DRACO ROSA "Triumphs" In Return To Touring:
"The spectators never sat down" During the Deeply Introspective Rock Star's Emotional Performance - "It was an all-night standing ovation... A true celebration of Life"
After his two-year battle with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, highly respected musician, singer-songwriter & producer Draco Rosa released new album VIDA - a personal celebration of LIFE with his closest musical friends. With an unrivaled Who's Who of Latin Music appearing on the album, VIDA made a March debut at #1 onBillboard's "Top Latin Albums" chart - posting the strongest first week sales of any Latin album released in the first half of 2013 while being hailed as: "elegant, reflective and mysterious... one of the best recordings of 2013. Period."
DRACO ROSA's VIDA Holds LATIN GRAMMY Nominations For:
- ALBUM OF THE YEAR
- RECORD OF THE YEAR: "Más y Más" (with Ricky Martin)
- BEST CONTEMPORARY POP VOCAL ALBUM
"Draco Rosa had come to celebrate Vida, his latest (and first post-cancer) album. It was a triumph. All night, Rosa, showed us how to enjoy the moment. As soon as he took the stage, the energy was contagious. ..he tackled the Miami concert with the gusto of a gambler and a true survivor. ... Over the years, Rosa has composed very popular songs for singers like Luis Miguel and Ricky Martin, among others. But at the Fillmore, he proved his tremendous talent and unique style as a solo performer. ...It was amazing to see how every person in the crowd was a true fan, singing his songs and living the moment with the same passion as him. ...during the entire show, the spectators never sat down. It was an all-night standing ovation. At the end of the night, the audience asked for more and Draco Rosa came back with 'Aleluya', his take on the Leonard Cohen classic, making this last moment one to remember. A true celebration of Life."
- Miami New Times
Robi Draco Rosa Celebrates Being Alive. 'Vida' is the title of Robi Draco Rosa's new album and tour to celebrate being alive, after his two-year battle with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. With his concert in The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater, his fans in Miami were able to enjoy his rock music just like old times.
Accompanied with his Phantom Vox band, Draco Rosa appeared in the stage wearing all black: pants, jacket, hat and shades. He played a sparkling silver guitar and chose one of his darkest and most popular songs to start the night, "BrujerÃa." The fans at the theater knew that Draco was back. The sound of his voice and his guitar were so strong, that it is difficult to believe that this is the same person who was so ill that his fingers hurt when tried to play the guitar. During the presentation, Draco remembered one of the greatest singers of Latin rock: Gustavo Cerati, the former front man of Soda Stereo, the pioneering Argentine rock band. Cerati has been in a coma since suffering a stroke while on tour in 2010...'He was such an inspiration. This song is dedicated to him, for the love I have for him,' Draco said and started to sing a slower version of "De Música Ligera,"
Not only did he perform old and new songs, but he also had fun on stage dancing. He rocked "Mama," from his album "FrÃo." Draco then invited a fan from the public to the stage, and right in the corner, he started dancing salsa with her. This is Draco, the rock singer who once was part of Menudo, who co-wrote "Livin La Vida Loca" for Ricky Martin, and who knows how to rock and dance salsa. He did not leave out one of his favorite songs, "Cómo me acuerdo." On Saturday, the song took a different significance. 'This is a very romantic song. Mom doesn't know it, but once I was singing it in Madrid, and started crying... thinking of you, mom," said the artist, whose mother, father and family were at the show.'
- NBC NEWS (NBC Miami)
"Robi Draco Rosa brings renewed 'Vida' for concert ...an artist revered for his creativity, talent and integrity ...Robi Draco Rosa has always dedicated himself to music and the creative and existential risks that inspired him ... flouting industry expectations in order to pursue a resolutely independent path...'I used to have a T-shirt that said 'Risk everything, regret nothing,' and I always wore it proudly,' says Draco...But at the depths of a two-year battle with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, Draco found that even music failed him....'My Les Paul got too heavy,' he says. ..Since he was declared cancer-free at the end of last year, Draco has backed away from his long romance with living on the edge. 'I'm so grateful, so thankful, so appreciative,' he says. 'It's so miraculous for me to be here and see people again. Every encounter matters more than ever. I'm just - very much more in the moment'.... While he'll keep experimenting, Draco also sounds as if he wants to make music that's more accessible and in tune with his new state of mind. 'I want to lift up some spirits and go where it's not comfortable for me, while still staying genuine and honest,' he says. "I want to dance a little more. There's a lot of simple things I just want to share with people". - SUNDAY MIAMI HERALD
"Livin' the life: With cancer behind him, Draco Rosa brings his 'Vida' tour to Miami.
For Draco Rosa, the cup of life may come this year in the shape of a Latin Grammy -- or three.
The Puerto Rican singer-songwriter scored three nominations last month for Vida ("Life"), a greatest hits album with collaborations from high-profile friends like Marc Anthony, Juanes, Ricky Martin and Shakira that Rosa produced as he was battling cancer... 'For me, that album was a privilege...[Vida] was part of the healing process. I was working on the album while I was going through heavy treatments,' he said. 'We thought it would be a legacy album, and then suddenly that wasn't the case. I'm here, I'm alive.' The artist says he did not celebrate when doctors told him he was cancer-free. 'I simply had a moment of silence and I started thinking about where we come from, where we're going and all this stuff about remission, There are still doctor visits, blood tests, medicines, watching what I eat. Cancer brings this change in lifestyle that goes on forever.' But the moment was certainly life-changing: It brought him out of treatment and back on the road. 'I'm ecstatic, Touring is what I want to be doing and what I love to do. Rosa's already planning his next album, which he hopes to release next year and will represent another aspect of his rebirth."
- Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
Draco Rosa was born to make music. The former Menudo idol grew up listening to a mix of classic rock tunes from the Beatles and Led Zeppelin and the fast-paced descargas of salsa. And for over two decades now, the Grammy and Latin Grammy Award-winning singer, artist, writer, and producer has been pursuing his passion. After two years of battling cancer and working on his latest album, Vida, Rosa is finally back in action, cancer-free, touring the Americas" - Miami New Times
"Draco Rosa's cancer diagnosis two years ago could have been a death sentence. Instead, it was a reason to live. As the singer-songwriter embarks on his first tour since fighting the disease and learning in May the cancer is gone, Rosa, is reflecting on what he's learned - and why he never gave up." - New York Daily News
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