Antonio Cartagena

Antonio Nolasco Cartagena Bernales was born on August 7, 1967, in Bellavista, Callao, Peru, and started his adult life as a police officer and psychology student before launching his musical career in 1990 with the Orquesta Perú Salsa All Star, where he contributed early hits like “Sin Ti,” “Niña,” and “Todo Excepto a Ti.” In 1991, he embarked on a solo path with debut tracks such as “Sedúceme” and “Necesito un Amor,” gaining traction across Latin America. By 1993, he had signed with RMM and released his international album Dime Que Sí, featuring standout songs like “Apaga la Luz” and “Perdone Querida,” and touring landmark stages including Carnegie Hall and Madison Square Garden alongside salsa legends. Returning to Peru in 1995, he released Punto de Vista, anchored by the hits “Si Tú No Estás” and “Pídele Perdón,” which solidified his domestic fame. In 1997, he brought Peruvian criollo flavor into salsa by adapting traditional waltzes, earning him international exposure in Europe. Subsequent releases—Tal Como Soy (1998), Atrevido (2001), Sincero (2009)—demonstrated his stylistic versatility. In the 2010s and beyond, he celebrated his legacy through compilations like Mi Historia Musical (2017) and Lo Mejor de mí, ¡Muchacha! (2019), and continued releasing new material: "Si Tú Me Dejas" (2020), "Cómo Te Voy a Olvidar" (feat. Lucho Paz, 2021), and "Sin Sentimiento" (2022). In 2025, he issued the digital compilation Simplemente Antonio Cartagena, reaffirming his enduring presence in salsa.