Lou Briel (born October 19, 1954,

Santurce, Puerto Rico Santurce (, from the Basque '' Santurtzi'' which means Saint George) is a barrio or district in the municipality of San Juan. Its population in 2020 was 69,469. It is also the biggest and most populated of all the barrios in the capital city wi ...

) is a Puerto Rican singer, composer, comedian, record producer, pianist, and host, among other things.

Musical career

Early years with Anexo 3

Lou Briel started his career at a very young age as a singer, director and member of a pop musical group called ''Anexo 3''. Together they recorded four albums, the first two produced by Alfred D. Herger, and reached popularity with songs such as: "Oh, Cuanto te Amo" ("Oh, how much I love you"), "Contigo" (With you), & "Por eso estoy Preso", (That's why I'm a prisoner), among others. For two consecutive years, ''Anexo 3'' won the second prize of the local OTI Festival in

Telemundo Telemundo (; formerly NetSpan) is an American Spanish-language Terrestrial television, terrestrial television network owned by NBCUniversal Television and Streaming#NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, a divi ...

with the songs: "Tengo Vida" ("I'm full of life"), and "Más Allá de mis Canciones" ("Beyond my songs"). Both songs were written by Lou Briel and his group partner, Julio Ortiz-Teissonniere. They produced and hosted a television variety show titled ''Contigo... Anexo 3'', (''With you... Anexo 3'') broadcast by Rikavisión (Channel 7). ''See:Anexo 3'' Anexo 3 also recorded a commercial for

Datsun Datsun (, ) was an automobile brand owned by Nissan. Datsun's original production run began in 1931. From 1958 to 1986, only vehicles exported by Nissan were identified as Datsun. Nissan phased out the Datsun brand in March 1986, but relaunche ...

which was very popular on Puerto Rican television at the time. In it, Briel appeared driving a Datsun car while singing the jingle, "Mirame, en esta via, Datsun es perfecto para mi" ("Look at me, in this driveway, Datsun is perfect for me")

As a solo artist

''Anexo 3'' broke up and Lou Briel started working on his solo career. In 1984, Briel reached popularity with the song: "Yo puedo" ("I Can"), a song written specially for Puerto Rico's Diva Yolandita an inspirational song about perseverance. He toured throughout

Latin American Latin Americans ( es, Latinoamericanos; pt, Latino-americanos; ) are the citizens of Latin American countries (or people with cultural, ancestral or national origins in Latin America). Latin American countries and their diasporas are multi-eth ...

countries such as Mexico,

Colombia Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

Santo Domingo , total_type = Total , population_density_km2 = auto , timezone = AST (UTC −4) , area_code_type = Area codes , area_code = 809, 829, 849 , postal_code_type = Postal codes , postal_code = 10100–10699 (Distrito Nacional) , websi ...

, and also toured the United States. He also reached one of the first places, in the song festival called "Festi-Buga" in

Buga Buga may refer to: Places * Mount Buga, an inactive volcano in Zamboanga del Sur province, the Philippines * Buga (barangay), a barangay in San Miguel Municipality, Bulacan, Philippines * Buga, Valle del Cauca, city and municipality in the Colom ...

, with this song. Lou Briel has represented

Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and Unincorporated ...

four times at the International

OTI Festival OTI Festival ( es, Festival OTI de la Canción, pt, Festival OTI da Canção), often known simply as La OTI, was an international song competition, organised annually between 1972 and 2000 by the Organización de Televisión Iberoamericana (OTI) ...

as a composer: * In 1983, with "Navegaré", ("Staying Afloat") sung by Edgardo Huertas in Washington, D.C. * In 1984, with "Todo llega", ("Everything comes around"), sung by himself in

Mexico City Mexico City ( es, link=no, Ciudad de México, ; abbr.: CDMX; Nahuatl: ''Altepetl Mexico'') is the capital and largest city of Mexico, and the most populous city in North America. One of the world's alpha cities, it is located in the Valley o ...

