RAFAEL SANTA CRUZ C.

He comes from the Santa Cruz’s tradition, an important Afro-Peruvian family dedicated to cultivating different artistic manifestations. When he was 14, he recorded for Nicomedes Santa Cruz’s album “Socavon”. When he was 15, while still at school, he formed his first groups of music. He participated as musical accompanist in the workshops Victoria Santa Cruz gave in some countries of America and Europe. He participated in the initial workshops for the production of the theatrical play Mahabarata, under the general direction of Peter Brook and the musical direction of Toshi Tsuchitori in Paris. Back in Lima, he performed the musical direction of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Gian Piero Solari. He founded and directed “Hermanos Santa Cruz & Afroperú”. He has given percussion clinics, master classes and didactic recitals, and made presentations in England, Italy, Dominican Republic, the United States, Brazil, Ecuador, Spain, Puerto Rico, etc. He appeared as guest in records of Eva Ayllon, Carmina Cannavino, Lito Figueroa, Miki Gonzalez, NSQ-NSC, Willy Rivera, Victoria Santa Cruz, Patricia Saravia, Tierra Sur, and Pablo among others. He has conducted special television programs and, simultaneously, developed his acting career by doing theater: Amor de mis Amores, Otelo, Tetralenon de Pacificilina; doing soap operas: Natacha, La Rica Vicky, Amor Serrano, Milagros, Qué Buena Raza; doing cinema: 800 leguas de viaje en el Amazonas, Reportaje a la Muerte. In several occasions, he has participated as expositor in events related to music, culture and communications. At present, he is a cajon teacher at the university Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. He also acts in the series “Los del Solar”. He has recently presented the show “Tiempos de Cajón”. He has written and published the book and CD “El Cajón Afroperuano” (The Afro-Peruvian Cajon). He conducts the program “Magazin Sabatino” in radio CPN every Saturday from 2 to 3 p.m.