Toño Rosario
Rosario signing a deal with Universal Music (2004)
Rosario signing a deal with Universal Music (2004)
Background information
Birth nameMáximo Antonio del Rosario Almonte
Born (1955-11-03) November 3, 1955
Higüey, Dominican Republic
GenresMerengue
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • singer
  • composer
  • arranger
Years active1978–present
Labels

Máximo Antonio del Rosario (born November 3, 1955), commonly known as Toño Rosario, is a Grammy Award nominee[1] musician, best known for his role of bandleader of Merengue music act Los Hermanos Rosario.[2] In 1990, he started his successful solo career receiving gold and platinum certifications.

Toño Rosario is a best selling merengue artist who has received nominations to the Latin Grammy Awards, Latin Billboard Music Awards and Grammy Awards. Rosario is known for hits such as ‘Kulikitaca’, ‘Resistire’, ‘Seguire’, ‘Jenny’ and ‘Viborar del Mar’. Rosario was the first solo merengue artist to ever sell out Madison Square Garden, United Palace, Altos de Chavón, la Plaza del Toro, Madrid, and Cuervana Stadium, México. Rosario is a minority owner/limited partner of the Miami Dolphins NFL team.

Musical career

Maximo Antonio del Rosario is best known for his Merengue numbers. As a member of Los Hermanos Rosario, Rosario has been a key figure in popularizing Merengue music, with hits reaching the top of the Billboard Latin charts and the top of charts in Europe.[2] Rosario is the top selling Merengue artist of all time. The three-time Grammy nominee has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide. He is best known for his Romantic Merengue renditions.

Toño Rosario and his brothers were always interested in music. From young, they recall finding whatever instruments they could in household items since they were born in poverty and could not afford real musical instruments. The group in which Toño started his musical career was formed in 1978 and its name is "Los Hermanos Rosario": it consisted of himself, his brothers Pepe and Rafa (as the lead singers) and brothers Luis, Tony, and Francis (as the instrument players). They used to play in their neighbors houses and this is how they eventually got to be known and discovered. After the death of their brother Pepe, Toño and Rafa took the lead in the band with Toño as the main singer due to his unique and highly recognized voice.

In the late 1980s, after 12 years of being with his brothers, Toño was removed from the group and began his own solo career. He debuted on April 14, 1990, in the "Roberto Clemente" Coliseum of Puerto Rico. He went on to become the most popular merengue singer with some of his albums reaching diamond status. His Debut Album, "Y mas...", receive critical acclaim. With his second album, "Atado a ti" sold more than the expectations of the label and stayed at the Billboard Charts for more than 30 weeks. In 1992, his third studio album "Retorno a mis raises", went Platinum.[3] The Single "La Gozadera" peaked at the number 7 in Dominican airplay.[4]

In 1993, his fourth studio album "Amor Jollao" went Gold. In 1994, he signed with WEA Latina, followed by the release of the albums "Me olvide de vivir" (1994) and Quiero Volver a Empezar (1995). The subsequents, "Seguire" (1997) and "Exclusivo" (1998) become his highest charted albums in the United States.

La Magia del Cuco, released in 1999, become his first album to be certified platinum by the RIAA, with sales over 200,000 copies. In that same year, Toño performed at The Merengue Festival in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.[5]

In 2000, Toño 10th Studio Album "Yo soy Toño" become his best selling album to date. It was certified platinum (Latin Field) by the RIAA and sold over 250,000 copies. Also, it was nominated for Best Merengue Album at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards and Best Merengue/Bachata Album at the 2nd Annual Latin Grammy Awards.[6]

Toño en America, dropped in 2002, was moderated success and debut at in Dominican Republic Best Selling Albums Charts.[7] The single "Yo kuli, Yo kula" better known as "Kulikitaca" become a massive success across Latin America [8]

In 2004, Toño Rosario signed a multi-album contract with Universal Latino. Also, performed a sold-out show at Altos the Chavon with Tego Calderon.[9] In the same year, On December 7, he released 12th studio album "Resistire", met positive reviews and it was nominated for Best Merengue/Bachata Album at the 6th Annual Latin Grammy Awards. The title track was nominated as "Tropical Airplay Song of the Year" at the 2006 Latin Billboard Music Awards.[10][11]

In 2006, his live album "En Vivo: El original" peaked at 5 on US Tropical Albums Chart.

