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Toño Rosario

{{Short description|Dominican musician}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Toño Rosario

| image = Toño_Rosario.JPG

| caption = Rosario signing a deal with Universal Music (2004)

| birth_name = Máximo Antonio del Rosario Almonte

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|11|3}}

| birth_place = Higüey, Dominican Republic

| genre = Merengue

| occupation = {{hlist|Musician|singer|composer|arranger}}

| years_active = 1978–present

| label = {{hlist|Universal Music Latino|RCA|Sony}}

| associated_acts = Los Hermanos Rosario

}}

Máximo Antonio del Rosario (born November 3, 1955), professionally known as Toño Rosario, is a Dominican Grammy Award-nominated{{Cite news |date=November 2, 2005 |title=Complete list of 6th annual Latin Grammy nominations |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2005-11-02-latin-grammy-list_x.htm |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=USA Today |access-date=January 18, 2010}} musician, best known for his role of bandleader of Merengue music act Los Hermanos Rosario.{{Cite news |date=October 9, 1998 |title=Pop and Jazz Guide |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/09/movies/pop-and-jazz-guide-249521.html?pagewanted=7 |work=The New York Times |access-date=January 18, 2010}} In 1990, he started his successful solo career receiving gold and platinum certifications.

Toño Rosario is a best selling merengue artist who has received nominations to the Latin Grammy Awards, Latin Billboard Music Awards and Grammy Awards. Rosario is known for hits such as ‘Kulikitaca’, ‘Resistire’, ‘Seguire’, ‘Jenny’ and ‘Viborar del Mar’. Rosario was the first solo merengue artist to ever sell out Madison Square Garden, United Palace, Altos de Chavón, la Plaza del Toro, Madrid, and Cuervana Stadium, México. Rosario is a minority owner/limited partner of the Miami Dolphins NFL team.

Musical career

Maximo Antonio del Rosario is best known for his Merengue numbers. As a member of Los Hermanos Rosario, Rosario has been a key figure in popularizing Merengue music, with hits reaching the top of the Billboard Latin charts and the top of charts in Europe. Rosario is the top selling Merengue artist of all time. The three-time Grammy nominee has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide. He is best known for his Romantic Merengue renditions.

Toño Rosario and his brothers were always interested in music. From young, they recall finding whatever instruments they could in household items since they were born in poverty and could not afford real musical instruments. The group in which Toño started his musical career was formed in 1978 and its name is "Los Hermanos Rosario": it consisted of himself, his brothers Pepe and Rafa (as the lead singers) and brothers Luis, Tony, and Francis (as the instrument players). They used to play in their neighbors houses and this is how they eventually got to be known and discovered. After the death of their brother Pepe, Toño and Rafa took the lead in the band with Toño as the main singer due to his unique and highly recognized voice.

In the late 1980s, after 12 years of being with his brothers, Toño was removed from the group and began his own solo career. He debuted on April 14, 1990, in the "Roberto Clemente" Coliseum of Puerto Rico. He went on to become the most popular merengue singer with some of his albums reaching diamond status. His Debut Album, "Y mas...", receive critical acclaim. With his second album, "Atado a ti" sold more than the expectations of the label and stayed at the Billboard Charts for more than 30 weeks. In 1992, his third studio album "Retorno a mis raises", went Platinum.{{Cite web|title=Toño Rosario negocia presentar espectáculos de sus 30 años en Sto Dgo y La Romana – Más Vip|date=March 11, 2019 |url=https://masvip.com.do/2019/03/11/tono-rosario-negocia-presentar-espectaculos-de-sus-30-anos-en-sto-dgo-y-la-romana/|access-date=2022-02-09|language=es}} The Single "La Gozadera" peaked at the number 7 in Dominican airplay.{{Cite web|title=Ventana de articulo|url=http://h.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Search&Key=EDT/1993/01/23/53/Ar05302.xml&CollName=EDT_1990_1999&DOCID=1192922&PageLabelPrint=53&skin=ElSiglo&sLanguage=English&Content=ALL&selLanguage=&sPublication=EDT&sQuery=Tono+Rosario&sScopeID=DR&sDateFrom=01%252F01%252F1991&sDateTo=12%252F31%252F2000&x=40&y=10&RefineQueryView=&StartFrom=75&ViewMode=HTML|access-date=2022-02-14|website=h.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx}}

