Biografia Oficial de Juan Jose Rodriguez el Puma Jr

Juan José Rodríguez “The PUMA Jr”
Biography

This singer born in Caracas, Venezuela had a penchant for music since early childhood. At the age of 7 he started organizing his school’s cultural activities in which he also acted and sang. His professional career began 23 years ago in the discotheque owned by Lila Morillo, “El Puma´s” ex-wife. One of her brothers, Ender Morillo, became his manager and arranged for him to perform on the Televisa television chain (Mexico), which launched his international career.

In 1985, a scandal rocked the Hispanic show biz world: it was rumored that vocalist José Luis Rodríguez, “El Puma” had fathered a baby boy (Juan José), but Oswaldo Rodríguez, the Puma´s brother, acknowledged that the child was his. In 1986 Juan José signed on with Venevisión, one of the major Venezuelan television channels, and landed a role in a soap opera starring Guillermo Dávila and Corina Azopardo, but an accident kept him away from the sets for two years.

In 1989 he returned and toured his native Venezuela. In November of that year he was invited to sing at the New York Song Festival, alongside Laura Flores and other important artists. He signed an exclusive contract with the famous “Chib-Chab” dance club in New York, where prominent talents such as Duo Pimpinela, Sandro, Leo Dan, Leonardo Favio, Iris Chacón and Johnny Ventura performed. Tickets for his performances sold out every time, a sign of his international success.

The showman then did his first U.S. tour performing at the Hilton in Wilmington, Delaware, the Esmeralda in Philadelphia, the Ascot in Washington D.C., the Grand Royal Hotel in Long Island and the International in Providence.

In December of 1991 he was invited to be the special guest star at the OTI International Festival at the Ceasar´s Palace of Las Vegas.

In 1994, after three years of hard work, he produced his first album “El Puma de la Salsa” with the most prominent American salsa artists under José Mangual Jr. That year he performed for 25,000 fans in the Festival of Santa Cruz, Bolivia and made his first music video, “Procuro Olivdarte”. He performed at the Miss South America pageant which was broadcast live to five countries. In all, he has been on tour to twenty-three Spanish-speaking countries including Spain.

In 1996 Juan José produced his second album “Corazón Cobarde” and the music video “Huellas en la Piel” in addition to various tropical genres.

In 1997 he made a whirlwind tour of Colombia,

Mexico, 1998: He produced his third album “La traición” in the grupero-ranchero style and performed for 35,000 people in the Monterrery stadum with Pedro Fernández, Lucero, Yuri among others. During his eleven-month stay in Monterrey he recorded the music video “El Corazón es un Mundo de Amor” with Mike Rodríguez, and performed in Palenque under Joel Cano.
His 1999 tour took him to Central America, Aruba, Curacao and the International Festival of San Sebastían in his native Venezuela.

In 2000 he settled in Miami, founded CIMA Records and sponsored new and young talents.

The successful 2001 tour of several American cities established his reputation as an international singer.

2002 marked a new highlight in his career as a producer and singer in the European and Asian markets.

In 2003 he recorded his fourth album “Amores” with the renowned producer and songwriter Victor Daniel who wrote “La Vida es un Carnaval” the famous hit sung by the Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz, and produced his fourth music video.

In 2005 he returned to Guatemala to sing for President Oscar Berger, who broke with protocol by dancing to the singer´s songs. He also toured the Dominican Republic and Panama.

That year he recorded a special DVD album for his 20th anniversary as a singer titled “Esta es mi Vida”, a compendium of the highlights of his artistic and personal life.

2006 dawned with a tribute album and music video from Mexico to the world, “Cruz Mujer”, in memory of the late Mexican producer and songwriter Victor Manuel Aguilera of the “golden age of music”

In 2007 he did a music tour in Mexico after an absence of nine years and was honored in the CD hall of fame in Mexico City.

2008 signalled the appearance of his sixth album “El Puma: 18 Exitos de Amor Inolvidables”, a tribute to the greatest hits of José Luis Rodríguez such as “Voy a Conquistarte”, Dueño de Nada, Pavo Real, Silencio, Agárrense de las Manos, which stirred up the new generations just as the Puma did in the 80’s and 90’s around the world.

His 2009 tour of major U.S. cities such as Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, El Paso and Las Vegas is sure to be a sensational success.