Roniel Alfonso y Son del XXI Orchestra
Born on December 8, 1974 in the city of Matanzas-Cuba.
He enters in 1996 in the National School of Art (Ena) in, where he graduated in 2000 in the specialty of Guitar, Tres, and Ensemble Direction, in his student stage he was part of groups like Septeto Cohiba, Cuba Nueva, Conjunto Chapotin y sus Estrellas, Clave Cubana, Charanga Latina, etc.
In 2000 he was the founder of the Gardi Orchestra, of which he was its musical director, making several tours abroad with this orchestra and taking care of the musical direction of his first album ”Gardi” and the authorship of most of his songs.
In 2005 he participated in the prestigious contest of the Cuban TV Adolfo Guzman where he was 2nd prize in the category of dance music with a song that he orchestrated and produced, being interpreted by Joaquin More.
Later he joined the ranks of Haila María Mompie, being in charge of the musical direction of the band.
In 2006 he joined the Cuarteto Fusión with which he toured abroad for a long period of 4 years in countries such as Oman, Egypt, and Jordan.
In 2010 he returned to Cuba and made the musical production entitled Mala, Haila’s 5th album, which was awarded the Cuba Disco Award 2012, in the category of Latin music. At the same time, he returns to the orchestra and is once again in charge of the musical direction.
In 2011 he was in charge of the musical production of several artists, such as the Cuban singer Leoni Torres, 3rd album production of this, entitled “salseando” which was nominated for the Cuba Disco 2013 in the category of popular dance music and nominated for the Latin Grammy 2013 in tropical music, another production was the American percussionist Luis Carreras, entitled Luis Carreras and The Cuban Stars Project album that orchestrated and composed all his songs.
Music Producer, Orchestrator, Composer and Instrumentalist
In 2012 he was part of the work team of composer and producer Descemer Bueno in his album “Bueno” which was awarded the “Cuba Disco Award 2013”, working frequently with him in numerous productions.
As a composer he has written songs for prestigious performers of our country such as Issac Delgado, Haila, Omara Portuondo, Leoni Torres, Aymee Nuviola, Yumuri, Alexander Abreu, Coco Freeman, Mario Rivera, Gardi, Calunga, Ricardo Amaray, Sixto Llorente, “El Indio”, Maykel Ante, Pedro Lugo “El Nene”, Wil Campa, Tania Pantoja, El Noro, Luna Manzanares, Hector Daniel, Alain Daniel, Rosaliz, Ruben y Gabi, Yai Valcarcel, Indira Hernández.
Internationals such as Jose Alberto “El Canario” (Dominican Republic), Dlg (USA), Ng2 (Puerto Rico), Willy Garcia (Colombia), Josimar (Peru), Septeto Acarey (Peru), Kewenaonda, David Kada (Dominican Republic), Nikki Alva (USA), Miguel Angel Caballero (Chile), Agustin Aspa (Spain), Orlando Max (Angola).
As a producer, he has collaborated with national and international artists.
Enrique Iglesias (Spain), Gilberto Santa Rosa (Puerto Rico), Jose Alberto ”El Canario” (Dominican Republic), Luis Enrique (Nicaragua), Olga Tañon (Puerto Rico), Dlg (USA), Ng2 (Puerto Rico), Willy Garcia (Colombia), Bebe (Spain), Nikki Alva (USA), Miguel Angel Caballero (Chile), Kewenaonda (Dominican Republic), Arturo Ortiz, Calle 7 (Puerto Rico), Septeto Acarey (Peru), David Kada (Dominican Republic), Luis Carreras (USA), Agustin Aspa (Spain), Orlando Max (Angola), Lalo Santos (Mexico) and Orly Solomon (Israel).
Nationals Omara Portuondo, Chucho Valdés, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Aymee Nuviola, Grupo-Orichas, Leoni Torres, Descemer Bueno, Gente de Zona, Issac Delgado, Haila, Charanga Habanera, Alexander Abreu, Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, Mayito Rivera, Sixto Llorente, Yumuri, El Noro, Emilio Frías, Paulo Fg, El Nene, Septeto Santiaguero, Tania Pantoja, Coco Freeman, Alain Daniel, Wil Campa, Gardi, Ricardo Amaray, Calunga, Mandy Cantero, Roberton (Van Van), Maykel Ante, Luna Manzanares, Arlenys Rodríguez, Yenisel Valdés, Omi, Nelson Valdés, Yoyo Ibarra, Mayco de Alma, Héctor Daniel, Dayani Gutiérrez, Laritza Bacallao, Juan Guillermo, Rubén and Gabi, Alexis Zamora, Alain Pérez, Rosaliz, Eylen Remón, Yai Valcarcel, Beby Verdecia, Zunilda, Leo Garrido, Heydi Chapman, Trio d’ Ley, Mulatason, Insurrecto, Joaquín More, Karamba, Alisbet Reyes, Compañia de Danza “Rakatan Azúcar Negra, Patricio Amaro, Aíran Muñoz, Yani, Ángel Yos, Jose Luis Cortes, Osain del Monte, Son del Guaso, Orquesta Failde, Conga “Los Hoyos”, Lenny de la Rosa, Indira Hernandez, Liz Castillo, etc….