In 1993, his fourth studio album "Amor Jollao" went Gold. In 1994, he signed with WEA Latina, followed by the release of the albums "Me olvide de vivir" (1994) and Quiero Volver a Empezar (1995). The subsequents, "Seguire" (1997) and "Exclusivo" (1998) become his highest charted albums in the United States.

La Magia del Cuco, released in 1999, become his first album to be certified platinum by the RIAA, with sales over 200,000 copies. In that same year, Toño performed at The Merengue Festival in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.{{Cite web|url=http://h.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Search&Key=EDT/1999/07/25/55/Ar05501.xml&CollName=EDT_1990_1999&DOCID=2308544&PageLabelPrint=55&skin=ElSiglo&sLanguage=English&Content=ALL&selLanguage=&sPublication=EDT&sQuery=Tono+Rosario&sScopeID=DR&sDateFrom=01%252F01%252F1991&sDateTo=12%252F31%252F2000&x=40&y=10&RefineQueryView=&StartFrom=5&ViewMode=HTML|title=Ventana de articulo|website=h.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx|accessdate=January 3, 2024}}

In 2000, Toño 10th Studio Album "Yo soy Toño" become his best selling album to date. It was certified platinum (Latin Field) by the RIAA and sold over 250,000 copies. Also, it was nominated for Best Merengue Album at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards and Best Merengue/Bachata Album at the 2nd Annual Latin Grammy Awards.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_hMEAAAAMBAJ&dq=To%C3%B1o+Rosario+grammy&pg=PA46-IA16|title=Billboard|date=2001-08-25|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|language=en}}

Toño en America, dropped in 2002, was moderated success and debut at in Dominican Republic Best Selling Albums Charts.{{Cite web|date=2003-02-15|title=MUSICALIA ONLINE!|url=http://musicalia.com.do:80/|access-date=2022-02-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030215151131/http://musicalia.com.do:80/|archive-date=February 15, 2003}} The single "Yo kuli, Yo kula" better known as "Kulikitaca" become a massive success across Latin America [https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RandR-IDX/IDX/00s/02/RR-2002-11-22-OCR-Page-0095.pdf#search=%22yo%20kuli%20yo%20kula%22 World Radio History]

In 2004, Toño Rosario signed a multi-album contract with Universal Latino. Also, performed a sold-out show at Altos the Chavon with Tego Calderon.{{Cite web|title=Tego Calderón y Toño Rosario en Altos de Chavón|url=https://www.diariolibre.com/revista/tego-caldern-y-too-rosario-en-altos-de-chavn-CVDL38127|access-date=2022-02-09|website=Diario Libre|date=March 15, 2004 |language=es}} In the same year, On December 7, he released 12th studio album "Resistire", met positive reviews and it was nominated for Best Merengue/Bachata Album at the 6th Annual Latin Grammy Awards. The title track was nominated as "Tropical Airplay Song of the Year" at the 2006 Latin Billboard Music Awards.{{Cite magazine|author=Billboard Staff|date=2005-01-08|title=Resistiré|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/resistire-64893/|access-date=2022-02-10|magazine=Billboard|language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine|last1=Cobo|first1=Leila|date=2004-11-15|title=Universal Latino Signs Toño Rosario|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/universal-latino-signs-tono-rosario-1425011/|access-date=2022-02-10|magazine=Billboard}}

In 2006, his live album "En Vivo: El original" peaked at 5 on US Tropical Albums Chart.

