@noel-brooke
Singer, songwriter, musician, recording engineer and music producer, Noel Rodriguez Santiago (aka Noel Brooke), son of puertorriquen parents, was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He began his musical path absorbing and learning two genres of music during his tender age. He learned the genre of Latin music from his parents, while learning the genre of American music from his older brothers and sisters. It was in 1976, where Noel’s parents had decided to move to Ponce, Puerto Rico. It was on this same year that his older brothers and sisters had taken their own paths of life, leaving Noel as an only child.
During the years of 1977 to 1979, Noel positively started taking seriously his passion and inspirations towards music, becoming more interactive and profound in his singing. His first experience was at age twelve at his elementary school Rodulfo Del Valle in Ponce, Puerto Rico, where he sang and imitated with Elvis Presley songs to his teachers and classroom mates. His devotion and commitment in singing through adolescence continued to grow, his voice matured with the trajectory of his years of elementary and middle school, as a country blues singer and entertainer. It was in then in the 1980’s that Noel’s taste in music grew and expanded with new genres of American music styles like Rock, Pop, Motown, Disco and Top40 hits.
In 1983, Noel went to Ponce High School and met with Juanita Vazquez who was the Choir teacher and asked for an audition to join the Choir. Noel passed the audition and became part of the Choir as a Tenor. During his years in the Choir, Noel had overcome his vocal exceptionally, where he could sing high notes before going into falsetto, and also, hold long notes with his diaphragm. Juanita Vazquez encouraged Noel to learn to play an instrument, so he did. Noel, also attended music school at the Escuela Libre de Música in Ponce, Puerto Rico. His dedication and commitment took him forward in learning music theory and the Bombardino as a second instrument.
After attending music school and graduating from Ponce High School in 1985, Noel took his singing career to another level. He became the main vocalist and leader from his first rock band “Fallen Angels”, where he wrote his first song “Stop running away from me”. The band also played covers of rock, pop and Top 40's, for high school Proms, clubs and bars, and in the mid of 1987, the band played live their first debut TV show, “Dimension Juvenil” at Channel 7, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Near the month of May 1987, the band “Fallen Angels” disintegrates.
In August 1987, Noel joined a new band as the director, lead guitarist and backing vocalist of the band "Legend". Noel continued to write original songs, which they began to record in the beginning of the year 1988 at Melody Recording Studio, and finishing the final mix at Crescendo in San Juan, Puerto Rico... making their first demo with unique vocal harmonies. By the end of the year 1989 the band members sought their differences and the band disintegrates.
Between 1991 and 1992, Noel and his bass player friend, Luis Santiago formed their first Latin Rock band called “Trivia” to compete on a Latin TV show called, “Buscando Estrellas con Budweiser”, at the Universal Studio Resort in Orlando, Florida. The main Host of the show was Manuel Mijares, and Alvaro Torres as one of the judge panel. After the show, Alvaro Torres and his manager Jose Luis Castro, approached Noel to share some thoughts on how much they like the band and its performance, and in which Mr. Castro mentioned that he was interested in signing a record deal. After the band “Trivia” won the first episode for its originality hispanic interpretation, song lyric and performance, Mr. Castro met with Noel one last time at San Juan Hotel, in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico, where they share some new thoughts, but leaving out the recording deal for a next time.
Noel revolves in the music business; leading him to another goal that also had to do with music... He decided it was time to learn the technical side of the music industry, and began studying electronics. After graduating from electronics in 1993, his singing career took a big leap with performances in live venues, radio and on a local television show called “Party Time” at WAPA Television in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico with a rock band called “Relayer”. It was the year of the late nineties, when the wave of Latin rock was introduced to Puerto Rico, renaming the band to “Kivalion”.
Although, Noel had spent more than fifteen years singing, songwriting and performing to his fans and audience in either of both of his language, he decided it was never too late for another achievement. In April of 2001, Noel receives his diploma as a recording engineer from Audio Institute of America. Before that year, Noel had built “NRS Recording Studio” at his home in Salinas, Puerto Rico. His passion, ambition and knowledge in the music business took him to higher levels; becoming successful in the Latin music industry.
As an owner, recording technician, musician, singer, songwriter and music producer, Noel had the opportunity to share, collaborate, work and record with Puerto Rico's finest and talented Artists, Celebrities and Musicians, as well as, composers and grammy award recording engineers.
On October 2001, Noel was employed for an audiovisual specialist position for the United States District Court for Puerto Rico.
With a milestone of more than twenty-eight years in the music industry, and fourteen years as a federal employee, Noel decides to do something unusual and unexpected in Puerto Rico territory. In 2013, Noel’s desire for country music has taken a pursuit towards his singing and songwriting, and where his new artist name “Noel Brooke” was born.
"Singing country music makes me feel the freedom and pride of being an American. Country music has always been in my heart since I was a kid… where I’ll cherish the true stories behind every song" … Noel Brooke commented.
In 2014, Noel Brooke recorded and released his first debut country music singles, “One more time”, from one of his favorite country artist Mel Tillis, and “Be mine tonight” as his first country music composition, both reaching the Top 40’s UK HotDisc charts from CMR Nashville.
During that same year, Noel Brooke also collaborated as a musician and background vocalist for Steve Augeri, Journey concert in April 3, 2014 at the Centro of Bellas Artes in Santurce, Puerto Rico. A month after that, Dr. Carlos C. Maestre, a puertorriquen composer and Urologist, spoke with Noel Brooke to partake with puertorriquen artists and sing four of his famous compositions with the Symphonic Orquestra of Puerto Rico, at the Pablo Casals Symphony Concert Hall on May 3, 2014.
In the beginning of the year of 2015, puertorriquen composer Dr. Carlos C. Maestre made a call to Noel Brooke, and asked if he would accept a recording contract as his Latin Producer, and collaborate in singing ten of his best compositions. Noel Brooke accepted, releasing his first Latin album “Infinítamente Romántico”.
For the year 2016 and for the first time in history, Noel Brooke has taken a new lead in his music artistry, combining two of the best music genres and making a fusion between Latin Bachata style with Country. Enhancing the art of music to a whole new level with a new style, for this new era with his latest new single "Before The Next Teardrop Falls", who is featuring for the first time and her first debut... his daughter, Noris Melody.
"I can’t thank our Lord Jesus, enough, which he has blessed me with all of my talents. I feel humble and grateful to those who I had the opportunity to learn, interact and absorb from the best of the music artistry. I will continue to give the best of myself throughout my songs and performances to the audience, fans and the music industry, in Jesus name" … Noel Brooke wraps up with a heartfelt smile.