* In 1985, with "Represento", ("I Represent"), sung by

Juan Manuel Lebrón Juan Manuel Lebrón Román (born April 22, 1947) is a Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican actor, model, screenwriter, television producer and Salsa music, salsa singer. Career Juan Manuel Lebrón Román began his show business career as a youngster, then ...

in Sevilla, Spain ''See Lou Briel video singing "Represento":'

* In 1990, with "La Mujer que Sueño Ser", ("The Woman I long to be"), sung by his niece Ivonne Briel (now known as "Arana") in

Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...

. Lou Briel also wrote several songs that participated in other song festivals, such as the 1981 ''Festival de la Canción de Trujillo'' (''Trujillo's Song Festival'') in Perú, and the 1992 ''Festival de la Voz y la Canción de Mérida'' (''Méridas's Voice & Song Festival'') in

Yucatán Yucatán (, also , , ; yua, Yúukatan ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Yucatán,; yua, link=no, Xóot' Noj Lu'umil Yúukatan. is one of the 31 states which comprise the political divisions of Mexico, federal entities of Mexico. I ...

, México. Many international Latin singers have recorded Lou Briel's compositions, such as,

Yolandita Monge Yolanda Rosa Monge Betancourt (born September 16, 1955), known professionally as Yolandita Monge, is a Puerto Rican singer, actress, and television personality. She has been active in the music business since her teen years and has recorded 27 ...

Gilberto Santa Rosa Gilberto Santa Rosa Cortés, nicknamed "El Caballero de la Salsa" (The Gentleman of Salsa) (born August 21, 1962), is a Puerto Rican bandleader and singer of salsa and bolero. He is a six time Grammy Award winner and has sold over three million ...

, Zeny & Zory,

Jose Feliciano Jose is the English transliteration of the Hebrew and Aramaic name ''Yose'', which is etymologically linked to ''Yosef'' or Joseph. The name was popular during the Mishnaic and Talmudic periods. * Jose ben Abin * Jose ben Akabya *Jose the Galile ...

Tony Vega Tony Vega Cesar, known professionally as Tony Vega (born July 13, 1957) is a Puerto Rican salsa singer. Early years Vega was born in the town of Salinas, Puerto Rico, where he received his primary education. He was born into a family of musi ...

Johanna Rosaly Raquel Johanna Rosaly Guillermety (born January 13, 1948) is a Puerto Rican actress, singer, and television host. Early years Johanna Rosaly was born in Santurce, a district of San Juan. In 1956 at the age of eight, she started taking acting le ...

Los Chicos Los Chicos (also known as Los Chicos de Puerto Rico) were a Puerto Rican boy band that was popular in Puerto Rico, South America and in Central America during the early to mid 1980s, which was created to rival Menudo's success. The band was ...

, Pedro Brull, Sophy, Johnny Rivera, and Grupo

Marfil (band) Marfil is a Costa Rican music group. The group's main records are "Celebrando", "Amuletos" and "Que no paren". They have toured in Europe, Latin America and the United States. Marfil means 'Ivory', in Spanish. History Marfil was founded as � ...

(from

Costa Rica Costa Rica (, ; ; literally "Rich Coast"), officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( es, República de Costa Rica), is a country in the Central American region of North America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the no ...

Television composer

Lou Briel has also created works for television programs and

telenovelas A telenovela is a type of a television serial drama or soap opera produced primarily in Latin America. The word combines ''tele'' (for "television") and ''novela'' (meaning "novel"). Similar drama genres around the world include ''teleserye'' (P ...

, as opening & title songs. *De Fiesta con Nydia

Nydia Caro Nydia Caro (born June 7, 1948) is a Puerto Rican singer. Early years Caro was born in New York City to parents from Rincón, Puerto Rico, initiated her career in the arts at a very young age while living in New York. She attended James Monroe H. ...

(1980s),

''-Opening and closing title song-'' *Estudio Alegre

Awilda Carbia Awilda "Wiwi" Carbia (January 30, 1938 – March 22, 2009) was a Puerto Rican actress, comedian, and impersonator. Early years Awilda Carbia started her acting career at age seven, and later in her acting career. In the 1970s, she hosted the ch ...

Otilio Warrington Otilio Warrington, known popularly as Bizcocho (born February 26, 1944) is a comedian, best known for his roles of "Bizcocho" and "Cuca Gómez". Early years Warrington was born in the Barrio Obrero area of Santurce, Puerto Rico. When he was nin ...