"A tu gusto" was released in 2007 and enter at the top 10 of Billboard Tropical Charts.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6g0EAAAAMBAJ&dq=To%C3%B1o+Rosario+Exito&pg=PA73|title=Billboard|date=2006-10-14|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|language=en}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BQ4EAAAAMBAJ&dq=To%C3%B1o+Rosario+Exito&pg=PA69|title=Billboard|date=2006-09-16|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|language=en}} In 2009, his compilation album Don't Worry Be Happy: The Best of Toño Rosario debut at 16 on Billboard Tropical Albums.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y6Dx4qbQ3dUC&dq=To%C3%B1o+Rosario+Exito&pg=PT65|title=Billboard|date=2009-07-04|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|language=en}}

In 2018, his song "Kulikitaka" became an internet sensation in the southern Indian Member State of Kerala. It became very famous and was used in numerous stage shows and video albums. In Kerala, it became famous as an African song and not as a Latin song because of a video that circulated in WhatsApp. Even small restaurants started getting named after the song in Kerala.{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/malayalam/nayika-nayakan-written-update-august-20-2018-onam-celebration-begins-with-colorful-performances/articleshow/65489721.cms |title=Nayika Nayakan written update, August 20, 2018: Onam celebration begins with colorful performances - Times of India |website=The Times of India |language=en-gb |access-date=2019-03-16}}{{Citation |last=Snappy Viral |title=Kulukki Thakka Full Song_Kuttappayi the Hunter_Official |date=2014-02-21 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAZU58TlISg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/aAZU58TlISg |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=2019-03-16}}{{cbignore}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kulukki+Thakka/@9.9985712,76.2910272,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x1fdbddfb0f219645!8m2!3d9.9985712!4d76.2910272 |title=Kulukki Thakka |website=Kulukki Thakka |language=en |access-date=2019-03-16}}

Tono Rosario married Marilyn Brenes in 1983, at Marriage Palace, in New York City.

Discography

{{Cleanup section|reason=Lists in need of formatting.|date=April 2021}}

=With Los Hermanos Rosario=

== Studio albums ==

1980: ¡Vienen Acabando!

1983: Vol. 1

1984: Vol. 2

1985: Vol. 3

1987: Acabando!

1988: Otra Vez!

1990: Fuera de Serie

== Compilation albums ==

1988: Lo Mejor de los Hermanos Rosario

1989: Lo Mejor de los Hermanos Rosario Vol. 2

1993: 14 Éxitos Impressionantes

1994: Juntos Con Sus Éxitos

1997: El Disco de Oro

1998: La Historia Musical Rosario

2001: 20 Aniversario

2003: Grandes Éxitos

2005: Grandes Éxitos Vol. 2

2006: Antología Musical

2007: La Bomba

= Solo discography =

= Studio albums =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan="2"|Title

! rowspan="2"|Year

! colspan="2" |Charts

! rowspan="2" |Sales

! rowspan="2"|Certifications

style="font-size:8pt"|US
Latin
{{Cite magazine|title=Toño Rosario|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/tono-rosario/|access-date=2022-02-10|magazine=Billboard|language=en-US}}

! style="font-size:8pt"|US
Tropical

align="left"|Y mas...1990—16

|

|

align="left"|Atado a Ti1991—8

|

  • World: 100,000{{Cite web|title=Toño Rosario|url=https://www.notas.com/html/tono_rosario.htm|access-date=2022-02-09|website=www.notas.com}}

|

align="left"|Retorno a las raíces1992—12

|

|

align="left" |Amor Jollao1993—11

|

|

align="left" |Me olvidé de vivir1994—15

|

|

align="left" |Quiero volver a empezar1995—13{{Efn|Also, hit 7 on Cash Box Top 40 Latin Albums.[https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Cash-Box-IDX/90s/1995/CB-1995-12-23-OCR-Page-0015.pdf#search=%22tono%20rosario%22 World Radio History]}}

|

|

align="left" |Seguiré1997306

|

align="left" |Exclusivo1998115

|

align="left" |La Magia del Cuco

|1999

——

|

  • US: 100,000

|

  • RIAA: Platinum (Latin){{Cite web|title=Gold & Platinum|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/|access-date=2022-02-09|website=RIAA|language=en-US}}
align="left" |Yo soy Toño2000—13

