He had early formation in the Classic Technique, but he equally enjoys popular music. This was the beginning of Di Blasio's career in music. In fact, a lot of Di Blasio's musical pieces were composed by Bebu Silvetti one of which was called "Piano" which was considered as the first step into his musical career. One of his teachers was the renowned Argentinian composer and Pianist Bebu Silvetti from whom Di Blasio drew great inspiration. Having difficulty in purchasing a piano, he also relied on readily available sources of music such as whistling with his father, which helped develop the sort of melodies he employs in his work. After his parents' recommendations that he should study music, he began to pursue piano as a career.ĭi Blasio practiced piano alongside his teachers for more than four years. For tickets, call 673-7300 or Ticketmaster, 523-3309 in Broward 966-3309 in Palm Beach 358-5885 in Dade.Born in Zapala, Argentina, Raúl Di Blasio showed a great interest in piano at the age of six. Sunday at Jackie Gleason Theater, 1700 Washington Ave., Miami Beach. Raul DiBlasio is scheduled to perform 8:30 tonight, 8 p.m.
John Lannert is the Latin American/Caribbean bureau chief for Billboard. Indeed, di Blasio exemplifies the few pop pianists/-entertainers who snare a large, loyal following that is unknown to all but those who enjoy hearing piano performed alternately with elegant charm and friendly cheek. These days, di Blasio stands on the verge of exploring commercial terrain well traveled only by pianists of the stature of Liberace and Borge. Only two years before, di Blasio was dropping off CDs of Barroco to Coconut Grove restaurants. What a difference a well-spotted performance makes. After four minutes, they were giving me a standing ovation." After two minutes, people were paying attention. When I began to play, something magical happened. "I came from London dead tired from a recording session with the London Symphony Orchestra. "It was the most important four minutes of my career," says di Blasio. By the time he released En Tiempo de Amor in 1993, Spec's de Leon remembers he was attracting English-speaking buyers "who wanted to hear pleasant piano music."Įarlier this year, di Blasio piqued the interest of American executives at BMG during an industry convention where di Blasio floored the hard-to-please industryites with a volcanic performance that lasted all of four minutes. In the late '80s, di Blasio relocated to Miami.ĭi Blasio first gained notice in 1989, when he released El Piano de America, which introduced his nimble fingerplay to Latin American audiences. He took up a solo career in earnest in 1978, performing primarily in southern South American countries. Though initially exposed to classical and South American folkloric sounds, the aspiring pianist eventually became enamored with foreign pop and rock acts.Īt 17, di Blasio was on the road in Argentina playing Anglo hits of the day with a band called Los Diabolicos. Now I take the stage with a tranquil security of a person who has passed an exam."īorn in Zapala, a small pueblo in the southern Argentinian province of Neuquen, di Blasio began taking piano lessons when he was 6 years old.
"I'm a totally different artist than just three years ago when I first took the stage at Jackie Gleason," says di Blasio.
Di Blasio will be supported by his octet - including Petersen - a 51-piece orchestra, and 22 background vocalists.ĭi Blasio points out that the first half of his performance focuses on his earlier albums, Barroco and En Tiempo de Amor, with the second half sporting entries from El Piano de America 2. With that in mind, di Blasio says he will speak in both English and Spanish at his concerts, which are being filmed for a television special and home video. Ritz de Leon, Latin music buyer for Florida retail chain Spec's, affirms that 25 percent to 30 percent of the stores' clients buying di Blasio's albums are non-Latino. Moreover, the sleekly produced, mostly instrumental record, which boasts appearances by Latino superstars Julio Iglesias and Juan Gabriel, along with highly regarded South Florida vocalist Wendy Petersen, is the best-selling pop disc in the Latino market - an unprecedented feat for an instrumental record.ĭi Blasio's popularity is not limited to Hispanic consumers, however.
Still, the 40-something tinkler of Latinoand classical-flavored pop music, declares he is "absolutely amazed" how well his latest album, El Piano de America 2, has been selling in the United States since its release in June. "We will work to do the same all over the world." "Already in Latin America we have achieved a special status," says di Blasio, who is hugely popular throughout much of the region.
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