Jose Alberto "El Canario"
b. José Alberto Justiniano, 22 December 1958, Villa Consuelo district, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. His naturally beautiful voice has earned Alberto the title El Canario (The Canary). When José was seven years old his parents moved to Puerto Rico, where he studied music at the Antilles Military Academy. He took up residence in New York and made his first recording there as lead singer on the album CURIOUS? (1976) by Tito Rodríguez's son. From 1978 to the early '80s he worked with the adventurous band Típica 73. In 1982, Alberto was amongst the lead vocalists on the Louie Ramírez-produced NOCHE CALIENTE, which was the first album to give popular Spanish lyrics ballads an uptempo salsa treatment. Alberto turned bandleader and made three underrated albums on the Sono Max label between 1984-86. His self-penned title track from the 1984 album TIPICAMENTE demonstrated that his late '80s hit-making style was well developed at an early stage. He had a smash hit in 1988 with the salsa romántica orientated SUEÑO CONTIGO. His brand of the often quite limited salsa romántica style has been harder edged and less formulaic than many of his contemporaries. José made his UK debut in 1988 fronting his own band and backing Celia Cruz. His follow-up album, MIS AMORES (1991), was another hit. In May 1990 he appeared at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival with Celia Cruz. The combination of high quality arrangements and musicianship has made Alberto's band one of the best currently working out of New York. An unusual and poignant part of his live performances is his amazing ability to use his highly melodious whistling skills as a soloing instrument. He also has a strong presentational sense and almost stole the show at the September 1990 New York Salsa Festival in Madison Square Garden. Young Dominican merengue star, Sergio Vargas, guested on Alberto's 1991 release.