|

  • US: 100,000
  • DOM: 62,000{{Cite web|last=Quiñones|first=Alfonso|title=La industria de la música y el fin de la Historia (II)|url=https://www.diariolibre.com/revista/la-industria-de-la-msica-y-el-fin-de-la-historia-ii-MCDL280914|access-date=2022-02-09|website=Diario Libre|date=February 23, 2011 |language=es}}
  • World: 250,000{{Cite web|title=Rosario: el que construye el ritmo|url=https://www.nacion.com/archivo/rosario-el-que-construye-el-ritmo/3JWXMVW2CNCNJI5BAIPZKDXDFA/story/|access-date=2022-02-09|website=La Nación|date=June 11, 2001 |language=es}}

|

  • RIAA: Platinum (Latin)
align="left" |Toño en America

|2002

|—

|12{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OQ0EAAAAMBAJ&dq=tono+rosario+album+sales&pg=PA45|title=Billboard|date=2002-11-09|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|language=en}}

|

|

Resistire

|2004

|—

|11{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kRQEAAAAMBAJ&dq=tono+rosario+album+sales&pg=PA64|title=Billboard|date=2005-05-21|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|language=en}}

|

|

A Tu Gusto

|2007

|—

|9

|

|

colspan="6" style="font-size:8pt" | Albums that did not chart are denoted with an "—".

== Compilation albums ==

  • Grandes Éxitos: Cinco Años de Platino (1995)
  • Colecciones y Éxitos (1997)
  • La Alegría del Merengue (1999)
  • Serie 2000 (2000)
  • Juntos (con Wilfrido Vargas) (2002)
  • Colección Diamante (2003)
  • Todo lo Bueno de Toño Rosario (2003)
  • Amigo Mío: Toño y Sus Éxitos (2003)
  • Lo Mejor de Toño Rosario (2006)
  • Tradicional (2006)
  • Don't Worry Be Happy: The Best of Toño Rosario (2009)
  • 20 Grandes Éxitos (2010)
  • Mis Favoritas (2012)

== Live albums ==

  • En Vivo: El Original (2006)
  • Lo Más Encendío de Toño Rosario (2007)
  • Los Mega Éxitos en Vivo (2009)
  • El Mandatario (2011)

== Singles ==

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan="2"| Year

! rowspan="2"| Single

! colspan="4"| Peak chart positions

! rowspan="2"| Album

style="font-size:smaller;"

! width="35"| US{{cite magazine |title=Tono Rosario Hot 100 chart history |url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=toño rosario|chart=Hot 100}} |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |access-date=July 31, 2012}}

! width="35"| US Latin

! width="35"| US Tropical

! width="35"| MEX

rowspan="2"| 1990

| align="left"| "Jenny"

| 97

| 1

| 1

| –

| align="left" rowspan="5"| Toño Rosario, Y mas

align="left"| "Vibora del Mar"

| 83

| 1

| 1

| 14{{cite magazine |date=November 11, 2011 |title=Mexico Airplay |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/chart-search-results/albums/12011657 |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |access-date=September 2, 2012}}

rowspan="3"| 1991

| align="left"| "Vibora del Mar" (re-issue)

| –

| 1

| 1

| –

align="left"| "Otra Vez"

| –

| –

| –

| –

align="left"| "Tu Mujer"

| –

| 42

| –

| 9{{cite magazine |date=May 19, 2012 |title=Mexico Airplay |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/chart-search-results/albums/14086587 |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |access-date=September 2, 2012}}

rowspan="3" |1995

|"Me Olvide de Vivir"

|

|

|{{Efn|It did not enter on Billboard charts. However, it charted 11th on CashBox Tropical Airplay.[https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Cash-Box-IDX/90s/1995/CB-1995-04-15-OCR-Page-0011.pdf#search=%22me%20olvide%20de%20vivir%22 World Radio History]}}

