The United States has long had a love affair with Latin music, and that affection is growing. Although the popularity of current teen favorites such as Ricky Martin, Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Lopez may pass, these performers will likely give way to further generations of Latin music stars. “Livin’ La Vida Loca” was perhaps the perfect novelty pop tune for the turn of the century, but behind it is a formidable force in music sales, production and creativity.

Rudy Perez is perfectly positioned to be a pivotal figure in the growing Latin-American music scene. This producer/engineer is already responsible for tens of millions in sales with his productions for Latin music stalwarts such as Jose Feliciano, Julio Iglesias, Placido Domingo, Frankie Negron, Luis Miguel and Arturo Sandoval. And he has had just as much influence on the contemporary Latin- American juggernaut. He produced teen sensation Christina Aguilera’s Spanish-language, multi-Platinum recording Mi Reflejo, and he is helping consolidate the striated Hispanic market with bicultural remixes, such as adapting Puerto Rican songstress Millie Corretger for the Mexican-American audience. He is also part of Miami’s studio industry renaissance with two Pro Tools-based studios running out of his home-based production company, Bullseye Productions.

Perez is a multitasking producer; he often composes, arranges, sings and plays on the tracks he produces. In the process, he has racked up numerous achievements and awards, including four Grammy Awards, 50 Platinum and 30 Gold albums, and 70 Top 10 hits. He has been ASCAP’s Latin Songwriter of the Year two years running; he was elected the first president of the Florida branch (now a full chapter) of NARAS, and he was instrumental in establishing the first Latin Grammy Awards, which debuted in 2000. Perez has also left his musical mark on dozens of film soundtracks, television commercials and world music specials. Did we mention the Presidential Endowment of the Arts Award?

Born in Cuba 42 years ago, Perez came to Miami with his parents, two sisters and one brother at the age of six and settled in Liberty City, one of Miami’s more notorious barrios. His success story needs to start that far back...

That childhood had a pretty significant effect on your career.
I was kind of glad that we wound up living in the projects, which was all my father could afford when we first got here. It really introduced me to music, especially R&B and gospel music. My dad was a Baptist minister, and when my mom saw all the Baptist churches in the neighborhood, she thought that was great. But these were not Cuban Baptist churches, as you might have guessed with being in Liberty City. But I had never seen or heard anything like it. The music was incredible. I got to sing in the choir and learned to play piano, guitar and drums because of the churches. Whatever instrument they needed, I learned. That led me to joining a few garage bands in the neighborhood.

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Reprinted with permission from Magazine, February, 2001