Dominican musician, singer-songwriter, composer, arranger and producer Chichí Peralta received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Recording Academy this week. The award is presented to performers who have made unprecedented contributions of great artistic significance to Latin music.
Peralta, known for blending Caribbean rhythms such as merengue, bachata and son with jazz, hip-hop, Brazilian and African beats, first gained recognition as a percussionist for Juan Luis Guerra y 4.40. He won the Latin Grammy for Best Merengue Album in 2001 for De Vuelta al Barrio and was nominated in 2006 in the Best Contemporary Tropical Album category for Más Que Suficiente.
He is preparing to release a new studio album, Endorfina, in early 2027, according to the interview. The 16-track set is his first in almost two decades, following De Aquel Lado del Río (2009). Two singles, “El Meneíto” and “El Cofrecito”, have already been released.
In an interview with Billboard Español, Peralta discussed the award, his early musical development, his faith and family, and his views on artificial intelligence. On AI, he said he is not completely against using it as a tool but does not want it to replace creativity.
Source: Billboard