|

|Me Olvide de Vivir

"Quiero Volver A Empezar"

|

|

|13[https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1995/1995-12-09-Billboard-Page-0036.pdf#search=%22tono%20rosario%22 World Radio History]

|

| rowspan="3" |Quiero Volver a Empezar

"Estupida"

|

|

|4[https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1996/1996-07-20-Billboard-Page-0025.pdf#search=%22tono%20rosario%22 World Radio History]

|

1996

|"Sera"

|

|

|17

|

rowspan="2" |1997

|Seguire

|

|24

|7

|

| rowspan="2" |Seguire

"Loco Loco"

|

|24

|7

|

1998

|Asi Fue

|

|22

|8

|

|Exclusivo

1999

|"Alegria"

|

|33

|15

|

|La Alegria Del Merengue

rowspan="3" |2000

|"Juan en la ciudad"

|

|

|20

|

| rowspan="2" |La Magia del Cuco

"Tu va vei"

|

|

|14

|

"El Ritmo de la Navidad"

|

|

|20

|

| rowspan="2" |Yo Soy Toño

2001

|"Yo Me Muero Por Ella"

|

|

|18

|

2002

|"Yo Kuli Yo Kula"

|

|

|15{{Cite book |date=November 23, 2002 |title=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SA0EAAAAMBAJ&dq=yo+kuli+yo+kula&pg=PA37 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |language=en}}

|

|Toño En America

2004

|"Amigo mio" (featuring Tego Calderon)

|

|44

|2

|

|Amigo Mío: Toño y Sus Éxitos

rowspan="2" |2005

|Resistire

|

|44

|4

|

| rowspan="2" |Resistire

"En Navidad"

|

|

|18

|

2006

|"A lo Oscuro"

|

|

|13

|

| rowspan="2" |En Vivo: El Original

2007

|"Ojala se Seque El Rio"

|

|

|35

|

rowspan="1" | 2007

| align="left" | "Cortame las venas"{{cite news |last=Valdez |first=Maria |date=July 29, 2013 |title=Toño Rosario New Song: Listen To 'King Of Merengue' Latest Hit 'Cortame las venas' Here |url=http://www.latintimes.com/articles/6843/20130729/toño-rosario-king-merengue-new-song-Cortame-las-Venas-listen.htm#.UffuSo2sjTo |work=Latin Times |publisher=IBT Media |access-date=July 30, 2013}}{{dead link|date=August 2020|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

| –

| 44{{Cite book |date=July 7, 2007 |title=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xg4EAAAAMBAJ&dq=To%C3%B1o+Rosario+Exito&pg=PA84 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |language=en}}

| –

| –

| align="left" rowspan"1" | A tu Gusto

2017

|"Dale Vieja Dale"

|

|

|10

|

|

In popular culture

Rosario's version of Kulikitaka became viral on TikTok in 2021–2022, becoming its own "challenge", resulting in legal issues for some participants.{{cite web |url=https://rmx.news/article/german-teenagers-accused-of-chasing-cow-into-a-moving-train-in-tiktok-challenge/ |title=German teenagers accused of chasing cow into a moving train in TikTok challenge |date=May 19, 2021}}

Personal life

Rosario was once married to Puerto Rican merengue singer Ivette Cintron.{{Cite web|url=https://www.primerahora.com/entretenimiento/farandula/fotogalerias/que-hace-ivette-cintron/|title=¿Qué hace Ivette Cintrón?|date=December 23, 2023|website=Primera Hora|accessdate=January 3, 2024}}

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rosario, Tono}}

Category:1955 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from La Altagracia Province

Category:Merengue musicians

Category:Salsa musicians

Category:Bachata musicians

Category:Cumbia musicians

Category:20th-century Dominican Republic male singers

Category:Latin pop singers

Category:Latin Grammy Award winners

Category:Dominican Republic singer-songwriters

Category:21st-century Dominican Republic male singers

Category:RCA Records artists

Category:Universal Music Latin Entertainment artists

Category:Latin music songwriters