Achieving Hits such as “Idilio”, “Vivir Sin Ti”, Soledad (Leoni Torres)” Mala”, “Baila”, (Haila), “Si no Fuera por Ti”, Gardi, Lloro por ti, La Vida es Buena, Súbeme la Radio, Nos fuimos lejos, (Descemer Bueno).
In 2013 he started his own record production, entitled -Roniel Alfonso presents “Son del XXI”, this CD comes out under the label Egrem in 2016, nominated for the Cuba Disco 2017 in this is responsible for the musical production, orchestrations, and composition of each of the themes, the album that shows his vision of what would be the son of this XXI century, our purest and most traditional son, mixed with the new influences of this era. The album features performers such as Issac Delgado, Yumuri, Haila, Calunga, Mario Rivera, El Indio, El Nene, Wil Campa, El Noro, Alexander Abreu and Orlando Max (Angola) going deeper into his work as an orchestrator, using different orchestral formats, such as the Típica Orquesta Salsera, Jazz-Band, Grupo de Rumba and Septeto Tradicional.
In August 2014 he has invited Lucas to the gala offered in tribute to Formell to be in charge of the musical production of several themes of this great Cuban musician, with performers such as Laritza Bacallao, el Indio, el Noro, Dayani Gutiérrez, and el Niño.
In 2016 he collaborated in the 2nd edition of the television program sonando en Cuba where 3 songs of his authorship and 5 songs produced by him previously for other singers were interpreted, being interpreted this time by the contestants of this event.
In 2017 his song “Baila” sung this time by Haila and Alain Perez was the theme of the television program “Bailando en Cuba”.
In June 2017 he obtains the silver trophy (2nd place) at the International Music Festival “Viva la Música”‘ in the category original song, with his song “Que Locura” sung by Roberto Pulido, a Cuban singer based in Switzerland.
In 2018 under the record label Top Stopmusic is in charge of the musical production and all orchestrations of the CD AJourney Through Cuban Music of the great Cuban singer Aymee Nuviola, Grammy Awards Winner 2020 and nominated for the Grammy 2019 in the category of Best Traditional Tropical Album in which music stars such as Chucho Valdez were present, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Omara Portuondo, Muñequitos de Matanzas, Septeto Santiaguero, Pancho Amat, Coto, Samuel Formell, Mario Rivera and his first single “Donde estabas anoche” was positioned at number 6 on the Billboard chart.
In March 2019 he has the honor of being accepted as a voting member of the Latin Academy of Laras Recordings (Grammy).
On June 14, 2019, he founds his Orchestra “Son del XXI”, an orchestra that will have two objectives, to function by itself with its repertoire and its singers and also to continue accompanying the record productions to the many performers who request my work.
He is currently putting the final touches on his new production Roniel Alfonso y Son del XXI Orquesta, which will have national and international guests such as Jose Alberto “El Canario”, DLG, Septeto Acarey, Willy Garcia, Ng2, Nikki Alva, Aymee Nuviola, Leoni Torres, Issac Delgado, Haila, and will be released under the record label Puntilla Music based in Miami.
