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Anne, Prince Charles, Princess Diana, and Prince Andrew have got lost in Victor’s music. These ‘by appointment’ performances have taken Victor into the Royal Palace of Amman in Jordan, Westminster Cathedral and London’s landmark St. Paul’s Cathedral. Award-winning Salsa Victor’s international reputation was secured in April 2005 with the release of the album Salsa Pa’America which featured Kike Harvey on the track Viva la Salsa. It won Best Salsa Album while the song Havanera from the album won Best Salsa Song at the 2006 JPF music awards in the USA. Victor was also nominated for Best Latin Artist in the UK in 2005. the same year he landed an exclusive deal in Asia after a successful tour of Hong Kong and Singapore. A classic re-mastered Few artists are as prolific as Victor Hugo. In 2006 he released a re-mastered version of his most loved album. Latinoamerica, which never enjoyed the commercial success that it deserved. Now it is recognised as a masterful piece of musical arrangements. All the songs were arranged by Armin Keil who collaborated with Victor in this unique, once in a lifetime musical project. His next album is entitled Que Pasa and it promises to be yet another commercial success. In the pipeline… Several projects are waiting to be finalized. A new album where Victor crosses over into Raggaeton (the new Latin craze) entitled ‘Perfecto’. A second collaboration with Kike called Salsa y Soneos is also in the pipeline as is a third to be recorded in Cuba, which will be a ‘Salsa in English’ project with Cuban bass player and arranger Rey Crespo. The Salsa Gospel according to Victor Victor lectures on the ‘History of Latin American Music’ in colleges and universities across Europe. The lectures on the socio-political impact of Latin American popular music are practically a hobby. Today Victor performs his songs all around the world, or as he says 'wherever the music takes me'.

VIDEOS

VICTOR HUGO - LA MUJER (PERFECTO)

more videos

VICTOR HUGO - QUE PASA (2007)

Get lost in the Salsa’s pulsating polyrhythms and Victor Hugo’s exuberant and distinctive vocal styling, blend them with intimate lyrics of love, passion and heartache and you get Salsa Que Pasa? - cooked up in Victor's Kitchen

Victor Hugo Lead vocals y coros
Carlos Latoche Trombon
Bernardo Aguirre Trombon
Oswaldo Ospino Trumpet
Carlos Hurado Trumpet
Lucho Blanco Sax baritono
Francisco "Pacho" Ocoro Bass
Julio Cortes Piano
Oscar Juan Lozano Piano
Carlos "Piolin" Galvez Piano and keyboards
Diego "Zorro" Camacho Timbales, bongo, conga
Johnny Lopez Bongo
Milton Jurado Guitar
Diego Galindo Backing vocals
Hector Boluco Backing vocals

recensione di Roberto Rabbi: VICTOR HUGO - QUE PASA (2007)

review by Bruce Polin: VICTOR HUGO - QUE PASA (2007)

 1 Si Supieras 
 2 Como Quieres que te quiera 
 3 Siempre seras 
 4 Uno 
 5 Buscando Rumbas 
 6 Island Girl (Ballad) 
 7 Ella 
 8 Que Pasa 
 9 Oye Latino 
 10 Ci sono giorni 
 11 Te llamo 
 12 Korin gabe

more tracks can be heard on Vinilemania's Radio Channels

VICTOR HUGO & Armin Keil with Jose Crotijo - LATINOAMERICA (2006)

New Latinoamerica 2006 The inimitable Victor Hugo continues to forge new paths into the realms of Salsa awareness. Victor Hugo is considered a pioneer of Salsa in Europe now he has come to the USA. This album is a Future Classic

Victor Hugo Latinoamerica (2006) 01-La cruz de palo

Victor Hugo Latinoamerica (2006) 02-Te llamo

Victor Hugo Latinoamerica (2006) 03-Rindete

Victor Hugo Latinoamerica (2006) 04-La propuesta

Victor Hugo Latinoamerica (2006) 05-Siempre lo mismo

Victor Hugo Latinoamerica (2006) 06-La despedida

Victor Hugo Latinoamerica (2006) 07-La lluvia

Victor Hugo Latinoamerica (2006) 08-Hay que cantar

Victor Hugo Latinoamerica (2006) 09-Canto y lloro

Victor Hugo Latinoamerica (2006) 10-Tarde no es

Victor Hugo Latinoamerica (2006) 11-Si o no

more tracks can be heard on Vinilemania's Radio Channels

VICTOR HUGO - EL NICHE SOY YO (2002)

Yet another rocking salsa record from Venezuelan born Victor Hugo; Recorded with Colombian Super band, Grupo Niche, now renamed and Award winners 'Son de Cali'. Self styled Colombo-Venezuelan Salsa 'a Salsa dancers dream’