Featured Performers At The Puerto Rican Day Parade
Huey Dunbar
At the ripe old age of 26, Huey Dunbar has won over the world with his soulful salsa volcals. He started out singing backup vocals on recordings by top artists like Yolandita Monge, Victor Manuelle and India. He was also a featured backup singer in the group, Dark Latin Groove, and on the band's first album, "Dark, Latin Groove" (1996) earned them their first Grammy nomination. While touring with DLG in 2000, Huey also started working on his first solo release, "Yo Sí Me Enamoré," where he sings a duet with Mexican actress and singer Lucero.
Fulanito is the brainchild of Washington Heights' own Rafael Vargas. This group was the first to combine the style known as perico ripiao, which is the traditional accordion-based meringue of the Dominican Republic, together with hard-hitting house and Hip-Hop tracks. Their biggest hit, "Guallando," featured a 61-year-old traditional accordionist over a thumping club beat. Their name comes from a Spanish expression that means "so-and-so", and also refers to the Fulani people of West Africa.
Gisselle
Born in New York to Puerto Rican parents, Giselle's family moved back to the island when she was 11. Gisselle started out professionally as a dancer. At 15, she was appearing regularly on stage and on TV in Puerto Rico. She worked as a dancer in the stage show of Menudo. When she crossed over to being a singer, her first job was with an all-female meringue group called Kaviar. In 1991 she joined the pop trio Punto G. In 1995, she signed with BMG as a soloistm and she's put out eight albums since then. For the 1998 album "Juntos," she teamed up with the Dominican meringue star Sergio Vargas. Her most recent album is called "8."
Grupo Mania
Grupo Mania founded in Puerto Rico in 1993 by three brothers -- Héctor, Edwin, and Oscar Serrano -- along with choreographer Alfred Cotto, Grupo Manía is Puerto Rico's superstar meringue group. They created a new style of meringue with elements of R&B and Hip-Hop and a high-energy stage show which has been widely imitated. Superstar Elvis Crespo first attracted attention as a member of Manía, and after his departure in 1997 the group continued as a trio. Their eighth and most recent album, titled "Grupo Manía 2050," was nominated for a Latin Grammy.
Manny Manuel
Manny Manuel was born in 1972 in Orocovis, in the mountains of Puerto Rico. Manuel got his first break with the duo Mayra and Celinés, then joined the group Los Sabrosos de Meringue. In 1994 he went solo. Besides meringue, he has recorded Puerto Rican folklore-genre songs with the popular Puerto Rican singer El Topo, and recorded an album of traditional boleros. He was a Latin Grammy nominee in 2001.
Brenda K. Star
After selling more than 500,000 records during her career, and receiving a Grammy nomination for "Best meringue performance" in 1999, Gisselle has established herself as one of the best female vocal performers of Latin music. In 1991, Gisselle formed the group "Punto G.," whose ballads "La mala" and "La Amante" became very popular and received heavy radio play in Puerto Rico and Miami. With her charisma and powerful voice, Gisselle was able to establish a strong following in Puerto Rico. Gisselle also has performed sitcoms "TVO" and "Esto No Es Un Show" on the Spanish television network Telemundo. At the same time, she worked on her solo career, and her first, self-titled album singles "Perfume de Mujer en Tu Camisa," and "Lo Mio Es Mio," helped the album reach gold and platinum status. Her second album, "A Que Vuelve" also topped the Latin dance charts, and sold about 200,000 copies.
Michael Stuart
A New York native, Michael Stuart learned music from his uncle Israel "Timbalero" Stuart. He started out singing backup for salsa stars before he made his first solo album in 1997. He was featured as a soloist on the Tito Puente / Eddie Palmieri collaboration "Masterpiece." His new album is "La Princesa."
Tony Touch
Some people believe that hip-hop icon Tony Touch, 32, has powers similar to King Midas -- everything he touches turns to gold. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Touch was involved in hip hop since the early 1980s, where he backspun and boogied at the city's hippest clubs. But he didn't start to earn a reputation for his mixes until 1990s, when Touch put together several mixtapes, both with themes and freesyle, such as "5 Deadly Venoms of Brooklyn," featuring D.J. Primier, Mister Cee, Evil Dee and P.F. Cuttin'. His first full-length album, "The Piece Maker" was released on the Tommy Boy Music label, and it featured contributions from Xzibit, Cypress Hill, and Wu-Tang Clan. Recently, Touch launched his own label, Touch Entertainment, and he releasesd his first album, the "Rican Struction EP," in 2001.
