Arthur Hanlon

Arthur Hanlon is an American pianist, songwriter and arranger widely regarded as the best-known instrumentalist in the Latin music realm. Born to Irish-American parents, he hails from Detroit, Michigan, but found his calling in Latin music and has received widespread recognition in that realm, becoming the first pianist to reach the Billboard Latin airplay charts in more than a decade and the first to have a No. 1 on Billboard's Tropical Airplay chart ^[1] After releasing two albums with Universal Latin, Hanlon signed a recording contract with Sony Music Latin in 2015 and will release his first album with the label in early 2016.

Hanlon's last album, "Encanto Del Caribe", is a CD/DVD of a live concert performance filmed at Puerto Rico's historic San Cristobal Castle featuring Hanlon on piano with several guest artists: Marc Anthony, Laura Pausini, Natalia Jimenez, Cheo Feliciano, Bernie Williams and Ana Isabelle (though she does not appear on both the DVD and CD but credited on both). "Encanto Del Caribe" was also produced as a special for public television and has aired throughout the United States.

History

The third of seven children, Hanlon started playing the piano at six, and at 15, was already playing professional gigs in Detroit with ensembles that included the Flip Jackson Band. Hanlon would eventually get his masters degree in piano performance from Manhattan School of Music in New York City.

While in New York, he encountered Latin music head-on, and regularly played Latin club gigs while at the same time studying the music of classical composers.

Hanlon’s first album was an independent recording of purely original material, appropriately titled ’’Encuentros.’’ Licensed by Max Music and distributed by Universal, Encuentros brought Hanlon to the attention of Fonovisa Records, the leading indie Latin label in the country at the time, with whom he signed in 2000.

Hanlon’s first release with Fonovisa Records was El Piano Amarillo (The Yellow Piano) and eclectic mix of Latin, dance and pop fare produced by Colombian producers Estéfano and Julio Reyes (of Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez fame).

He followed up with 11 Números Uno, a more classically-tinged album of covers of Latin standards plus one of his original compositions.

He consolidated himself as an instrumentalist with 2005’s La Gorda Linda, an album of mostly original material that featured a handful of guest artists, including jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, salsa star Tito Nieves and Mexican singer Ana Bárbara. The album was produced by Grammy winners Sergio George and Kike Santander and was a multiple finalist for the 2006 Billboard Latin Music Awards, in which Hanlon performed.

In 2006, Hanlon was signed by EMI, and released Mecanomanía, an album of covers of Spanish pop trio Mecano, set to chill-out arrangements.

The video for the album’s first single, “Hijo de la Luna,” was shot at the Baldwin piano factory, marking the first time in the company’s nearly 100-year history that a music video was shot in its installations.^[2]

In 2007, Hanlon toured the United States with Puerto Rican pop star Chayanne, opening a series of arena dates for the singer.

Hanlon is currently signed to Universal Latin. His first album under the label was 2009's "Piano Sin Fronteras." The album, which Hanlon wrote or co-wrote in its entirety, features collaborations with some of the top names in Latin music, including Colombian rock star Juanes, Italian diva Laura Pausini, Sergio Vallín—guitarist for rock group Maná, Brazilian superstar Alexandre Pires, Venezuelan icon Ricardo Montaner, pop star Luis Fonsi and Chilean singer Myriam Hernandez.

Hanlon has also recorded several Christmas singles that have been used for different campaigns. "Esta Navidad," which Hanlon wrote in 2008 and which features Puerto Rican singer Janina on vocals, was used by the Univision Network for their Christmas on-air campaign in several markets, including Miami, New York and Chicago. The song was also released as a single to radio. In 2010, Hanlon wrote and recorded a second Christmas single, "Navidad, Navidad," which he recorded with Venezuelan duo Chino y Nacho and Mexican singer Dulce Maria on vocals. The song is a Spanish version adaptation of Jingle Bells. It was also used by Univision for its Christmas campaign on several major Latin markets.

In 2011, Hanlon traveled to Puerto Rico to film "Encanto del Caribe" at Castillo San Cristobal a historic fortress in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The show was being filmed as a special for public television. Hanlon's guests included Marc Anthony, Laura Pausini, Natalia Jimenez, Bernie Williams, Cheo Feliciano and Ana Isabelle. Hanlon performed on his blue grand piano accompanied by a 40-piece orchestra conducted by Puerto Rican arranger and conductor Cucco Pena. The special was produced by SBS Entertainment, a U.S.-based Latin media company and funded by the Puerto Rican government. The CD/DVD "Encanto del Caribe" was released in August, 2012 by Universal Music Latino.

Music career

With his 2005 hit, “La Gorda Linda,” Hanlon became the first pianist, and the first non-Latin, to reach No. 1 on the tropical airplay chart of Billboard Magazine, according to an article published by Billboard on April 26, 2006, coinciding with the Billboard Latin Music Awards. Hanlon was the first pianist to enter the Billboard Latin charts in more than a decade, according to the magazine. “La Gorda Linda,” which he penned, was also on the top ten of the “Billboard Top Latin Songs” chart and a subsequent remix by DJ Norty Cotto spent weeks on the Billboard dance charts. As a result of “La Gorda Linda,” Hanlon was a double finalist for the 2006 Latin Billboard Music Awards in the Tropical Song of the year and Dance Track of the year categories.^[3]

In a memorable moment, Hanlon played "No Me Llames Extranjero," a song about immigrants, with Fonsi and Montaner during the 2006 Latin Billboard Music Awards which aired on Telemundo. In the live concert arena, Hanlon has shared the stage with the likes of Ricardo Montaner, Luis Fonsi, Laura Pausini, Alejandro Fernandez, Myriam Hernández and pop star Chayanne, for whom he opened a series of arena dates in 2007. Arthur was also nominated for a New York Emmy Award for his jingle "Esta Navidad" (This Christmas), based on his single of the same name, which was picked up by Univision as its Christmas jingle and spot for 2008.

