Geovanny Leonardo Sepúlveda, known as “El Sonero de la Calle”
He was born in the city of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He is a singer-songwriter (he composes and sings his own songs, including the lyrics and the melody), percussionist, raised on the outskirts of the Santo Domingo neighborhoods, he developed an interest in Afro-Caribbean music. This is how he obtains a clear direction towards the creation of his own style to compose and sing this genre, which involves a series of different rhythms such as: guaracha, rumba, son montuno, bolero, mambo, son, jazz, guaracha and cha cha cha, known worldwide by its trade name “Salsa”.
He tells us that from his mother Carmen Sepúlveda and his aunt Santa Julia Sepúlveda, he inherited the passion for jazz music, bolero and son, also that his mother is an artist, but he did not get to record their music, however he went to competitions of television expressing his musical talent. Geovanny mentions that he liked music from an early age seeing this great specimen in turn, he says that his talent is born and empirical which he is seeing how it progresses in these times.
During his tour he obtained his artistic nickname “El Sonero de la Calle”, which was given to him by a great Dominican musician (bassist and arranger) named Rafael Victoria, better known as maestro Cuso Cuevas (he was a popular bassist who played with the most important popular music groups and orchestras), who was in the recording of “Batato”, mentions that he advised him the following… “that he should not change his theme of making music, that it be a different sonero, a street sonero… that he could interpret the reality of the street with his lyrics and way of singing ”
He comments that he spent a large part of his life in Caracas, Venezuela (approximately 18 years), despite having been born in the Dominican Republic, considering it his second homeland since he adores and / or loves Venezuela; During this time he met Dudamel and Orlando Latuci, his song “las carabelas” is a Venezuelan.
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He also had the opportunity to sing with the “La Realidad” Orchestra, from there he began to give his beginnings as a singer, it all began in 2003 when Roberto Ledezma was singing a bolero and the orchestra director listened to it and without Knowing that he was a musician and I invited him to go to one of the rehearsals and when to a place called Caño Amarillo Estudio, in Caracas, Venezuela, and there I was part of the team that at that time was very necessary since they lacked a vocalist, From that moment on he appeared in the bars of Caracas, in the center of the city, he told us that it was a wonderful experience.
As time passes, his fondness for this wonderful culture born in Africa is born, brought to the Antilles and then brought to New York, USA by great masters such as Johnny Pacheco, Machito, Beny More, Santiago Cerón, José Bello, El Canario, Tito Puentes, La Typica 73, among other great musicians of this genre.
His first musical album was entitled “A las malas”, from which his first single is called “Batato” and in his musical theme “Satte de los Callejones” he indicated “El Sonero de la Calle”, the following quote … “Special dedication for all the neighborhoods of my Dominican Republic and the world. My goal is to reach the heart of the town, Geovanny L. Sepúlveda, El Sonero de la Calle.
In the current Covid-19 pandemic, many activities have been closed, especially in the musical world, but with extensive communication over the internet, many have chosen to use various platforms either to promote themselves as artists or to hold events (Facebook, Instagram, Tick Tock, Youtube, among others), and despite these complicated moments he gives us the great news that Leo Aguirre and Ubeny Loaiza are in charge of the new production of Geovanny Leonardo Sepúlveda, his new single under the musical direction of Ubeny Loaiza, owner of the La Sabrosura orchestra, giving rise to the music “Salsa Pura” which is a Rumba, which you will not stop hearing
At the end of the interview, he gives us a message for the new talents … “Study and have a lot of dedication to what you like, never stop and that the rest is in the hands of God.”
