Videos

As Billboard Latin Artist on the Rise, Luis Alfonso speaks about his journey watching black-and-white films as a child to playing in coliseums. Watch the singer reflect on his rising star.

Luis Alfonso:
Hello! How are you, my beautiful people? I’m Luis Alfonso, the great man, and I’m Billboard’s Latin Artist on the Rise. Again. Rise … OK! Hello! How are you, my beautiful people? I’m Luis Alfonso, the great man, and I’m Billboard’s Latin Artist on the Rise.

My first memory with music … The person who instilled this passion within me was my maternal grandfather. His name was Fernando, Luis Fernando Vargas. He was very fond of Mexican cultures. Since I was a child, he instilled in me the Mexican passion by watching Cantinflas’ movies. I used to watch Cantinflas’ movies in black-and-white, Jorge Negrete, Pedro Infante, Javier Solís, of all the Mexican actors of yesteryear. From there, the roots of love for music were born.

I started out loving ranchera and the Mexican icons. Also, hand in hand with the passion for music with which we grew up, which is the popular regional music of Colombia, listening to the music of Mr. Darío Gómez, icons in our country. Caballero Gaucho, Viscontis. Better said, music in which the old ones of us sat down to tell the story and listened to it in the “lomplecitos,” on the jukebox, on the radio. They are the older men who took the musical machete and made the path on which the new musical wave is walking on today.  And they are old men that you see on the street or they sit with you and talk to you and give advice. 

Keep watching for more!

As Billboard Latin Artist on the Rise, Christian Alicea talks about the importance of his Puerto Rican heritage and his love for salsa music. Watch the singer reflect on his rising star.

Christian Alicea:
Family, how are you? This is Christian Alicea, and I am Billboard’s Latin Artist on the Rise. My passion for music was born through my family. I am the youngest in my household, and when I was growing up, I saw that my dad was a musician. My two older brothers are musicians. I grew up with that musical vein. It was impossible to stray into any other area aside from music. I believe that my passion for music is thanks to my family. My first musical inspirations has always been artists who make very tropical music. Elvis Crespo is never forgotten. Marc Anthony, La India, which is influenced by my mother. 

La India:
I like that you show what you are. You are a musician, you go out, you do your thing, you perform, you do what you have to do. 

Christian Alicea:
The fact that I’m Puerto Rican, I believe influences a lot of things from the way we are raised, the way we communicate, the music we listen to, the slang we use. We love rhythm. We love everything that has a sound, everything that moves us. And I think something that characterizes the energy of the Boricua, I don’t know, I think it’s a lot of things, plus the history, which, thanks to many of those who started the music in Puerto Rico … We are now given the light to do many things and represent it with great pride. 

Keep watching for more!