The audience and the specialized press have qualified him as a creator, and a magisterial interpreter. A Chilean singer-songwriter, with a gifted voice, captivates with an incomparable talent. With more than a thousand concerts in Latin America, and more than a million copies sold in his artistic career, Plaza renews his music in fascinating styles. Undoubtedly he is one of the main pillars of Hispanic music.
Alberto Plaza has performed seven times in the Viña del Mar International Song Festival (Chile), having gotten innumerable awards; with thirteen discs of his authorship, and the applause from the audience, this distinguished singer-songwriter has become a real “Dream Troubadour”, as he is called by his fans.
A HYMN TO LIFE
ALBERTO PLAZA was born on the 12th of February in Santiago, Chile, as the youngest of four siblings. He is the son of the married couple of Mr. Luis Alberto Plaza Valenzuela and Mrs. Maria Angelica Aguirre Robles. He had his first steps in music when he was just a child.
BEGINNINGS
Having a unique talent and being only five years old, Alberto sang and played the guitar for the very first time at the Chilean television talent show of “Tio Alejandro” (Uncle Alejandro). At the age of 15, he won his first music festival when he was still studying at the Verbo Divino High School, and at the age of 17, he started writing his first songs.
His professional career began in 1985 when he performed in front of more than 12 thousand people “Que Cante La Vida” at the Viña del Mar International Song Festival, a song that became an all time classic. With this song Alberto won the third place in the contest, and received the award of the “Most Popular Artist”, and the “Young Revelation” of the competition.
MUSICAL CAREER
Alberto Plaza has performed seven times at the Viña del Mar International Song Festival (Chile), being awarded in each one of his performances the best prize, and the ovation of the audience of the Quinta Vergara.
Moreover, Alberto has written songs to several recognized international artists, he was one of the major figures of the well-remembered “Todas las Voces Todas” ( All Voices) concert, in Quito, Ecuador. This concert was organized by the painter Oswaldo Guayasamin, and gathered artists such as Mercedes Sosa and Silvio Rodriguez, among others.
His talent has been admired by numerous Latin American artists who have covered and made Plaza’s songs greatest hits with their own voices.
Fifteen years after his first performance at Viña del Mar International Song Festival, his song “Que Cante la Vida” was awarded in 2000 as “The Best Chilean Song” ever among those that had participated in that important musical event. Nine years after, the same song is chosen as one of the most loved top ten tracks by the Chilean audience.
Alberto Plaza is admired by fans from many parts of the World. His Friends’ Club “Voy a Cambiar el Mundo” (I will Change the World), created in 2001 (baptized under that name in honor of one of his songs) has headquarters in countries that carry out valuables solidarity activities under his name. This club inspired the singer-songwriter to set up the I will Change the World Foundation that promotes the good treatment for children in Latin America.
LANDMARKS OF HIS TRAJECTORY
• 1985 – Alberto Plaza participated for the first time in the International Music Festival of Viña del Mar. He got the third place and the “Most Popular Artist”, and “Young Revelation” awards of the competition with his song “Que Cante la Vida”.
• He composed “De Tu Ausencia” which was chosen “The Best Song of the Year” in Chile, which became a classic that has been recorded by distinguished Latin American interpreters.
• 1992 – The album “Complices” is awarded by the Chilean Entertainment Journalists Association (APES by its Spanish acronym) with two awards: “Best Songwriter” and “Best Album of the Year”.
• 1995 – He got the second place at the International OTI Festival, Paraguay, with the song “Cancion Contra La Tristeza”.
• 1996 – The Chilean Entertainment Journalists Association (APES) awarded “Bandido” the award as the “Best Album of the Year”.
• “Bandido” is chosen the “Best Song of the Year” in Peru.
• The Copyright Society of Chile awarded him as the “Best Songwriter of the Decade”.
• 1998 – “Polvo de Estrellas” got a nomination to the “Best Album of the Year” by the Chilean Entertainment Journalists Association.
• Alberto together with Claudio Hohmann wrote the song “Vamos Chile” official anthem of the Chilean soccer team that competed at the ‘98 World Cup in France.
• 2000 – “Que Cante La Vida” was honored as “Best Chilean Song” in the history of the Viña del Mar International Song Festival.
• He wrote the Scouts World Jamboree official anthem, which has been sung in Spanish, English and French. His name was forever engraved in the historical records of this important organization.
• 2002 – Plaza was named “Cultural Ambassador of Chile in the United States”, a title granted by the Chilean-American Chamber of Commerce in the United States.
• “In Colombia, he was given the “Chilean Colombo Circle Great Medal”, because of his humanitarian efforts between Chile and Colombia.
• 2003 – He was awarded in Colombia with the “Andres Bello Medal” as a “Goodwill Ambassador of the Latino American Culture”, in honor of his valuable contribution to Hispanic music through his songs. He was awarded with this prize by the Executive Secretary of the Andrés Bello Agreement, international organization of intergovernmental nature made up by Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Cuba, Ecuador, Spain, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.
• He received the “Keys of the Medellin City”, Colombia.
• 2006 – He received the “Keys of the Barranquilla”, Colombia.
• He became the first singer-songwriter who gets the “Order Merit Medal to the Democracy in the Grade of Grand Commander”, a distinction that is given only by the Senate of the Republic of Colombia, because of his active campaign to promote the humane treatment of children.
• 2007 – The song “Pa’lante”, composed by Alberto Plaza and Pedro Alfonso, reached first place in the Latino Billboard under the voice of Willy Chirino, one of the greatest exponents of salsa in the world.
• “Remedio Pa’l Corazon” a song he composed with Jose Luis Arroyave, was danced by one of the favorite dancing couples at the “Dancing with the Stars” TV show (from the ABC in the United States).
• 2009 – “Que Cante la Vida” was chosen as one of the top ten Chilean songs by the audience in all Chilean history.
• In October Plaza was invited to perform at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, CA, where he performed a hit show praised by the specialized press.
• He got homage at the Estrella Premios Music Awards in Miami, United States, because of his valuable contribution to the continental music in his 25 years of musical career.
Alberto Plaza is currently based in the United States, where he has lived for the last ten years.
