Victor Manuelle

Date of birth: 27 September 1968
Place of birth: New York
Original name: Victor Manuel Ruíz

Victor Manuelle, born Víctor Manuel Ruiz on September 27, 1968 in New York to Puerto Rican parents, is a successful Grammy nominated Salsa singer, songwriter and sonero, known to his fans as El Sonero de la Juventud ("The Youth's Sonero"). He’s music is primarily in the genre of salsa romantica or "salsa monga", but has also experimented with styles ranging from Colombian vallenato to urban salsaton.

In his high school Gilberto Santa Rosa gave a concert, and invited him to jump up on the stage and sing a song together. He was so impressed by his improvisational skills, that Gilberto decided to mentor him founding his  singing carreer.

Although born in the US, Victor Manuelle continues to write and sing in Spanish and unlike other salsa contemporaries such as Marc Anthony, continues to perform purely within the salsa genre.

Styles: salsa romántica (or salsa monga), Columbian vallenato, urban reggaeton and salsaton.
He sang ”La Vida es un carneval” on Celia Cruz’ funeral in 2003 (New York).

Billboard Latin Music Awards:
2002    Tropical/Salsa Airplay Track of the Year: „Me Da Lo Mismo”
2003    Hot Latin Songs-Vocal Duet or Collaboration of the Year
2005    Tropical Airplay Track of the Year, Male: „Tengo Ganas”
2007    Tropical Album of the Year, Male: „Decision Unanime”


Premio Lo Nuestro:
2008    Tropical Salsa – Artista Ano
2009    Tropical – Male Artist of the Year


Discography:
1993    Justo a Tiempo
1994    Solo contigo
1996    Victor Manuelle
1997    A Pesar De Todo
1998    Ironias
1999    Inconfundible
2001    Instinto y Deseo
2002    Le Preguntaba A La Luna
2004    Travesia
2005    En Vivo Desde Carnegie Hall
2006    Decision Unanime
2007    Navidad a Mi Estilo
2008    Soy
2009    Yo Mismo


by Zsuzsa Melkvi
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About the Author: Zsuzsa Melkvi is a salsa dancer and teacher, having competed in Latin-American and Standard dances from 1995-1998. She is also the founder of Baila Cuba (www.bailacuba.hu), a Dance company focused on giving exclusively pure Afro-Cuban workshops in Hungary. Zsuzsa holds a BA degree in Economics from the University of Hertfordshire.