Obie Bermúdez
Encyclopedia
Obie Bermúdez is a Puerto Rican
-American
R&B/Salsa
singer and composer
.
into a family who loved music. His father and grandfather were both musicians. He received his primary education in the town of Aibonito, however in 1992 the family moved to Vineland, NJ. There he received his secondary education. Bermúdez is bilingual and speaks English and Spanish fluently.
Bermúdez followed the family legacy to love and respect music. This love and respect was what empowered Bermúdez with the drive to pursue his dream, even when the circumstances were less than favorable. In 1996, he recorded his first "demo".
In 2000, Bermúdez moved to New York
, believing that there he would be able to obtain the success that he wanted, however that did not occur and he ended up working in a laundromat in order to sustain himself economically. While working at the laundromat, he came into contact with all sorts of people from different levels of society. The experiences that he gained by observing and coming into contact with these people would serve him in the near future with his song writing.
In 2003, he was contracted to participate in the United States
musical tours of Juanes
, Paulina Rubio
and Juan Luis Guerra
. In 2004, Bermúdez released his second CD Confesiones. This CD contained three songs which reached the Top 10 singles on Billboard's Hot Latin Charts.
On January 2005 he released Todo el Año (All year long) which included the songs Maldita Boca (Damn mouth) and Ya te Olvide (I have forgotten you), he also released Como Pudiste (How could you?).
In his production Todo el Año, Bermúdez express' that he is closer than ever to the emotions of the common men and that he continues to stay connected to the everyday people who walk the streets. In his style he express' a handful of experiences of the past year. Todo el Año covers many personal themes including love. As the singer explained: "The opportunity to present this Album is more than a blessing. I'm happy that the public has embraced me and feel so fortunate... I hope that Todo el Año will be another album that my fans can relate to." The album won a Latin Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Album in 2005.
In 2006, Bermúdez began working towards his theatrical debut in the production of El Canto del Coquí
, which was staged in 2007. He also revealed in an interview conducted by "People en Español" in its January 2006 issue, that he may participate in a movie production, however he failed to mention the title of the film.
, Ray de la Paz, Claudette Sierra and Frankie Negrón, participated in the recording of Songs of the Capeman, based on Paul Simons play The Capeman
(a Broadway musical about the life of Salvador Agron
) under the direction of Oscar Hernández and his Spanish Harlem Orquestra.
He was engaged to Latin Popstar Jennifer Peña
, whom he married on June 3, 2007 in a private ceremony in Corpus Christi
, Texas
. They currently have a child, Jobien Bermúdez.
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
R&B/Salsa
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
singer and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
.
Early years
Bermúdez was born in Aibonito, Puerto RicoAibonito, Puerto Rico
Aibonito is a small mountain town in Puerto Rico located in the Mountain range of Cayey, north of Salinas; south of Barranquitas and Comerio; east of Coamo; and west of Cidra, and Cayey. Aibonito is spread over 8 wards and Aibonito Pueblo...
into a family who loved music. His father and grandfather were both musicians. He received his primary education in the town of Aibonito, however in 1992 the family moved to Vineland, NJ. There he received his secondary education. Bermúdez is bilingual and speaks English and Spanish fluently.
Bermúdez followed the family legacy to love and respect music. This love and respect was what empowered Bermúdez with the drive to pursue his dream, even when the circumstances were less than favorable. In 1996, he recorded his first "demo".
Career as a singer
In 1998, Bermúdez recorded his first CD and debuted as a professional singer with Locales (Locals). Locales was recorded by BMG Records. His music recordings contained more musical instruments than your typical salsa orquestra and his songs contain a social message.In 2000, Bermúdez moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, believing that there he would be able to obtain the success that he wanted, however that did not occur and he ended up working in a laundromat in order to sustain himself economically. While working at the laundromat, he came into contact with all sorts of people from different levels of society. The experiences that he gained by observing and coming into contact with these people would serve him in the near future with his song writing.
In 2003, he was contracted to participate in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musical tours of Juanes
Juanes
Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez , better known as Juanes is a Colombian musician who was a member of heavy metal band Ekhymosis and is now a solo artist. In 2000, his solo debut album Fíjate Bien won three Latin Grammy Awards.Juanes has sold more than 13 million albums...
, Paulina Rubio
Paulina Rubio
Paulina Susana Rubio Rue is a Mexican singer and actress. Rubio achieved international stardom with her fifth studio album, Paulina...
and Juan Luis Guerra
Juan Luis Guerra
Juan Luis Guerra is a singer, songwriter and producer from the Dominican Republic who has sold over 30 million records, and won numerous awards including 12 Latin Grammy Awards, two Grammy Awards, and two Latin Billboard Music Awards...
. In 2004, Bermúdez released his second CD Confesiones. This CD contained three songs which reached the Top 10 singles on Billboard's Hot Latin Charts.
On January 2005 he released Todo el Año (All year long) which included the songs Maldita Boca (Damn mouth) and Ya te Olvide (I have forgotten you), he also released Como Pudiste (How could you?).
In his production Todo el Año, Bermúdez express' that he is closer than ever to the emotions of the common men and that he continues to stay connected to the everyday people who walk the streets. In his style he express' a handful of experiences of the past year. Todo el Año covers many personal themes including love. As the singer explained: "The opportunity to present this Album is more than a blessing. I'm happy that the public has embraced me and feel so fortunate... I hope that Todo el Año will be another album that my fans can relate to." The album won a Latin Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Album in 2005.
In 2006, Bermúdez began working towards his theatrical debut in the production of El Canto del Coquí
Coquí
The Common Coquí or Coquí is a frog native to Puerto Rico belonging to the Eleutherodactylus genus of the Leptodactylidae family. The species is named for the loud sound the males make at night. This sound serves two purposes...
, which was staged in 2007. He also revealed in an interview conducted by "People en Español" in its January 2006 issue, that he may participate in a movie production, however he failed to mention the title of the film.
Later years
Bermúdez returned with the August 29th release of his fourth album, "Lo Que Trajo El Barco" (What The Ship Has Brought In). The album represents the eagerly awaited follow-up to Bermúdez’ Latin GRAMMY winning album Todo El Año. In 2009, Bermúdez together with Danny RiveraDanny Rivera
Danny Rivera is a Puerto Rican singer and songwriter who was born in San Juan whose career spans nearly 50 years. He is well-known in Puerto Rico for his political activism.-Musical career:...
, Ray de la Paz, Claudette Sierra and Frankie Negrón, participated in the recording of Songs of the Capeman, based on Paul Simons play The Capeman
The Capeman
The Capeman is a musical play written by Paul Simon and Derek Walcott based on the life of Salvador Agrón. The play opened at the Marquis Theatre in 1998 to poor reviews and had an initial run of only 68 performances....
(a Broadway musical about the life of Salvador Agron
Salvador Agron
Salvador Agron The correct spelling of his surname in Spanish is Agrón. But the biography by Jacoby, his personal friend, uses the americanized spelling Agron exclusively throughout...
) under the direction of Oscar Hernández and his Spanish Harlem Orquestra.
He was engaged to Latin Popstar Jennifer Peña
Jennifer Peña
Jennifer Marcella Peña , is an American Latin Pop/Tejano singer and actress who has sold over 3.5 million records internationally. Peña is the third and youngest daughter of Jaime and Mary Peña with other siblings Janet and Jackie...
, whom he married on June 3, 2007 in a private ceremony in Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. They currently have a child, Jobien Bermúdez.