Singer, Composer, Producer, Director, Bandleader, Photographer.
Born in Venezuela to Maria Luisa Toro (actor, jazz singer, and well-known Venezuelan soap star), Victor Hugo was inspired by the music of Puerto Rico, Cuba and of his homeland Venezuela.
After graduating from Performing Arts, he moved to London to pursue his studies.
A scholarship from the Venezuelan government gave him the opportunity to study filmmaking whilst continuing his musical career. He co-founded King Salsa with percussionist Robin Jones, resulting in his first UK recording Samba con Salsa. Later he collaborated on a new Salsa project with London percussionist Jim Lemessurier in La Clave & Victor Hugo, one of the pioneering Salsa bands in the UK. Victor sang and composed the original repertoire. His big break came when he performed with piano virtuoso Charlie Palmieri in London having been asked by Palmieri to replace Hector Lavoe on a European tour. Sadly, Charlie passed away soon after, but not before inspiring and encouraging Victor to pursue his career in Salsa.
With turbulent political change in Venezuela and withdrawal of his film making scholarship, Victor Hugo continued to pursue his dream of becoming a prime European Latino artist from his London base. His many talents also saw him working as a professional photographer, organising promotional shoots for fellow artists.
He formed his own Latin pop band, No Way Jose and released Tequila on Island Records and Fourth & Broadway, a huge hit across Europe entering the top 40 in over twenty European and Latin American countries. Later Victor Hugo & The Latin Thing released Latinos del Mundo on Faze Records also reached the number one spot on the dance charts. Despite commercial success with Latin related pop music Victor Hugo’s roots were in Salsa and he made a new group Victor Hugo con Picante with which he recorded his first solo album ‘Oye Latino’. The album Tropicalisimo followed, which featured master percussionist Alex Sarria from Cali, Colombia. Soon after, the Tropicalisimo Salsa Show took to the road with a group of 25 musicians and dancers featuring at festivals in the UK and Europe. A chance encounter with Group Niche, while performing in London, led to an exciting collaboration with Julio Cortez, pianist with Colombian band Group Niche, which resulted in the albums Salsa Pa’ America, Que Pasa, Salsa Perfecta and New York Salsa. The release of the album Salsa Pa’ America, recorded with Julio Cortez and musicians from Son de Cali, and featuring Kike Harvey on Viva la Salsa, won Best Salsa Album while the song Habanera won Best Salsa Song at the JPF music awards in Nashville. Another song ‘Hojas Muertas’ also had a special mention at the Canaries Song Festival in Spain. Victor was nominated for Best Latin Artist in the UK, the same year he landed an exclusive deal in Asia after performances in Hong Kong and Singapore and Japan. Victor Hugo has shared stages with a who’s who of Salsa legends including Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Oscar DeLeon, El Canario, Charlie Palmieri, Group Niche, Gabino Pampini, Son de Cali, David Pabon, Pedro Conga and Tito Nieves. He has performed for HRH Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Anne, Prince Charles, Princess Diana, and Prince Andrew. By appointment, performances have also taken him to the Royal Palace of Amman in Jordan, Westminster Cathedral and St Paul’s Cathedral. This beloved album never enjoyed the commercial success that it deserved but today it is recognised as a musical masterpiece. The songs were arranged by maestro pianist Armin Kiel, who collaborated with Victor Hugo and percussionist Jose Cortijo in this unique, once in a lifetime musical project. Due for release this year is Salsa Wonder, Victor’s Salsa tribute to Stevie Wonder. Recorded in Lima with the help of Diego Camacho, percussionist with Tony Succar in Miami; and arranger Hector Aguirre from Lima. This new exciting combination including Bass virtuoso Oscar Hauranga of Bambu Records must be heard.
The latest project Made in Cuba is being recorded this summer so watch this space for Victor Hugo ‘Made in Cuba’ in 2019. He will mix again with his new-found team in Miami and Lima Peru, and engage once again, award-winning, Miles Showell at Abbey Road London for his mastering. Victor Hugo is now living between London -UK and Valencia-Spain, where he continues to produce photographic Images as well as new music as a lot of original music, he says “As long as I am able, Why stop the music playing¨
For bookings and more info:
facebook.com/victorhugsalsa
Youtube: victorhugosalsa
Hector Rosquete
LAS RECORDS UK
C/o Latin Arts Services
+44 7956446342. UK
+34 650 597806. SP