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Luis Camilo Argumedes Rodriguez was born in Colon, Republic of Panama.
At age 15, he signed his first professional contract as a vocalist with Enrique Lynch's orchestra in Peru. After this, he returned to Panama where he signed a contract with Rafael Cortijo.
In April 1966, he arrives in San Juan, Puerto Rico where he recorded with Roberto Rohena y sus Megatones. He also recorded with Cortijo and Ismael Rivera in New York and he moved to this city where he performed in several Latin theatres, thus enriching his knowledge of Salsa. Here, he recorded with Kako and his Combo the following LP's: "Live it Up", "Union Dinamica" and "Salsa All Stars" with among others: Charlie Palmieri, Johnny Rodriguez, Israel Lopez "Cachao", Vitin Paz, Louie Ramirez.
In 1969, he signed a 6 month contract to perform with the well-known Sonora Matancera, singing with Yayo "El Indio". Later, he returned to Puerto Rico where he formed his own orchestra "Azuquita y su Melao" to perform at the JOSCO NIGHT CLUB.
In 1972, he moved to Los Angeles and travelled till 1976 with his orchestra to San Diego, Las Vegas and San Francisco. In 1974, he signs his contract with the Fania All Stars Records label, recording several LP's with the greatest orchestras of the moment such as the Tipica '73, Louie Ramirez, Tito Puente the "King" of timbales and Azuquita y su Melao.
In the middle of 1976, he travelled to New York and signed a contract with the Tipica'73.
During 1977, he went to Mexico, Venezuela and to Paris, with the Tipica 73, for two concerts with the famous salsero Cheo Feliciano from Puerto Rico. There he met Parisian journalist Pierre Goldman of LIBERATION, a daily newspaper. Goldman asked Azuquita to come back to Paris in two years when he would open a nightclub. Azuquita says," Two years later, I received a call at 8:00 a.m. from France. It was Pierre calling to tell me that he had a contract for me to perform for a month. That month turned into the most productive years of my career". Performing for European audiences brought him incredible prestige. He presented "Salsa" at the world renowned OLYMPIA Theatre where all the greatest artists of music have performed.
From France he has travelled all over Europe. Lately, he has appeared on Slovenian television ; performed at the Carnival Ball in Munich (Germany) in one of the most prestigious hotel of the World BAYERISCHER HOF, and played in front of 250 journalists covering the fashion shows 2002 in Paris, at the big party thrown for them by the prestigious fashion house HERMES.
Last but not least, LE MONDE, the Parisian daily, one of the most influential newspapers of the world, published his photo on the first page announcing the concert he was giving that night at the mythical NEW MORNING club, with a full page article describing his musical career.
Azuquita, known in Europe as the "King of Salsa" or the "Señor de la Salsa," has recorded more than 22 LP's or CD's. The most popular ones are: "Salsa en Vivo", Paris, 1979, "C'est Magnifique" with Tito Puente, New York, 1981 ; "Salsa International", recorded in New York and Paris in 1983, and released in 1984, "Dos Campeones" with Roberto (Mano de Piedra) Duran in 1984. Most of the music that he has recorded is his own creation and as a composer he has produced his own LP's and CD's.
In 1984, he alternated with such artists as Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Ruben Blades y Seis del Solar, La Orquesta Van Van de Cuba at the SALSA FESTIVAL in several cities in Spain.
Before that, in 1981, he had alternated with Bob Marley in front of 75,000 people at the OLD AIRPORT IN BOURGES, France.
In 1985, he signed a contract to perform accompanied by his Melao Orchestra at the famous CANDILEJAS CLUB and the HOLLYWOOD PALLADIUM.
In 1989, he went back to New York and recorded "Azucar a Granel" at the Variety Studios.
In 1992, he recorded "Amantes Secretos".
In 1994, he followed with "El Señor de la Salsa" in Cali, Colombia.
In 1996, he made "Los Originales" with the well-known pianist of Fania All Stars and Sonora Ponceña, Mister Papo Lucca in Ponce, Puerto Rico. He also formed "Azuquita y su Melao Boricua", participating in various festivals and concerts around the island.
In 1998, he returned to Paris. Azuquita y su Melao, along with Celia Cruz, Eddie Palmieri, Oscar D'Leon, Ruben Blades and others, reunited to do a concert in EURO-DISNEY.
Later, he recorded "La Salsa, c'est Pas Compliqué" in Puerto Rico and Montreal (Canada).
On October 2000, he participated in "LA CITA", the Biarritz Arts Festival, where he met Los Jubilados of Santiago, Cuba. Two days after the concert, he decided to make his first trip to Santiago de Cuba where he made the record "Cuba Son" with them, as well as the movie of the same name covering this event.
The record came out in 2001 and Veronique Mortaigne, the prestigious music critic, wrote in LE MONDE that it is a record "made for the pleasure of dancing". The movie was shown at the Biarritz Film Festival, 2001.
Azuquita is very busy, travelling to Los Angeles, Mexico, and the world renowned ORIENTE MUSICAL FESTIVAL in Cuba.
His nickname "Azuquita", means "little sugar" and it was given to him in Panama, at the beginning of his career, because his voice was as "sweet as sugar".
If you are interested in booking Azuquita please let us know if it's for a club or festival performance and what date and city you want them to perform.
For more information and/or worlwide bookings please contact us here or at: CamiloAzuquita@yahoo.com
Luis Camilo Argumedes Rodriguez nacio en Colon, Panama. A los 15 años, firmo su primer contrato como vocalista con la orquesta de Enrique Lynch en Peru.
