The rudiments of Latin music: Rudy Perez

Latino Leaders: The National Magazine of the Successful American Latino, June-July, 2002 by Susan Hornik

Rudy Perez

Music producer

Miami, FL

"Never give up your dreams." This is the astute advice given by the humble veteran Latino producer Rudy Perez to anyone in the highly competitive music business. And given the way his amazing career has progressed over the past 25 years, it just might be a good idea to heed his words. Indeed, the producer/songwriter's passion has brought Perez to the pinnacle of superstardom, surpassing his wildest expectations.

Perez is one of the most respected producers of Latin music, working with a myriad of extraordinary artists, including Jose Feliciano, Julio Iglesias, Christina Aguilera, Michael Bolton, and Arturo Sandoval, It's no wonder this talented man "lives and breathes music 24 hours a day." During his brilliant career, Perez has composed more than 600 songs.

"I am a workaholic," a smiling Perez admits. "Each morning I feel blessed knowing I get paid to do what I love to do." Perez lives in an elegant villa in one of the most prestigious residential areas of Miami, living near neighbors Ricky Martin and J-Lo. His state-of-the-art digital studio, where he spends most of his time, has a cozy home vibe: wood and carpet floors with a cathedral ceiling and a 15-foot wall filled with CDs.

Perez's fiery devotion to his craft is evident: "Even if I was a taxi driver working a 12-hour shift, I'd still come home to work on my music." Such modesty and a strong work ethic do not get overlooked. As one of the most innovative creators in the field of international pop music, Perez has garnered enormous recognition; five Grammy Awards, platinum and gold albums, 70 top-10 hits, and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers' (ASCAP) Latin Songwriter of the Year Award for two consecutive years.

He was the first president of the Florida branch of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), and helped establish the first Latin Grammy Awards. As one of the founders of ASCAP's Latin Council, he continues to give back to the music community.

Perez's fairy tale rise to creative fame illustrates the classic rags-to-riches story.

He was born in Cuba during Fidel Castro's reign and fled when he was six. "We were luckily able to leave on one of the last freedom flights." This was a tough experience: "It was a big cultural shock leaving Cuba, getting on an airplane, and not knowing what we were doing. Plus, I didn't speak English."

In Miami they lived in a refugee camp and eventually were able to move to a poor neighborhood, Growing up in the projects heavily impacted Perez. "It really introduced me to music. My grandfather was a Baptist minister in Cuba, and when my mom saw the churches in the neighborhood, she thought they would be similar. But these gospel churches were nothing like the ones in Cuba. The music was incredible."

Joining the church worked out really well for him musically. "Although we couldn't afford lessons, the church taught anyone who liked music." Perez is forever indebted to the African-American ministers that gave him his initial music schooling. "Learning how to sing with black people changed me. The ministers go into a trance while they are singing to the Lord. That completely affected me."

"From that moment on, I knew I wanted to be in music for the rest of my life."

At 14, Perez told his morn he wanted a guitar, but they couldn't afford one, so he worked various jobs to save money. Finally, after a year, I was able to buy my guitar but wasn't able to play for three months, since my hands were cut up from working with barbed wire."

He started taking private guitar lessons. "I remember wanting to be the best rock guitar player in the world." But another teacher, Rolando Lluiz, encouraged him to want more. "I know you want to be the best you can possibly be, but don't just become a musician. I've played with everyone and still have nothing to show for it," the 75-year-old veteran said.

"I really looked up to this man," Perez emphasizes. "His words changed me forever."

Perez left studying to join various garage bands, "so that I could have the rock and roll life," and joined a cover band, Pearly Queen, which had a big following. The band toured Florida and then went all over the United States by the time he was 17.

Perez tells the bittersweet story of how he found his love of Spanish music.

"I fell in love with Susana, a wealthy girl from Spain whom I met at a rehearsal. We spent a year together, but her parents never approved."

Perez remembers their last night together. "Her parents were sending her to Spain the next day, and she hadn't told me yet. She cried while taking out a tape of "El Amor" by Julio Iglesias. She said, 'All I want you to do is dance with me and listen to the words of this song.' My heart broke. The next day I took her to the airport, her parents following in the car. She said 'I will never forget you.' It was like Love Story.

"I wrote every day for a year, hut never" heard back. Later, I found out that her father had actually intercepted my letters."