Name: Victor Manuel Montilla
Place of birth: Bogota, Colombia.
Victor-Andrés Cruz was born in the city of Bogotá, Colombia, the city where he first felt the powerful essence of music, and the city that has always been one of Victor's biggest sources of inspiration. He grew up in a family that was, and still is to this day, very passionate about Colombian Folk music.
Early Days:
Early in his life he found an aptitude for music let alone talent. Coming from a musical family where his father is a well known composer for local and national stars, and his brothers working as a musicians, he found himself surrounded by music. When he came to the United States he resumed playing with his father at events. He entered his high school chorus were he received more classical studies and improved his voice. This lead him to hook up with the upcoming music producer Emilio Antonio who helped him secure his first record deal.
Music career:
Victor was always surrounded by Colombian Folk music, his dad playing the Tipple (a Colombian guitar) and singing many traditional Folk songs, together with his wife, Victori’s mum. This really inspired Victor and he started studying Colombian music when he was 8 years old at "La Casa De La Cultura" in the town of Cogua. Here he joined several Colombian Folk music groups, playing many Colombian instruments ranging from string, to wind and percussion instruments, and singing as well. Later he also began his traditional studies at the Coservatory of La Universidad de Caldas in the city of Manizales, and the Conservatory of La Universidad Nacional in Bogotá.
Victor's family then decided to emigrate to the state of Florida, United States, where Victor joined the Middle and High School Band Programs. In the States Victor noticed that his Country's image was very bad due to bias and tainted journalism constantly showing Colombia as a drug trafficking dangerous Country without soul, morals or remorse. This greatly influenced his music, as he decided to use Colombian music as a tool to get into people's minds and souls and show them the real essence of Colombia. He currently studies at the Berkley College of Music where he is a Hand Percussion Principal. Here he's constantly playing and performing Colombian Folklore and Colombian Instruments and deepening his studies on Jazz to incorporate it into his Folkloric Sounds.
Discography:
Divina 5
Soy Latino
Oye Que Linda
Esa Nina
Te Amo
Enamor ado
Me Tienes Loco
A Bailar
Las Reglas Del Amor
Gozala
Junto a Ti
By Lourd Vijay
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About the Author: Lourd Vijay is the principal Promoter of Latin culture, music and dance in the Asian Region. He recently stood 10th at the “most Popular Entrepreneur of the year 2009” amongst 180 nominees from across the country. An innovative choreographer and a very able instructor, he is the director of the Lourd Vijay’s Dance Studios (www.lvds.in) in India.
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