"A tu gusto" was released in 2007 and enter at the top 10 of Billboard Tropical Charts.[12][13] In 2009, his compilation album Don't Worry Be Happy: The Best of Toño Rosario debut at 16 on Billboard Tropical Albums.[14]

In 2018, his song "Kulikitaka" became an internet sensation in the southern Indian Member State of Kerala. It became very famous and was used in numerous stage shows and video albums. In Kerala, it became famous as an African song and not as a Latin song because of a video that circulated in WhatsApp. Even small restaurants started getting named after the song in Kerala.[15][16][17]

Tono Rosario married Marilyn Brenes in 1983, at Marriage Palace, in New York City.

Discography

With Los Hermanos Rosario

Studio albums

1980: ¡Vienen Acabando!

1983: Vol. 1

1984: Vol. 2

1985: Vol. 3

1987: Acabando!

1988: Otra Vez!

1990: Fuera de Serie

Compilation albums

1988: Lo Mejor de los Hermanos Rosario

1989: Lo Mejor de los Hermanos Rosario Vol. 2

1993: 14 Éxitos Impressionantes

1994: Juntos Con Sus Éxitos

1997: El Disco de Oro

1998: La Historia Musical Rosario

2001: 20 Aniversario

2003: Grandes Éxitos

2005: Grandes Éxitos Vol. 2

2006: Antología Musical

2007: La Bomba

Solo discography

Studio albums

Title Year Charts Sales Certifications
US
Latin
[18]		 US
Tropical
[18]
Y mas...1990—16
Atado a Ti1991—8
Retorno a las raíces1992—12
Amor Jollao1993—11
Me olvidé de vivir1994—15
Quiero volver a empezar1995—13[lower-alpha 1]
Seguiré1997306
Exclusivo1998115
La Magia del Cuco 1999——
  • US: 100,000
  • RIAA: Platinum (Latin)[21]
Yo soy Toño2000—13
  • US: 100,000
  • DOM: 62,000[22]
  • World: 250,000[23]
  • RIAA: Platinum (Latin)[21]
Toño en America 2002 — 12[24]
Resistire 2004 — 11[25]
A Tu Gusto 2007 — 9
Albums that did not chart are denoted with an "—".

    Compilation albums

    • Grandes Éxitos: Cinco Años de Platino (1995)
    • Colecciones y Éxitos (1997)
    • La Alegría del Merengue (1999)
    • Serie 2000 (2000)
    • Juntos (con Wilfrido Vargas) (2002)
    • Colección Diamante (2003)
    • Todo lo Bueno de Toño Rosario (2003)
    • Amigo Mío: Toño y Sus Éxitos (2003)
    • Lo Mejor de Toño Rosario (2006)
    • Tradicional (2006)
    • Don't Worry Be Happy: The Best of Toño Rosario (2009)
    • 20 Grandes Éxitos (2010)
    • Mis Favoritas (2012)

    Live albums

    • En Vivo: El Original (2006)
    • Lo Más Encendío de Toño Rosario (2007)
    • Los Mega Éxitos en Vivo (2009)
    • El Mandatario (2011)

    Singles

    Year Single Peak chart positions Album
    US[26] US Latin[18] US Tropical[18] MEX
    1990 "Jenny" 97 1 1 – Toño Rosario, Y mas
    "Vibora del Mar" 83 1 1 14[27]
    1991 "Vibora del Mar" (re-issue) – 1 1 –
    "Otra Vez" – – – –
    "Tu Mujer" – 42 – 9[28]
    1995 "Me Olvide de Vivir" [lower-alpha 2] Me Olvide de Vivir
    "Quiero Volver A Empezar" 13[30] Quiero Volver a Empezar
    "Estupida" 4[31]
    1996 "Sera" 17
    1997 Seguire 24 7 Seguire
    "Loco Loco" 24 7
    1998 Asi Fue 22 8 Exclusivo
    1999 "Alegria" 33 15 La Alegria Del Merengue
    2000 "Juan en la ciudad" 20 La Magia del Cuco
    "Tu va vei" 14
    "El Ritmo de la Navidad" 20 Yo Soy Toño
    2001 "Yo Me Muero Por Ella" 18
    2002 "Yo Kuli Yo Kula" 15[32] Toño En America
    2004 "Amigo mio" (featuring Tego Calderon) 44 2 Amigo Mío: Toño y Sus Éxitos
    2005 Resistire 44 4 Resistire
    "En Navidad" 18
    2006 "A lo Oscuro" 13 En Vivo: El Original
    2007 "Ojala se Seque El Rio" 35
    2007 "Cortame las venas"[33] – 44[34] – – A tu Gusto
    2017 "Dale Vieja Dale" 10

