Elsten Torres
Elsten Creole Torres, (born February 10, 1965) in Havana, Cuba as Listoriel Leyva Torres, is a singer/songwriter/producer. He grew up in New York City with his mother and older brother leaving his father in Cuba as a political prisoner. He was lead singer and songwriter for the American Latin rock band, “Fulano de Tal.” After the breakup of the band, Elsten has continued both his own career as a solo artist and has had success writing for other well-known performers such as: Ricky Martin, Luis Fonsi, Obie Bermúdez, Alejandra Guzmán, Julio Iglesias Jr. Aleks Syntek, Oscar de Leon, Marshall Crenshaw, John Rich (Big & Rich) and many others. He has been nominated for two Grammy Awards. The second Grammy nomination was for his first solo independent album, Individual.[1] He has won several BMI music awards for his songwriting. He is on the board of governors for NARAS. Elsten studied communications arts at New York Institute of Technology. Elsten is currently living in Miami Florida. Elsten also works with charity organizations such as “Hope” (Miami Beach Homeless) and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Elsten has just released his second all-English album, Waiting for Clouds.
Elsten Torres | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 10, 1965 |
| Origin | Havana, Cuba |
| Genres | Rock, Pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1993 – present |
| Website | |
Early years
Elsten Torres (originally Listoriel Leyva Torres) was born in Havana, Cuba during the height of the Cuban Revolution. His father Emigdio Torres was already a political prisoner when Elsten was born. His mother Elsa Torres, left Cuba when Elsten was only a year and half old witis older brother Dorian E. Torres age five at the time, and arrived in New York City. It was in New York that Elsten began his love for music. One of his uncles, Listoriel Torres, was a singer/songwriter who had some success back in Havana, would always sing his songs about Cuba at family gatherings. Elsten began seriously learning the guitar at the age of twelve. By the time he was sixteen, he was in his first rock band named “Refugee” with some of his local neighborhood friends. At one show, the lead singer never made it, so Elsten was asked to take the role of lead singer as well as lead guitarist, and from that moment on, his love for singing began. He wrote his first song at the age of sixteen from a love note he found on the floor of his high school English class. The song was called, “Girl, the world is changing fast”.
Music career
Elsten began playing the guitar had the age of sixteen. He took a few years of private lessons with various teachers. He was profoundly influenced by artists such as: The Beatles, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Elvis Presley, Elvis Costello, Benny Moré, U2 and some others. His first real serious band was called, “Mistaken Identity” then followed by his first Latin rock band, “Rebelde Sin Causa”. With R.S.C., Elsten recorded his first professional album, Ataque with his music partner, Leonardo "Jason X" Perez, on Mexican rock label, Discos Gas. This album took the duo through a tour of Mexico and some islands in the Caribbean in the early 1990s, some songs charting as high as number one in some Caribbean markets. Elsten with his newfound appreciation for Latin music, moved to Miami, Florida in 1994. It is in Miami, where Elsten first records with the independent label, “Radio Vox” under the artistic name of “Fulano De Tal”. The first single was the Cuban protest anthem, Revolucion. With the success of Revolucion, Elsten put the band together that would become “Fulano De Tal.” The original members were; drummer – Brendan Buckley, guitarist - Julian Adam Zimmon, and bassist – Leo Nobre. Nobre left the band right before the band was to record their major label debut, Normal through BMG/RCA, and was replaced by bassist – John M. Falcone. Fulano de Ta' released two full-length albums, Normal (BMG/RCA), and Etc. (Radio Vox/DLN.) The band officially broke up in 2001. In 2006, Elsten released his first solo album, the Grammy-nominated independent album, “Individual.”
Personal life
Elsten Torres was married to Beatriz Marta Arencibia also known as – Bozenka from 2001–2010. Bozenka is an internationally known belly dancer, who is critically acclaimed and has received many awards and recognition for her dancing. Elsten is the son of Emigdio Torres (deceased) and Elsa Torres who also resides in Miami, Florida. He has one older brother, Dorian Emgidio Torres, who is a Miami-Dade firefighter. Dorian has three daughters, Chloe, Bianca, and Emily Torres. Elsten also has a paternal half brother living in Havana, Cuba that he has never met. His name is Juan Antonio Torres.
Currently
Elsten Torres has just released first all=English album Waiting for Clouds on January 24, 2013. He begins touring in the early spring of 2013 opening for The Original Family Stone & The Spinners.
Discography
The Elsten Torres discography is as follows:
- “Ataque” (Rebelde Sin Causa) – Discos Gas/Mexico - 1992
- “Revolucion” (Fulano De Tal) – Maxi – single – Radio Vox Records -1995
- “Normal” – (Fulano De Tal) – BMG/RCA - 1997
- “Etc.” – (Fulano) – Radio Vox/DLN - 2000
- “Individual” – (Fulano/Elsten Torres) – FM Records -2006
- “If You Say So” – (Elsten Torres) – Uno Entertainment – 2008
- "Waiting for Clouds"= (Elsten Torres)- Real Artificial Music-2013
Compilations
- Latin Laugh Festival – BMG/RCA – 1998
- Tributo to the Cure – WEA Latina – 1999
- Una Decada de Rock – BMG - 2000
Most Notable songs
Elsten Torres is a prolific songwriter having written over five hundred songs so far in his career. Some of the notable songs are:
- Los Demas (top ten Billboard hit with Julio Iglesias jr.)
- Cristina Maria (Hit single from the album, “Normal”)
- No Soy Gringo (Hit single from the album, “Normal”)
- Caramelo (Hit single for Alejandra Guzman)
- Dejala Que Baile (Hit song for Michael Stuart)
- Todo El Año (Billboard #1 song with Obie Bermudez)
- Por Una Mujer (Billboard top 20 song for Luis Fonsi)
- Olvidare (hit single and video from the album, “Individual”)
- Selfish (Hit single from the album, “Normal”)
- Normal (Hit single from the album, “Normal”)
- Dando Vueltas (hit single and video from the album, “Individual”)
- Como Ayer (song for Jimena Anger for her grammy nominated album Día Azul)
- Closer Tonight (features on Huawei smartphones as default music))
References
- http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/news/49th-annual-grammy-awards-roundup-latinworld-fields The 49th Annual GRAMMY Awards Roundup: Latin/World Fields