Well I guess I’ll start from the beginning. I was born and raised in Queens NYC to an awesome pair of Dominican parents. We have a pretty big family (two older sisters and two brothers – of which I am in the middle), so vying for attention was tough. My mother was always the practical one whose dream was for me to become a doctor or a lawyer. My dad, however, would always allow me to pursue my dreams, which brings me here! I only recently decided embark on a singing/songwriting career after getting TONS of support from one of my best friends, Lily! (We do not call it support, we call it apoyo, or more recently, a-chicken…Lily gives me lots of a-chicken!).
        I’ve always felt like I wanted to be on stage. At 18, I started dancing salsa professionally, so my urge for performing was satisfied for the time being. It was last year at the LAMC that I decided that this was the path for me. After getting out of a pretty crappy situation with another person, I was inspired to write my first song (the song you’re hearing as you read this), and the songs have been pouring out of me ever since…Although it’s a process giving birth to music. I like to think of my sound as representing a little bit of my life experience. My family is Dominican, but my best friends growing up and to this day are Colombian, Puerto Rican, Peruvian, African-American, Haitian, etc. I aim to make my music represent not only who I am, but also where I come from and all those people who have influenced my life! This is only a first draft of my songs, so stay tuned!! Bigger and better things will be coming very soon!! Want to see more?? Check out my myspace page @ www.myspace.com/marquitoNYC

Wanna see me shake my ass? http://www.danceon2.com/node/14/play

NOW IN SPANISH!!!

       Bueno…Supongo que debería empezar por el principio. Nací en Queens, NYC de padres Dominicanos. Tenemos una familia grande (Como buen Dominicanos que somos) y como pueden imaginar, fue difícil expresarse en tal ambiente. Mi mama siempre me decía “Los cantantes nacen, no se hacen” pero mi Papa fue el que siempre me apoyaba (Aunque cuidadosamente). Tome la decisión muy reciente para embarcar en una carrera de cantautor, gracias al apoyo constante de unas de mis mejores amigas, Liliana Vásquez. Si no fuera por ella y también el LAMC, nunca hubiera podido intentar lo que estoy haciendo hoy día.
        Después del LAMC (Latin Alternative Music Conference), y también después de salir de una situación fea, escribí mi primera canción (la que estas oyendo ahora mismo). Desde ese día, me salen las canciones casi diariamente. Mi meta con mi música es para llegar a todas las comunidades y a todas las personas que me han ayudado o que han sido parte de mi vida de alguna manera. Es decir, quiero que mi música sea una reflexión de quien soy, Un muchacho Dominicano-Americano, pero mas que nada Latino! Intento que mi música tenga el sabor de todos los países cuyos ciudadanos se encuentran en este yermo extraño. ¡Espero que les gusten!

quieren ver mas? Pues visita mi myspace...www.myspace.com/marquitoNYC

**TRANSLATED LYRICS OF MY SONGS**

En Tu Sombra (in your shadow)

      <chorus>

I am still here

The same as always

I don’t want to live

Don’t want to continue

IN YOUR SHADOW

I’m so tired of you

I know how to leave

I’ll never turn

I cannot continue

IN YOUR SHADOW

(2x)

Now I will learn to live without you

I will survive

I don’t need your love

I learned from you

But now I must go

I know who you are

I know you have no heart

I’m not like you

And you’re not like me

I know time cures all          

<chorus> 

We were so happy

And now  NOTHING

What I felt for you

Just a fairy tale

You will soon see

That you’re nothing

You are going to pay a high price

<Pre-chorus>

But I know that

Time heals all wounds

I am who I am

Live in my way

You will see

That you will regret losing me!!

 You used to tell me that

I wasnt’ worth anything to you

Used to tell me

I’m nothing without you

Shame that it has to end this way

That I have to run from you

Your words

Like poison in my ear

But I know that

Time heals all wounds

<chorus>

I am still here

The same as always

I don’t want to live

Don’t want to continue

IN YOUR SHADOW

I’m so tired of you

I know how to leave

I’ll never turn

I cannot continue

IN YOUR SHADOW

We were so happy

And now nothing

You are going to pay

You are going to pay!!

Quien te Crees? (Who do you think you are?)