    Rosario's version of Kulikitaka became viral on TikTok in 2021–2022, becoming its own "challenge", resulting in legal issues for some participants.[35]

    Personal life

    Rosario was once married to Puerto Rican merengue singer Ivette Cintron.[36]

    Notes

    1. ↑ Also, hit 7 on Cash Box Top 40 Latin Albums.[20]
    2. ↑ It did not enter on Billboard charts. However, it charted 11th on CashBox Tropical Airplay.[29]

    References

    1. ↑ "Complete list of 6th annual Latin Grammy nominations". USA Today. Associated Press. November 2, 2005. Retrieved January 18, 2010.
    2. 1 2 "Pop and Jazz Guide". The New York Times. October 9, 1998. Retrieved January 18, 2010.
    3. ↑ "Toño Rosario negocia presentar espectáculos de sus 30 años en Sto Dgo y La Romana – Más Vip" (in Spanish). March 11, 2019. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
    4. ↑ "Ventana de articulo". h.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
    5. ↑ "Ventana de articulo". h.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
    6. ↑ Inc, Nielsen Business Media (August 25, 2001). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
    7. ↑ "MUSICALIA ONLINE!". February 15, 2003. Archived from the original on February 15, 2003. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
    8. ↑ World Radio History
    9. ↑ "Tego Calderón y Toño Rosario en Altos de Chavón". Diario Libre (in Spanish). March 15, 2004. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
    10. ↑ Billboard Staff (January 8, 2005). "Resistiré". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
    11. ↑ Cobo, Leila (November 15, 2004). "Universal Latino Signs Toño Rosario". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
    12. ↑ Inc, Nielsen Business Media (October 14, 2006). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
    13. ↑ Inc, Nielsen Business Media (September 16, 2006). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
    14. ↑ Inc, Nielsen Business Media (July 4, 2009). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
    15. ↑ "Nayika Nayakan written update, August 20, 2018: Onam celebration begins with colorful performances - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
    16. ↑ Snappy Viral (February 21, 2014), Kulukki Thakka Full Song_Kuttappayi the Hunter_Official, archived from the original on December 21, 2021, retrieved March 16, 2019
    17. ↑ "Kulukki Thakka". Kulukki Thakka. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
    18. 1 2 3 4 "Toño Rosario". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
    19. ↑ "Toño Rosario". www.notas.com. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
    20. ↑ World Radio History
    21. 1 2 "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
    22. ↑ Quiñones, Alfonso (February 23, 2011). "La industria de la música y el fin de la Historia (II)". Diario Libre (in Spanish). Retrieved February 9, 2022.
    23. ↑ "Rosario: el que construye el ritmo". La Nación (in Spanish). June 11, 2001. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
    24. ↑ Inc, Nielsen Business Media (November 9, 2002). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
    25. ↑ Inc, Nielsen Business Media (May 21, 2005). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
    26. ↑ "Tono Rosario Hot 100 chart history". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
    27. ↑ "Mexico Airplay". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 11, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
    28. ↑ "Mexico Airplay". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. May 19, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
    29. ↑ World Radio History
    30. ↑ World Radio History
    31. ↑ World Radio History
    32. ↑ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. November 23, 2002.
    33. ↑ Valdez, Maria (July 29, 2013). "Toño Rosario New Song: Listen To 'King Of Merengue' Latest Hit 'Cortame las venas' Here". Latin Times. IBT Media. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
    34. ↑ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. July 7, 2007.
    35. ↑ "German teenagers accused of chasing cow into a moving train in TikTok challenge". May 19, 2021.
    36. ↑ "¿Qué hace Ivette Cintrón?". Primera Hora. December 23, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
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