Monte Sagrado

This past April I went to Puerto Rico for the very first time since Hurricane Maria hit our beautiful island. My grandmother was displaced by the storm and is living with my uncle and his family in Texas because her home was destroyed. In our town of Manati, her home was my childhood respite, my sanctuary and place of sweet childhood nostalgia.

After spending three days working in San Juan and Santurce, I chose to visit the house on the last day before taking my flight back to NYC. Seeing her home was devastating, not having her there was even more devastating. I cried for the loss of a time gone by that will never return for me or for her.

It easily could have been one of the worst days of my life until I received a message from “Robi” Draco Rosa, that he was landing in PR and wanted to see me and my son before we left. Now, if you don’t know who Draco Rosa is, you definitely have been touched by his work.

I instantly became his fan when he joined the PR Boy Band MENUDO in the 80’s, he was the first member to sing in English and represent Nuyorican culture in a way no one had before. Ricky Martin was also part of the group at the time and would later become mega famous with the song Living La Vida Loca, which was co-written by Draco Rosa, as well as the hits Maria and La Copa de la Vida.

“Robi” Rosa was my absolute favorite Menudo and gave me songs to sing since childhood, affecting my life in creativity, cultural pride and resilience. He fought a long battle with cancer and has been cancer free for over 5 years now, creating a holistic life with his Hacienda in PR and touring right now with his new album Monte Sagrado.

His humility was mind blowing and his timing was a godsend. My son and I spent a beautiful time talking about life, health and music with the man himself, turning a most sad day into an angelic experience. Long Live Draco Rosa! Support his new album and check him out in concert too!