En abril 1966, volvio a Panama y firmo un contrato con Rafael Cortijo y su Combo. A su llegada a Puerto Rico, grabo con Roberto Roena y sus Megatones. En el año 1968, Azuquita graba con Rafael Cortijo y Ismael Rivera. Ya estando en Nueva York, actuo en varios teatros latinos, enriqueciendo sus conocimientos de la Salsa. Aqui, tambien grabo con Kako y su Combo los LP's : " Live it Up ", " Union Dinamica " y " Salsa All Stars ", con Charlie Palmieri, Johnny Rodriguez, Israel Lopez " Cachao ", Vitin Paz, Louie Ramirez.
En 1969, firmo un contrato de 6 meses para tocar con la famosa Sonora Matancera cantando con Yayo " El Indio ". Despues, regreso a Puerto Rico donde formo su propia orquesta "Azuquita y su Melao"para actuar en el Josco Night Club. En 1972, se traslada a Los Angeles, California y hace una gira por San Francisco, San Diego y Las Vegas. En el año 1974, firma su contrato con la Fania All Stars.
Fué en el año 1976 que regresa a Nueva York y firma un contrato con la fabulosa orquesta Tipica '73 para cantar por primera vez en Mexico, Venezuela y Paris, donde se realizaron dos conciertos con el gran cantante portorriqueño, Cheo Feliciano. Fué alli que Azuquita conoce al periodista Pierre Goldman quien le propone que en dos años abrira el primer club de Salsa en Paris. Dos años despues, Azuquita recibe la llamada de Pierre a las 8 de la mañana, invitandolo a la inauguracion del club por un mes. Ese mes se convirtio en el mayor exito de su carrera ya que este contrato fue renovado por varios años gracias a la acogida del publico que llenaba este club, la Chapelle des Lombards, todas las noches. Durante este tiempo firmo para actuar en el mundialmente famoso Teatro Olympia donde han actuado las mas grandes figuras de la farandula. Tambien alterna con el " Rey " del reggae, Bob Marley, en el Viejo Aeropuerto de Bourges, Francia delante de 75.000 personas. Graba su primer album en un concierto " en vivo " en el famoso Club Bataclan de Paris, en 1980.
Actuando para el publico europeo le trajo un prestigio enorme. De Francia viajo pour todo Europa. Para el año 1985, firma un contrato para regresar a Los Angeles y actuar en los clubs Candilejas y el famoso Palladium de Hollywood, alternando con orquestas famosas como el Gran Combo, Andy Montañez, Wilfrido Vargas, Oscar D'Leon, Eddie Palmieri, Celia Cruz y otros artistas famosos.
En el año 1993, actua en el famoso Festival de la Salsa en Cali (Colombia). Iterpretando su exito "Como si Nada" del compositor Panameño Omar Alfano y arreglos de Isidro Infante.
Recientemente, aparecio en la television de Slovenia, canto en el prestigioso Baile de Carnaval en Munich, Alemania y en enero, amenizo la gran fiesta que la prestigiosa casa Hermes ofrecio a los 250 periodistas venidos del mundo entero para las colecciones 2002. Por ultimo, uno de los periodicos mas importantes del mundo, Le Monde, de Paris, publico su foto en la primera pagina, anunciando el concierto que esa misma noche, el 31 de diciembre 2001, daria en el mitico club New Morning. Adentro del periodico habia un articulo de una pagina consacrado a Azuquita.
Azuquita, conocido en Europa como el " Rey de la Salsa " o el " Señor de la Salsa ", ha grabado mas de 22 LP's y CD's. Los mas populares son : " Salsa en Vivo ", Paris 1980 ; " C'est Magnifique " con Tito Puente, Nueva York, 1981 ; " Salsa Internacional " grabado mitad en Paris y mitad en Nueva York ; "Dos Campeones " con Roberto " Mano de Piedra " Duran en 1984. Casi toda la musica que ha grabado es de su creacion. Como compositor a producido sus propios LP's y CD's. En 1984, alterno con artistas como Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Ruben Blades y Seis del Solar, La Orquesta Van Van de Cuba en el Festival de la Salsa en España. En 1989, grabo " Azucar a Granel " en los estudios NewYork Variety City. En 1992, grabo "El Señor de la Salsa " en Cali, Colombia. En 1993, grabo el album " Amantes Secretos " para los Discos TTH en Nueva York. En 1996, grabo con Pappo Lucca " Los Originales " en Ponce, Puerto Rico. Tambien formo "Azuquita y su Melao Boricua ", participando en varios festivales y conciertos por toda la isla.
En 1998, regreso a Paris, Francia y con su grupo hizo una gira por todo Francia. Durante su Gira de Francia, "Azuquita y su Melao ", junto a Celia Cruz, Eddie Palmieri, Ruben Blades y otros mas, se reunieron para un concierto en Euro Disney Land. Despues, grabo " La Salsa c'est pas compliqué " en Puerto Rico y Montreal, Canada.
En Octubre 2000, hizo su primer viaje a Santiago de Cuba donde grabo un disco " Cuba Son " con Los Jubilados, un grupo que conocio en el Festival " La Cita " de Biarritz donde actuo. Tambien hizo una pelicula del mismo nombre que fue presentado en el Festival de Cine de Biarritz del 2001. El disco salio en 2001 y Veronique Mortaigne de Le Monde escribio que " estaba hecho para el placer de bailar "..
Azuquita esta siempre muy ocupado, viajando a Los Angeles, Mexico y al famoso festival musical de Oriente, Cuba.
Su nombre artistico ," Azuquita ", se lo dieron en Panama al principio de su carrera pues tenia la voz tan dulce como el azucar.
Si te interesa contratar a Azuquita por cualquier evento, envia un mensaje aqui o email: CamiloAzuquita@yahoo.com
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