At the ripe old age of 26, Huey Dunbar has won over the world with his soulful salsa volcals. He started out singing backup vocals on recordings by top artists like Yolandita Monge, Victor Manuelle and India. He was also a featured backup singer in the group, Dark Latin Groove, and on the band's first album, "Dark, Latin Groove" (1996) earned them their first Grammy nomination. While touring with DLG in 2000, Huey also started working on his first solo release, "Yo Sí Me Enamoré," where he sings a duet with Mexican actress and singer Lucero.
Fulanito is the brainchild of Washington Heights' own Rafael Vargas. This group was the first to combine the style known as perico ripiao, which is the traditional accordion-based meringue of the Dominican Republic, together with hard-hitting house and Hip-Hop tracks. Their biggest hit, "Guallando," featured a 61-year-old traditional accordionist over a thumping club beat. Their name comes from a Spanish expression that means "so-and-so", and also refers to the Fulani people of West Africa.
Gisselle
Born in New York to Puerto Rican parents, Giselle's family moved back to the island when she was 11. Gisselle started out professionally as a dancer. At 15, she was appearing regularly on stage and on TV in Puerto Rico. She worked as a dancer in the stage show of Menudo. When she crossed over to being a singer, her first job was with an all-female meringue group called Kaviar. In 1991 she joined the pop trio Punto G. In 1995, she signed with BMG as a soloistm and she's put out eight albums since then. For the 1998 album "Juntos," she teamed up with the Dominican meringue star Sergio Vargas. Her most recent album is called "8."
Grupo Mania
Grupo Mania founded in Puerto Rico in 1993 by three brothers -- Héctor, Edwin, and Oscar Serrano -- along with choreographer Alfred Cotto, Grupo Manía is Puerto Rico's superstar meringue group. They created a new style of meringue with elements of R&B and Hip-Hop and a high-energy stage show which has been widely imitated. Superstar Elvis Crespo first attracted attention as a member of Manía, and after his departure in 1997 the group continued as a trio. Their eighth and most recent album, titled "Grupo Manía 2050," was nominated for a Latin Grammy.
Manny Manuel
Manny Manuel was born in 1972 in Orocovis, in the mountains of Puerto Rico. Manuel got his first break with the duo Mayra and Celinés, then joined the group Los Sabrosos de Meringue. In 1994 he went solo. Besides meringue, he has recorded Puerto Rican folklore-genre songs with the popular Puerto Rican singer El Topo, and recorded an album of traditional boleros. He was a Latin Grammy nominee in 2001.
Brenda K. Star
After selling more than 500,000 records during her career, and receiving a Grammy nomination for "Best meringue performance" in 1999, Gisselle has established herself as one of the best female vocal performers of Latin music. In 1991, Gisselle formed the group "Punto G.," whose ballads "La mala" and "La Amante" became very popular and received heavy radio play in Puerto Rico and Miami. With her charisma and powerful voice, Gisselle was able to establish a strong following in Puerto Rico. Gisselle also has performed sitcoms "TVO" and "Esto No Es Un Show" on the Spanish television network Telemundo. At the same time, she worked on her solo career, and her first, self-titled album singles "Perfume de Mujer en Tu Camisa," and "Lo Mio Es Mio," helped the album reach gold and platinum status. Her second album, "A Que Vuelve" also topped the Latin dance charts, and sold about 200,000 copies.
Michael Stuart
A New York native, Michael Stuart learned music from his uncle Israel "Timbalero" Stuart. He started out singing backup for salsa stars before he made his first solo album in 1997. He was featured as a soloist on the Tito Puente / Eddie Palmieri collaboration "Masterpiece." His new album is "La Princesa."
Tony Touch
Some people believe that hip-hop icon Tony Touch, 32, has powers similar to King Midas -- everything he touches turns to gold. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Touch was involved in hip hop since the early 1980s, where he backspun and boogied at the city's hippest clubs. But he didn't start to earn a reputation for his mixes until 1990s, when Touch put together several mixtapes, both with themes and freesyle, such as "5 Deadly Venoms of Brooklyn," featuring D.J. Primier, Mister Cee, Evil Dee and P.F. Cuttin'. His first full-length album, "The Piece Maker" was released on the Tommy Boy Music label, and it featured contributions from Xzibit, Cypress Hill, and Wu-Tang Clan. Recently, Touch launched his own label, Touch Entertainment, and he releasesd his first album, the "Rican Struction EP," in 2001.Copyright 2002 by WNBC.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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