Gerardo Rosales was born the 6th of July in Caracas, Venezuela.
Since 1993 he is living in Europe. At the age of 8 he started studying the piano. At the same time he is interested in playing the congas and bongo.
In 1977, at the age of 13, he gets to know Orlando Poleo, who invites him to study Afro Caribbean percussion at the "Taller de Arte" In the suburb Sarria in his native town Caracas. From 1977 till 1980 he studies congas and bongo with Orlando Poleo and timbales with Alberto Borregales.
In 1985 he studies Afro Venezuelan percussion with Alexander Livinali at the "Fundación Bigott".
In 1987 he starts making his career with important figures like Soledad Bravo, Cecilia Todd, Canelita Medina, Alberto Naranjo y el Trabuco Venezolano, Maria Rivas, Joe Ruiz, Ilan Chester, Orquesta Café, trina Medina y Yarake, Victor Cuica and many more. At the same time he founds his own orquestra named "Salsa 70" and with this band he is performing in all the suburbs, theaters and dance halls of the capital.
In 1992 he is invited to participate in the Expo Sevilla in Spain with the band "Caracas Son 7". From this moment he decides to stay in Europe.
Some of the artists with whom he worked with in Europe are Alfredo Rodriguez, Orlando Poleo y Chaworo, Conexión Latina, Nicky Marrero, Paquito D’Rivera, Bebo Valdés, Cubop City Big Band, New Cool Collective, Fra Fra Sound, Laura Fygi, Rosenberg Trio, Nueva Manteca, Peter Beets, Drums United, Michael Franti, Andy Montañez, Meñique, Yolanda Rivera and many more.
From 1996 till today Gerardo Rosales plays with his own salsa and Latin Jazz projects in Europa and other places over the wordl.
With his concerts and recordings he has managed to spread and project the rhythms of Venezuela, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Peru, Curacao, Surinam and the Antilles. Herewith he has gained the respect and admiration of a big audience from all over the world.
Gerardo Rosales & Venezuelan Master "Leyendas de la salsa venezolana"
Live in La Feria de Cali Colombia
Tributo to Arsenio Rodriguez "Tumba y Bongo"
Gerardo Rosales "The Producer"
Have always been interested in the world of production.
For many years I have recorded percussion for other artists. I learned how to record a CD, from the moment that the idea was born till the moment that the cd was released.
To offer an excellent final product, the producer has to reunite composers, arrangers, musicians, singers and sound engineers. I developed this skill during my musical career.
In occasions I compose and participate in arrangement as well, to give my personal touch to the music.
In my discography I have 12 productions of my own and 70 appearances on CDs and DVDs with other artists.
At this new stage of my musical life I would like to offer my support and experience to those who have got something to say with music. And express themselves through music.
Gerardo Rosales "The composer"
Each person carries in his mind and hart the wish to transmit a message or to express a melody.
For me it’s a miracle that thought can be converted into music; experiences, every day situations or emotions are concerted into songs.
In my case, the inspiration to compose came to me like a tide, that goes out and comes in.
I always wait for the tide to bring me new inspirations to keep up composing.
For me, the best composition is life itself, and every inhabitant of the world is a interpreter of this beautiful composition.
Gerardo Rosales "The Collector"
Since I was 8 years old I have been a collector of LPs. I lived the glorious time of salsa. At that time I could see all the famous bands on television. I went to the concerts of the Fania generation in the Poliedro of Caracas. Without taking notice I was forming and documenting myself. I dedicated myself to read the credits on the LPs, who did the recordings and where did the recordings take place. I searched for magazines that wrote about salsa (Swing Latino, edited in Venezuela) and books that informed about the Latin culture. I swapped cassettes of live concerts with my friends. I learned a lot through collected historical documents, photos and interviews. This way I was culturally enriched.
Through the record company Palacio de la Música, who printed LPs from a.o. Fania, Cotique, Tico Allegre, record company Fania was able to show her catalogue in Venezuela. Each week many records were released. Everybody bought LPs and cassettes for the price of 24 till 28 bolívares (30 years ago). Today this would be 1-euro cent. The same catalogue that the salsa lovers in that time amassed in vinyl can be found nowadays in cd. For me it’s a stupidity buying my collection again in cd!
The advantage of the technology is that these musical gems that used to be unattainable for many years, are being recovered, thanks to the music lovers. At this moment these musical gems are circulating in countries like Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Panama, Ecuador, etc. To me, that’s where the real salsa information and the memory of the collectors are tremendous.
When I think about the joy I felt some 20 years ago I get homesick. Entering a record shop to buy an LP. It was always special and exciting to buy a LP, breaking the plastic, removing the disk from its bag and listen to it in your vinyl record player. That beautiful sound was unique and lovely. When a LP was carved, you always knew where the record would clang.
I sensed the death of the LP, just like it happened with the cassette, which used to be the first formal medium of the “piratería”. I sensed the birth of Betamax, VHS, and the CD and right now the DVD, DVD record, the mini disc, the MP3, MP4, and of course the computer with it’s internet and e-mail etc.
I feel like a cock-roach running and running, each time technological advancements come out. I think about when I will be able to transfer all my LPs, 4.500 in total and my 2.000 cassettes into the newest technology. Do I really have to buy my whole collection of LPs and cassettes in CD again?? If so it would be the summit to have to pay 15 dollars to buy a CD of Monguito Santamaria, the same I bought in 1976 for 23 bolívares.
Rubén Blades said: “what is it worth to have and to have, if you don’t know what to do with what you have”.
I congratulate all those that are rescuing the musical memory of the Latin-American continent in CD, Cassette, and DVD etc.
Here I am, in Holland, enjoying of a premature old age, since in so short time there has been so many advancements, that I feel like I’m 85 years old. Then, admitting my situation, I continue listening my LPs and using my cassette player, accepting the advancements, learning and fighting with the machines each time they are defective.
SOUND DE LA CUADRA ( Sa. 31. Okt. ) “Latin Festival Berlin”
Afrolatin, Funk, Salsa, Disko, Rock und Hip-Hop aus Lateinamerika LIVE!!!
Stellas
Hangar 49 (Berlin-Mitte)
Adresse: S-Bahnbogen No. 49 an der „ARAL“ Tankstelle der
Holzmarktstr.
neben der S/U-Bahnstation Jannowitzbrücke Richtung Ost
Party ab 22:30 Uhr
Konzertbeginn: 23:30
7 € (Live 3 Bands, Dj´s und Vj´s)
Olá pessoal! Saca aqui um clipe produzido por alunos de Arte e Mídia (UFCG) Paraíba Brasil. A música escolhida É POESIA foi gravada no álbum de 2007 chamado PARA FINS DE MERCADO. Abraço a todos! | Hi everyone! See a clip art produced by students Arte and Media (UFCG) Paraíba Brazil. Music chosen “Is poetry” was recorded on 2007 album called PARA FINS DE MERCADO. Embrace!
Hola Gerardo grato placer saludarte, quiero que escuches mi nuevo tema HOMBRE INFIEL, espero te guste, me informaron que estas en Venezuela me gustaria reunirme contigo. Saludos escribeme o dame tu correo o telefono. con cariño
Epa maestro, como esta la cosa? Espero que todo esta bien por alli. Te deseo mucha suerte y que sigan los exitos! Un abrazo y un saludo desde Leiden. Tu pana Randy
To build something new, we need to let go of the old can. War has never been a solution and we want our music to a new way of thinking contribute to a better world and work with peace, love and harmony to the problems of this world face.