Also established in the mainstream instrumental realm, Arthur was a featured guest on pianist Jim Brickman's "Beautiful World" CD and PBS special and toured the U.S. with Italian star Laura Pausini in 2009. Most recently, Hanlon was a recurring guest artist on the Univision network's music reality contest "¡Viva el Sueño!," appearing weekly on prime time television alongside the contestants. Hanlon was also a guest on the international debut album by "¡Viva el Sueño!" winner, Ana Isabelle, "Mi Sueño".

Hanlon's album "Piano Sin Fronteras" was released on March 2009 with Universal Music Latino. The album, written entirely by Hanlon, includes collaborations with the top names in Latin music, including Colombian star Juanes, Italian diva Laura Pausini, Puerto Rican star Luis Fonsi, Venezuelan icon Ricardo Montaner, guitarist Sergio Vallín (lead guitarist of Mexican band Maná), Brazilian crooner Alexandre Pires and Chilean superstar Myriam Hernandez. Hanlon was seen performing alongside Cristian Castro at the Billboard Latin music awards in April 2009 and with Luis Fonsi in Madison Square Garden in August 2009. In July, he performed alongside Alejandro Fernandez in his mass concert, "Jalisco en Vivo" before nearly 200,000 people. He was a guest artist on Laura Pausini's 2009 U.S. tour. Hanlon also performed a series of intimate acoustic shows with Myriam Hernandez in Chile in October.

Hanlon returned to the Billboard charts in the Summer of 2009 with "Ya Te Olvide," a single from "Piano Sin Fronteras" featuring Ricardo Montaner. To date, Hanlon has had four major label releases, all under Latin labels, making him an anomaly in the pop music world. He is currently signed to Universal Latin. Aside from his new album, his history of recorded collaborations includes Gloria Estefan (in her album "Unwrapped"), Arturo Sandoval (with whom he recorded "Marianela," from Hanlon's album "La Gorda Linda"), Crooked Stylo (with whom he co-wrote the track "Don Miguel," from the album "Malhablados"), Tito Nieves (who sings in the track "La Gorda Linda" from Hanlon's album of the same name) and Ana Bárbara (who sings "Estar a Tu Lado," from "La Gorda Linda").

Hanlon also composed and produced "La Gota de la Vida" (The Drop of Life), a song recorded by 46 artists to benefit Cancer Research Center City of Hope and whose video was directed by Simon Brand.^[4]

Hanlon again reappeared as the star of Univision's 2010 Christmas campaign, with a Spanish-language version of "Jingle Bells" titled "Navidad Navidad" and featuring urban duo Chino & Nacho and Mexican pop star Dulce Maria. Hanlon wrote the Spanish language lyrics and arranged and produced the track, which made it onto Billboard Magazine's Hot Latin Pop Airplay chart.

La Gota de la Vida (The Drop of Life)

In 2010, Hanlon was asked to write a song in Spanish to be used by cancer center City of Hope to raise awareness on the importance of bone marrow donation. Hanlon penned "La Gota de la Vida" (The Drop of Life) and ultimately recorded it with dozens of Hispanic stars, including Enrique Iglesias, Gloria Estefan, Franco de Vita, David Bisbal, Jenni Rivera, Oscar D'Leon, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Luis Fonsi, Marco Antonio Solis and more. A video, directed by Colombian video and film director Simon Brand, was shot in several U.S. cities, including Miami and Las Vegas. "La Gota de la Vida" was officially premiered at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles with a live performance featuring Hanlon on piano and several of the artists who sang on the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ffu71hT-FRk

Encanto del Caribe

Hanlon's last project for Universal was "Encanto del Caribe" (Caribbean Fantasy), a live concert recorded at historic San Cristobal Castle in Puerto Rico with guest artists Marc Anthony, Laura Pausini, Natalia Jimenez, New York Yankee great Bernie Williams on the guitar, Cheo Feliciano, and Ana Isabelle (though she does not appear on both the DVD and CD but credited on both). A UNESCO World Heritage Site, San Cristobal allowed filming inside its premises for the first time in history with "Encanto del Caribe." The special aired on public television stations across the United States and a CD/DVD was released by Universal August 21, 2012. "Encanto del Caribe" features original instrumental recordings composed by Hanlon as well as Latin standards. The album was produced by Grammy winner Julio Reyes Copello and the musical direction of the show was under Puerto Rican bandleader Cucco Pena.

Memorable moments in the special include Hanlon's performance of Puerto RIcan classic "En Mi Viejo San Juan" with superstar Marc Anthony on vocals.^[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKXsAcvFcmg&index=4&list=PLBE29FDDFA1147798

In 2013, Hanlon released "I'll Be There (Alli Estare)," a bilingual cover of the Jackson Five classic with up and coming bachata star Karlos Rose on vocals. The track spent 16 weeks on the Top 10 of Billboard's Tropical Airplay chart.

Discography

References

1. ↑ Billboard Magazine, September 21, 2009.
2. ↑ Gibson/Baldwin official website.
3. ↑ Billboard Magazine, April 26, 2006.
4. ↑ La Gota de la Vida - YouTube.com
5. ↑ Los Angeles Times, August 24, 2012.

External links

• Billboard (Subscription required)
• Billboard Music Charts
• Arthur Hanlon, a MusicWorld story written by Dan Kimpel
• Arthur Hanlon official site
• Latin Stars Unite For City Of Hope