MUSIC

 Oct. 16, 2012 – Known for his smooth vocals and fiery dance moves, Nicaraguan singer-songwriter Luis Enrique—"the Prince of Salsa"—is one of Latin music's first pioneers of the romantic "salsa sensual" style. Backed by a large student ensemble, the Grammy- and Latin Grammy Award-winning artist will perform some of his biggest hits at Berklee College of Music on Nov. 8.

Luis Enrique Meets Berklee is part of Berklee's Signature Music Series and Latin Music and Culture Celebration. It takes place on Thursday, Nov. 8, 8:15 p.m. at the Berklee Performance Center (BPC), 136 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston. Tickets are reserved seating, $8, $16 (advance) and $12, $22 (day of show). Purchase tickets at berkleebpc.com, by calling 617 747-2261, or visit the BPC Box Office. The venue is wheelchair-accessible. The concert is produced by bass professor Oscar Stagnaro, with Matthew Nicholl, Berklee's chair of contemporary writing and production, serving musical director.

Luis Enrique pioneered a smooth, emotive brand of salsa that paved the way for other successful Latin pop artists, such as Marc Anthony and Victor Manuelle. A native of Managua, Nicaragua, he immigrated to Los Angeles in 1978. Inspired by American jazz and R&B, and excited to grow musically, he began incorporating new sounds into his music. After an audition for a local salsa group, he made such an impression on the band's producers that they took him into a studio to record a demo. That recording led to a deal with Sony in 1987 for the release of his debut album Amor de Media Noche.

After establishing himself as one of the most successful and influential artists in salsa, Luis Enrique took a nine-year recording hiatus. He returned to the forefront of Latin American music with the release of the 2009 album Ciclos and last year's Soy Y Sere, which received a 2012 Latin Grammy nomination for Best Salsa Album. His sizable discography has earned him a Grammy Award, two Latin Grammy Awards, five Lo Nuestro Awards, four Latin Billboard Awards, as well as several gold and platinum records.

Luis Enrique has also become a forceful figure in the struggle for immigrant rights. He recently participated in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, where he had the opportunity to meet President Obama, and express his thoughts on the Dream Act and the importance of immigration reform.

For more information on Luis Enrique, visit luisenriquemusic.com.