He has worked in productions such as:
Sun and Soul (Canada)-2000
Carmen Flores (Babalu)
Latin Man Bobamba (Japan) 2000 Oasis Records
Helito George (Italy) (Simply My Way) 2002 Musical Production
Gardi “Gardi” 2003(Bis/Music) Musical Direction
Beby Verdecia “Montaña Mia” 2005 Colibrí
Issac Delgado “Prohibido” 2005 Luz Africa
Gardi “Lo que tu Querias” 2008 Egrem
Leo “Rodo de mi” 2009 / Egrem (Nominated Cuba Disco 2013)
Havana Heavy Hitters “Vestido de blanco” 2010
Haila 2011 “Mala” Bis Music (Cuba Disco Award 2012) music production
Luis Carreras (USA) 2012 8 y 5 Studios Music Production
Leoni Torres 2012 “Salseando” Egrem (Nominated Cuba Disco 2013) music production
Descemer Bueno “Bueno” Bis Music Emi 2012 (Cuba Disco Award 2013)
Zunilda “A mi tierra” 2012 Colibrí (Nominated Cuba Disco 2014)
Agustín Aspa (Spain) 2013 “De la Habana a Barcelona” Cuba Music Musical Production
Willie de Cuba” Prohibido” Italy) 2013
Luna Manzanares Egrem 2013
Eilen “Aquí estoy” 2014 Cuba Music
Gala Lucas “Tribute to Formell” 2014
Héctor Daniel “Alegría pa’ mi gente Cuba Music 2016-Music Production
Nelson Valdés and Leoni Torres “Tribute to Omara Portuondo” 2014 Bis Music
Omi (USA) 2014
Juan Guillermo Egrem 2015
Rosaliz “Dame Salsa” Egrem 2017 (Nominated-Cuba Disco 2018) Musical Production
Mulata Son “Mujer y Artista” Cuba Music 2017-Music Production
Issac Delgado” Made in Habana” Egrem 2016 (Nominated-Cuba Disco 2017)
Yoyo Ibarra “Tropical” Egrem 2017 Musical Production
Yai Valcarcel “Mi Esperanza” Yagruma S.A 2015
Miguel Herrera “Hoy quiero Fiesta (Sweden) 2017 Cuba Music and Egrem 2019 Music Production
Yenisel Seva “Romántica” (2016) Cuba Music Musical Production
Dance Company “Rakatan” 2016
Roberto Pulido “Mi locura” (Switzerland) 2016-2018 Music Production
Charles Manuel (Spain) 2017 Musical Production
Roniel Alfonso Presents “Son del XXI” Egrem 2017 (Nominated Cuba Disco 2017) Music Production
Gala “55 Aniversario del Icrt” 2017.
Miguel Ángel Caballero “Vista Fija” Blam Producciones 2017 Music Production
Kewenaonda “Arriésgate” (Dominican Republic) 2017-2020 Music Production
Enrique Iglesias Feat Gilberto Santa Rosa” Súbeme la radio” (Salsa) 2017 Music Production
Lalo Santos “Caribe 2018” (Mexico) (Mexico)
Azúcar Negra Egrem 2019
Patricio Amaro 2017 Musical Production
Haila” Canta a Armando Manzanero” Egrem 2018 (Cuba Disco Award of Honor 2019)
Grupo Orichas Feat. Luis Enrique” Sastre de tu Amor” (Salsa) 2018
Miguel Herrera (Sweden) 2018 Egrem Produccion Musical
Issac Delgado 2018
Descemer, Enrique Iglesias y Charanga Habanera “Nos fuimos lejos” (Salsa) 2018 Musical Production
Descemer, Enrique Iglesias y bebe-”nos fuimos lejos”(Acoustic) 2018 Musical Production
Leoni Torres “Amor bonito” Egrem 2019
Orquesta Failde y Omara “Homenaje a Benny” Egrem 2019 (Cuba Disco Award 2019)
Aymee Nuviola” Journey Through Cuban Music” Topstop Music 2019 Production Musical (Grammy Awards Winner 2020), (Latin Grammy Nominee 2019)
Nelson Valdés “Cubriendo Ausencias” Bis Music 2019 (Nominated-Cuba Disco 2019)
Leoni y Gente de Zona “Mejor sin ti” (Salsa) 2019 Music Production
Indira Hernández 2020 Music Production
Lenny de la Rosa 2020 Music Production
Yarima y Sabor Latino “Pa mi Tres” Egrem-Soundwear 2020 Musical Production
Leoni Torres “Deja la Tristeza” 2020 Music Production
Septeto Acarey ‘”Vamos a Pasarla Bien” 2021 Musical Production
Wil Campa “Zapato Nuevo” Egrem 2020 Music Production
Angel Yos Egrem 2020
Liz Castillo 2021 Bis Music Music Production
Gabriela 2021 (Denmark-Cuba) Music Production
Nesty-2021 (USA) Music Production
Kel-2021 Music Production
Cd Herederos (Tribute to Irakere) Egrem 2021
Roniel Alfonso and Son del XXI Orchestra 2021-Puntilla Music.
Facebook: Roniel Alfonso Mella
By: Diana Marie International Salsa Magazine Miami Correspondent
Diana Marie
Lady of Salsa 2021
