You know how sometimes you go out thinking you have a good idea what you're in for, only to have your expectations turned upside-down, shaken around and completely exceeded?
That's Rosita Stone, a riddle wrapped in an enigma wrapped in fragments of broken mirror wrapped in a spicy enchilada. She's Canuck multi-culti, being of Mexican-Russian descent – a Gypsy Aztec temple singer with a Tori Amos yen for turning stuff inside out.
A tireless self-starter, Rosita writes, arranges, and produces her material, keeping it honest, exotic and spiritual. Critics have placed her sound somewhere between Enya, Alicia Keys and Shakira, although comparisons are somewhat dubious – she's truly unique.
Rosita grew up living in Canada, Mexico, Malta, Colombia, Argentina and America. With this gypsy lifestyle she absorbed many different cultures and influences, and her parents were also very musical. At five years old she started in dance classes and eventually went to study in New York, Vegas and in Los Angeles where she won a scholarship at the famous Dupree Dance Academy. After moving to Toronto she became very involved in the music scene and landed 2 tours with the United Nations performing in Egypt, Cyprus, Israel and Germany. Canadian icon John Allen Cameron produced the shows. This was the beginning to her musical journey.
The essence of her music is emotional, the appeal universal, the delivery inclusive, evocative and unforgettable. As a songwriter, Rosita isn't afraid to delve into the messiest of human emotions, and is able to turn out a lyric that is simultaneously poignant and vengeful. As a performer, she's got watchability to the max – whether accompanying herself on guitar or piano or backed by a full band, you can't take your eyes off her once she kicks into a song. Rosita's sound translates into vivid live performances nuanced with emotive vocals and savvy stagecraft
Her track record includes sharing the stage with Michael Bublé and being the opening act for, EMI Latin Recording star/Grammy winner Carlos Vives being an up and coming success story in Latin America in 2005 and 2006, charting TOP 5 with three different songs in English and Spanish, and with a No.1 in Hispanic Toronto. On Transcontinental "RADIO LA W" (heard in 40 countries-main stream radio) Stone was interviewed by famous Latin American host Julio Sánchez Cristo. His comments about Rosita were truly encouraging, likening her to some of the most successful artists in the world as Norah Jones and Joss Stone.
She's been pressed by everybody from MSN Latino, Entertainment Tonight Online and Reuters to The Toronto Star, NOW and METRO Toronto. Rosita has received extensive press in Colombia including interviews with Rolling Stone Latin, TV Grama (Latin equivalent to People Magazine) and many others. In SHOCK magazine, Colombia, Rosita was shocked to see her article next to the Black Eyed Peas and Bart Simpson. She performed live on many TV shows such as on CityTV/Muchmusic for a viewing audience of 50 million, where she also received an award for her 2 videos both reaching the Top 5 and in top rotation for 32 weeks consecutive. Her number 2 position was right next to the number one position of the world's biggest Latin superstar "Juanes". The multi Grammy and Billboards winner was named by Time Magazine one of the 100 most influential people in the world along side Nelson Mandela, Clinton, Bill Gates and Oprah. Both independent videos that shot up the charts were filmed live at Toronto's' Rivoli Club!!
Being an avid motorcyclist and former instructor, Harley Davidson and CityTV Latin filmed promo ad about Rosita and aired it to millions of viewers worldwide while she was being interviewed live on TV.
Rosita won the "Singer of the Year" award at the Latin American Achievement Awards held in Toronto December 2005. and has had a deal in Latin America with Easy Entertainment/Universal Music Group with her self produced CD "The Real Deal". She's travelled to Chicago to work with 2 time Grammy Winning Producer Jim Tullio, and her song writing has attracted the attention of Nashville's No. 1 hit songwriters Kim Tribble and Philip Douglas (Curb) who've penned many hits including a number one for Martina McBride, Emerson Drive, Johnny Reid and Lonestar, to name a few . Philip Douglas (Curb) won best song of the year in Canada with the hit "You don't own me" a Number one hit by Johnny Reid, which led Emerson Drive to pick up the song as well. Rosita has also co- written with Kris Bergsness (Song Garden Publishing) who's penned songs for Tim McGraw, Lone Star, Amy Grant and she's also had the privilege to write Tony Ramsey (George Straight). She is invited back to Nashville to co-write with Don Poythress of BMG Publishing who writes for Sheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt and Willy Nelson.
Here in Canada Rosita was recently asked to sing at the SONY World Premier of the late Jeff Buckley's DVD "Grace all over the world". Rosita has recently appeared at the Royal York Hotel alongside The Canadian Tenors and is a feature singer at the annual sold out Patsy Cline birthday party in Toronto. Rosita has been a feature writer and performer for various NSAI events and she's performed at many prestigious venues including Harbourfront Center's main Stage, Nathan Philips Square, The Living Arts Centre and Dundas Square sponsored by the Mexican Consulate and Tourism Board, Lula lounge, Trane Studio and many more. Metro newspaper did a full page article on Rosita, and she's appeared numerous times in the Toronto Sun, Star, and graced the cover of Vida Latina Magazine. She's been interviewed by Diego Fuentes from Much, Claudia de la Huerta from the CBC and 106.5 FM Aboriginal Voices Radio has had Rosita's music on rotation since 2005.
She's worked with producer Dave Hodge and with Peter Wellington and Robby Riggs, who have made a name for themselves producing music and re-mixing the likes of Shania Twain, Nelly Furtado and Fefe Dobson. Superstar DJ Paul Oakenfold signed Riggs and Wellington's Group "Mach 747" to his former label with Rosita as lead vocalist.
Ms. Stone's gorgeous new Spanish album La Magia del Alma features the brilliant work of Jorge Lopez who played guitar on Linda Ronstadt's Grammy Winning Mexican album Canciones de mi Padre. It is a World Music album, featuring songs that span from a Rumba Flamenco feel, to jazz, bossa nova, and Mexican Rancheras. Two tracks have been licensed for use in motion picture "Double Tap" which is coming out this year.
From the early beginnings, Rosita has become an award winning recording artist, a prolific bilingual songwriter (Spanish) who produces and arranges her music. She's a dynamic performer who reaches right into the heart of her audience with her incredible vocal range and style.
