Gerardo Rosales was born the 6th of july in Caracas, Venezuela. Since 1993 he is living in Europe. At the age of 8 he starts studying the piano but at the same time he is interested in playing the congas and bongo. In 1977, at the age of 13, he gets to know Orlando Poleo, who invites him to study Afro Caribbean percussion at the "Taller de Arte" In the suburb Sarria in his native town Caracas. From 1977 till 1980 he studies congas and bongo with Orlando Poleo and timbales with Alberto Borregales. In 1985 he studies Afro Venezuelan percussion with Alexander Livinali at the "Fundación Bigott". In 1987 he starts making his career with important figures like Soledad Bravo, Cecilia Todd, Canelita Medina, Alberto Naranjo y el Trabuco Venezolano, Maria Rivas, Joe Ruiz, Ilan Chester, Orquesta Café, trina Medina y Yarake, Victor Cuica and many more. At the same time he founds his own orquestra named "Salsa 70" and with this band he does performances in all the suburbs, theaters and dance halls of the capital. In 1992 he is invited to participatie in the Expo Sevilla in Spain with the band "Caracas Son 7". From this moment he decides to stay in Europe. In 1993 he releases his first cd titled "Gerardo Rosales y su Salsa Pa'lante", this cd is recorded in Venezuela and released in Spain. He starts getting invitations to work in France with Alfredo Rodriguez and Orlando Poleo; in Germany with Conexión Latina and Nicky Marrero, in Holland with Saskia Laroo, José Avila y su Quimbombo and Cedric Dandaree. In 1995 he is invited by Paquito D'Rivera to participate in the recording of the CD "Bebo rides again" together with the legendary Cuban piano player Bebo Valdés. From 1996 till now, he is touring through Europe with his own projects of salsa and Latin jazz. With his concerts and recordings he has managed to spread and project the rhythms of Venezuela, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Perú, Curaçao, Surinam and the Antilles. Herewith he has gained the respect and admiration of a big audience all over the world. In 2002 the song "La Salsa es mi Vida" of his so-called cd from 2002 was used as soundtrack for the movie "Madame Jeanette" directed by Dutch director P Paula van der Oest. The year before she had been nominated for an Oscar for her movie "Zus en Zo" Gerardo also composed the song "Perdón".
List of artists with whom he has realized concerts, recordings and tours during his career:
Adalberto Santiago, Ajo Porro y Mango, Alain Perez ,Alberto Naranjo Alejandro Salas, Alfredo Perdomo, Alfredo Rodriguez, Alfredo Naranjo ,Aly N’ Diaye Rose, Amadito Valdés, Ana Beck, Antonieta ,Aquiles Baez ,Arena Latin Armando Peraza ,Azuquita, Bebo Valdes, Benjamin Herman, Benny Bailey, Beto Hernandez, Cadáver Exquisito, Candy Dulfer, Caracas Son 7, Carlos Emilio, Morales, Caramelo, Cecilia Todd, Cheo Navarro, Cheo Valenzuela,Chiqui Rojas,Cholo Ortiz ,Clave y Guaguanco ,Conexión Latina Cross Courrent ,Cubop City Big Band Cumbe Uno ,Debora Sasha Denise Yana ,Drums United, Edgar Quijada “ Dolor, Eddie Felmand Edy Martinez, El TrabucoVenezolano Evio di Marzo y Adrenalina Caribe, Estelita del Llano, Estrella Acosta ,Federico Jr y Magia Caribeña, Floria Márquez, FP la Banda ,Fra Fra Sound, Frankie Vazquez, Gerry Weil, Guaco, Guillermo Davila, Hans Dulfer, Hector Casanova, Henry Fiol ,Holland Big Band ,Ilan Chester ,Irvis Mendez ,Israel Suarez “Pirañaâ€, Izaline Calizter, Jarana, Jazmin Savedra, Jetty Mathurin, Jimmy Bosch ,Joe Ruiz y su Charanga, Jorge Rigo, Jose Rosario Soto y su Sonero ,Joshua Edelman, Juan Pablo Torres, J C "Bulú" Viloria ,Kimbiza, La Banda Sigilosa, Laura Fygi, Leoni Yansen ,Lilian Vieira ,Lizbet Lis ,Lucas Van Merwijk ,Luis Conté ,Luis Dulzaides, Marco Borsato, Marejada ,Maria Rivas, Meñique ,Michael Franti, Miguel Angel Morillo Milton Nascimento, Mirta Perez, Moises Porro, Molote Muñoz ,Nancy Ramos ,Nelson Hernadez, Nene Quintero, Nestor Gutierrez “El chivo†,New Cool Collective, Nicky Marrero, Nino Segarra Nueva Manteca, Orquesta Café, Orlando Castillo “Watussiâ€, Orlando Poleo ,Orlando Valle Maraca, Oscar Booy y Valija, Oscar D’ Leon ,Pablo Gil, Pablo Santaella, Paquito D’ Rivera, Powl Ameerali, Randal Corsen, Ralph Irrizarry, Ramon Valle ,Raquel Castaños, Raul Agraz, Ricardo Hernández y Rococó, Roberto Antonio, Roberto Pla, Roberto Quintero, Rumbata, Saboriongo, Shannon Dudley, Samba Salad, Samplin ,Santiago Ceron, Saoco, Saskia Laroo, Simon Diaz ,Soledad Bravo, Soneros del Barrio, The Rosenberg Trio, Tito Allen, Tony Monserrat, Toots Thielemans, Toquiño, Trina Medina, Victor Cuica, Viviane Godoy, Yakkie Familie, Yma America Matinez, Ynarhu, Yolanda Rivera, Yosvani Terry and many others.....
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