VICTOR HUGO

Tickets £10, Doors 7pm, Performance 9pm

VICTOR HUGO

After graduating from Universidad Central de Venezuela, Victor moved to London at the tender age of 18. A scholarship from the Venezuelan government gave him the enviable opportunity to study film-making and continue his musical career in London. His first band was King Salsa, which he co-founded with percussionist Robin Jones. Victor Hugo La Clave was his next band and one of the original Salsa bands in the UK with Jim Lemessurier, another London percussionist who collaborated with the new Salsa project.

Victor’s big break came when he performed with piano virtuoso Charlie Palmieri in London. Palmieri asked Victor to replace Hector Lavoe on a short European tour. This kick started Victor‘s Salsa singing career in Europe, encouraging Victor to pursue a career in salsa music. He formed his own Latin pop band “No Way Jose” and released Tequila on Island Records. A huge hit across Europe it went top 40 in over twenty European and American countries. The Latin Thing released later on Faze Records also entered high into the charts.

Despite Victor’s commercial success with Latin related pop music he always longed to sing Salsa and reformed his group, Victor Hugo con Picante. Victor recorded his first solo album Oye Latino with his band Picante. Another album entitled Tropicalisimo featured master percussionist Alex Sarria from Cali Colombia. His next album is entitled Que Pasa and it promises to be yet another commercial success.

Concerts across Europe have seen Victor performing with chart-topping artists The Corrs, Ricky Martin, Ronan Keating and Beverley Knight. He has also shared stages with a who’s who of Salsa legends: Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Oscar D’Leon, El Canario, Palmieri, Grupo Niche, Gabino Pampini, Son de Cali, David Pabone, Pedro Conga and Tito Nieves.

This is most definitely a gig to see.