Zoraida Santiago
Encyclopedia
Dr. Zoraida Santiago is a noted composer
and singer of Puerto Rican cultural themes.
where she developed an interest in musical instruments at a very young age. Her parents had her take piano
lessons as a child. She also took lessons about musical composition and harmony. Santiago is a self-taught guitar
ist. After graduating from high school, Santiago moved to New York
where she pursued her university studies in anthropology
.
singer Roy Brown
. Santiago joined Brown's musical group Aires Bucaneros and participated in the recordings of "Aires Bucaneros" (1979) and "Casi Alba" (1980). Both albums contain compositions by Santiago. These are "Prisa Loca" (Crazy Rush), "De la Tierra en que Naci" (From the land I was born) and "Canciones para Vieques" (Songs for Vieques). Santiago went on tour with the group to various countries.
In 1982, Santiago returned to Puerto Rico and made her "first" solo recording "Tiene que ser la Luna" (It must be the Moon
). During that decade she also participated in and produced some local theatrical productions. Among these were Las Bohemias, Mujeres Sin Hombres (Women without Men), Matutina and Tres Momentos (Three moments). She traveled to Mexico and the United States with the theatrical group.
Santiago composed, interpreted and recorded the music for the movie
made for T.V.
"Luisa Capetillo
, passion de justicia" (Luisa Capetillo, passion for justice), directed by Sonia Fritz. in 1985, she held a concert titled Antillanas at the Sylvia Rexach
theater in San Juan. In 1994, Santiago recorded "Canciones Sublevadas" which included various of her compositions plus some poems of Julia de Burgos
to which she added music.
In 2002, Santiago and Roy Brown recorded "Bohemia" which included bolero
s from different composers, such as Pedro Flores
"Bajo la Palma" (Under the Palm Tree) and Rafael Hernández "Silencio" (Silence). Their album was nominated for a Tu Musica Award for best bolero recording of the year.
. She also belongs to a group of singers who operate an Internet
radiotrova. She has a program called Magia de la Cancion (Songs Majic). In April 2004, Santiago released her latest album "Del Sueño al Hecho" (From Dreams to Reality).
In early 2008, Santiago's Conciones Por Todas Partes won in The 7th Annual Independent Music Awards
for Best Latin Song. In May 2010, Santiago together with Danny Rivera
, Silverio Pérez, Carlos Esteban Fonseca, Tito Auger and the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra provided the students who were on strike at the University of Puerto Rico with cultural and musical performances.
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...
and singer of Puerto Rican cultural themes.
Early years
Santiago was born and educated in Santurce, Puerto RicoSan Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
where she developed an interest in musical instruments at a very young age. Her parents had her take piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
lessons as a child. She also took lessons about musical composition and harmony. Santiago is a self-taught guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist. After graduating from high school, Santiago 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...
where she pursued her university studies in anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
.
Musical career
In 1978, she met fellow Puerto RicanPuerto 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...
singer Roy Brown
Roy Brown (Puerto Rican musician)
Roy Brown Ramírez is a composer, singer and a fervent believer in the cause for the independence of Puerto Rico. Some of his songs have been performed by several renowned international artists.- Early years :...
. Santiago joined Brown's musical group Aires Bucaneros and participated in the recordings of "Aires Bucaneros" (1979) and "Casi Alba" (1980). Both albums contain compositions by Santiago. These are "Prisa Loca" (Crazy Rush), "De la Tierra en que Naci" (From the land I was born) and "Canciones para Vieques" (Songs for Vieques). Santiago went on tour with the group to various countries.
In 1982, Santiago returned to Puerto Rico and made her "first" solo recording "Tiene que ser la Luna" (It must be the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
). During that decade she also participated in and produced some local theatrical productions. Among these were Las Bohemias, Mujeres Sin Hombres (Women without Men), Matutina and Tres Momentos (Three moments). She traveled to Mexico and the United States with the theatrical group.
Santiago composed, interpreted and recorded the music for the movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
made for T.V.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
"Luisa Capetillo
Luisa Capetillo
Luisa Capetillo was one of Puerto Rico's most famous labor organizers. She was also a writer and an anarchist who fought for workers and women's rights.-Early years:...
, passion de justicia" (Luisa Capetillo, passion for justice), directed by Sonia Fritz. in 1985, she held a concert titled Antillanas at the Sylvia Rexach
Sylvia Rexach
Sylvia Rexach , was a comedy scriptwriter, poet, singer and composer of boleros .-Early years:Rexach was born and raised in Santurce, Puerto Rico. There she attended public school and received her primary education...
theater in San Juan. In 1994, Santiago recorded "Canciones Sublevadas" which included various of her compositions plus some poems of Julia de Burgos
Julia de Burgos
Julia Constancia Burgos García is considered by many as the greatest poet to have been born in Puerto Rico, and along with Gabriela Mistral, is considered as one of the greatest female poets of Latin America...
to which she added music.
In 2002, Santiago and Roy Brown recorded "Bohemia" which included bolero
Bolero
Bolero is a form of slow-tempo Latin music and its associated dance and song. There are Spanish and Cuban forms which are both significant and which have separate origins.The term is also used for some art music...
s from different composers, such as Pedro Flores
Pedro Flores (composer)
Pedro Flores born was one Puerto Rico's best known composers of Ballads and Boleros.-Early years:Flores was one of 12 children born into a poor family in the town of Naguabo, Puerto Rico. Flores' father died when he was only nine years old and therefore, he was forced to work at a young age...
"Bajo la Palma" (Under the Palm Tree) and Rafael Hernández "Silencio" (Silence). Their album was nominated for a Tu Musica Award for best bolero recording of the year.
Later years
Santiago earned her Doctorate Degree in Anthropology and is a professor of Social Sciences in the University of Puerto RicoUniversity of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
. She also belongs to a group of singers who operate an Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
radiotrova. She has a program called Magia de la Cancion (Songs Majic). In April 2004, Santiago released her latest album "Del Sueño al Hecho" (From Dreams to Reality).
In early 2008, Santiago's Conciones Por Todas Partes won in The 7th Annual Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards is an international program that honors top-ranked independent artists and releases in more than 50 Album, Song, Music Video and Design categories....
for Best Latin Song. In May 2010, Santiago together with Danny Rivera
Danny 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:...
, Silverio Pérez, Carlos Esteban Fonseca, Tito Auger and the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra provided the students who were on strike at the University of Puerto Rico with cultural and musical performances.
See also
- List of Famous Puerto Ricans
- List of Puerto Rican songwriters
- Music of Puerto RicoMusic of Puerto RicoThe music of Puerto Rico has been influenced by the Spanish, African, Taíno Indians, France, and the United States, and has become very popular across the Caribbean and across the globe...