C-Note Biography:
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The members of new Urban Latino pop sensation C Note have one dream - to give a voice to the millions of Latinos who, like themselves, have grown up with American culture but hold strong to their families' roots. Joshua "J-Kid" Correa, Raul "RaRa" Molina, David "D'Lo" Perez, Johnathan "Jae" Lopez and Orlando "O.T." Torres have embraced their bicultural upbringing in their life as well as in their music, fusing English with Spanish to deliver Spanglish music that speaks to an entire generation of Latinos. These multi-talented singer/songwriters and dancers, who have each been making their mark as bilingual performers from an early age, joined forces in 2005 and have arrived on the surging Latin music scene con fuerza (with strength).
"It is really important to us that C Note give a voice to the Latino youth, and not just within our own community," says Molina. "We want to show the mainstream, urban and pop communities what C Note is about, what the Latin community is about, and what we have to offer the world."
C Note's five members embody the diverse spectrum of Latinos in the United States, representing New York, New Jersey and Orlando by way of Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. The group's founding members and longtime friends, Molina and Perez, approached pop mogul Lou Pearlman with a vision to create a Latin vocal group comprised of young, talented and bicultural singers and dancers from diverse origins. Auditions were held in Orlando, Miami, Los Angeles and New York, where Molina and Perez discovered Correa, Lopez and Torres. Once the members arrived together in Orlando to begin collaborating, Pearlman signed the group in July 2005 as the first artists on his new record label, Trans Continental Latino. The stage was set for the group to record their hit debut single, "WEPA," and a debut EP of the same title in just weeks.
"Trans Continental Latino has trusted our instincts every step of the way and given us the opportunity to realize our dream," says Correa.
C Note has been crafting its distinctive sound ever since, producing music that is as diverse and cross-cultural as the group's personal backgrounds. The group shifts easily from soulful harmonies a cappella to alluring Latin rhythms and has successfully developed a sound that celebrates diversity, breaks down cultural barriers, and is all their own. "Each one of us brings something different to the table, so our collaborative process is that much more exciting," says Lopez. "By combining all of our unique styles, we're setting out to create a sound that really speaks to the diversity of the Latino experience."
C Note's debut single, "WEPA," which was recorded as both a Latin-infused pop track featuring renowned Latin DJ Tony Touch and a reggaeton remix featuring Webal y Alex, took off in the Fall of 2005 on Hurban radio stations throughout the country and is the title track off of the group's debut EP. The high energy music video for "WEPA," which was co-directed and choreographed by the members of C Note, has been just as hot, enjoying heavy rotation on MTV Puerto Rico and other major Latino video networks.
Since releasing the WEPA EP, C Note has drawn legions of fans in the major Latino markets and especially in Puerto Rico, where their profile has skyrocketed. The group has already toured twice there to meet their growing numbers of fans and is poised to match this success on the mainland. Performing new material and exposing audiences to their music for the first time is something that C Note's members have not only grown accustomed to but enjoyed. Adds Torres, "It's great because we've had to perform in front of primarily English-speaking crowds and have them receive our music, and midway through our performance, they are bobbing their heads and connecting with us. The next night, we might perform for an audience that is expecting a strictly reggaeton sound, but they end up really getting into our music. For us to be able to prove ourselves by winning over crowds and having them embrace what we do has been a great honor."
Now working towards their first full-album, which is slated for release in the summer of 2006, C Note is focused on further developing their craft and preparing for the explosive year that lies ahead. "Now that we've realized our vision, we're ready to take everything to the next level," says Perez. "We're thrilled to be making great music that speaks to our experience while representing for our families, friends and fans. If we continue to build a powerful voice for the Latino generation and unite people through our music, we're destined for success."
Orlando's C Note formed in 1997, when the vocal group that Jose "Brody" Martinez, Raul Molina, and David "D'Lo" Perez were in at the time lost two members. With a talent show performance drawing near, the trio recruited Andrew "Dru" Rogers to complete their harmonies. The quartet's victorious performance at the show caught the attention of Transcontinental Records -- the force behind multi-platinum vocal acts like the Backstreet Boys and N'Sync -- who then offered C Note a record deal.
Like their former labelmates, C Note blends style, singing, and dance into their act, but the group's diverse heritage adds a unique Latin flair to their look and sound. Martinez was born in Puerto Rico and moved to Orlando as a child, Molina was born in the Dominican Republic, and Perez grew up in New Jersey, the son of Cuban and Puerto Rican parents. All three sang and danced from childhood and adolescence; Orlando-native Rogers, however, started singing as a high school senior, when he noticed that girls liked his voice. C Note spent 1998 rehearsing and recording with top producers like Full Force and performing on stages across America, all in preparation for the release of their debut album, 1999's A Different Kind of Love, which features the group's charismatic, multicultural style. Heather Phares, All Music Guide
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I LOVE C Note! Especially J-kid. I think they are all so hot.
By: mrscena