(1980s),

''-Opening and closing song-'' *El Amor Nuestro de Cada Día

1980,

WAPA-TV WAPA-TV (channel 4) is a Spanish language in the United States, Spanish-language Independent station (North America), independent television station in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is owned by :es:Hemisphere Media Group, Hemisphere Media Group, w ...

''-Soap opera title theme song-'' *Y Esto Qué Es

Rafael Jose Rafael may refer to: * Rafael (given name) or Raphael, a name of Hebrew origin * Rafael, California * Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Israeli manufacturer of weapons and military technology * Hurricane Rafael, a 2012 hurricane Fiction * ''R ...

(1990s), ''Tele Isla'' ''Opening and closing title song'' *Ave de Paso

, (1989), Tele-Once, ''soap opera theme song: Nunca Te Diré Adiós'' among many other variety shows, mini series, TV station promotions, movie soundtracks, television commercials, and so forth.

Acting career

Television

In 1985, Lou Briel starred, hosted and was the script-writer of a television musical-

comedy show Stand-up comedy is a comedic performance to a live audience in which the performer addresses the audience directly from the stage. The performer is known as a comedian, a comic or a stand-up. Stand-up comedy consists of one-liners, stories ...

called ''En Broma y en Serio'', (''Joking & Seriously'') together with Puerto Rican comedian and singer Dagmar, produced by

Paquito Cordero Paquito Cordero (October 16, 1932 – June 30, 2009), was a pioneer of Puerto Rican television. He was also a comedian and a musical and television producer. Early years Cordero (birth name: Francisco Cordero Baez) was born to Francisco Co ...

. He also produced, wrote and hosted a

children's television series Children's television series (or children's television shows) are television programs designed for children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run during the early evenin ...

called:

Teatrimundo {{Unreferenced, date=May 2019, bot=noref (GreenC bot) Teatrimundo was a children's television series broadcast by WKAQ-TV in Puerto Rico from 1987-1991 in the form of edutainment. It was loosely inspired by ''The Muppet Show''. Translated in Engli ...

, broadcast by

alongside

Sandra Zaiter Sandra Zaiter (November 21, 1943 – September 25, 2022) was a Dominican-born Puerto Rican actress, children's television show host, singer, composer and athlete. Early life and career Zaiter was born in the Dominican Republic to Maronite Chri ...

. He characterized himself as "Lubrielito", a 7-year-old child, whose best pal and "

puppy love Puppy love, also known as a crush, is an informal term for feelings of romantic love, often felt during childhood and early adolescence. It is an infatuation usually developed by someone's looks and attractiveness at first sight. Such feelings f ...

" was "Dagmarita", a fellow child role, portrayed by Dagmar. In 1991, he played the leading role as an actor-comedian in the TV sitcom called ''Cara o Cruz'', (''Heads or Tails''), broadcast by

, opposite singer & actor, ''Edgardo Huertas'', (''whose first daughter Ambar, is Lou Briel's goddaughter''). This show was written and directed by Spanish comedian, Joaquín Monserrat ("Pacheco").

Voces en Función

From 1995 to 2001, Lou Briel produced and hosted his own variety show titled Voces en Función, (''Voices in Performance'') where he presented guest stars and young new talents. The show was taped in

Mayagüez, Puerto Rico Mayagüez (, ) is a city and the eighth-largest municipality in Puerto Rico. It was founded as Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Mayagüez, and is also known as ''La Sultana del Oeste'' (The Sultaness of the West), ''Ciudad de las Aguas Pura ...

at the

Teatro Yagüez The Teatro Yagüez in Puerto Rico is a historic building that today is a performing arts theater. It is located at Calle de la Candelaria (Mayagüez), Candelaria Street, (formerly ''Calle McKinley'') and Dr. Basora Streets, in the city of Mayagü ...

and broadcast by

WIPR-TV WIPR-TV (channel 6) is a non-commercial educational public television station in San Juan, Puerto Rico, owned by the '' Corporación de Puerto Rico para la Difusión Pública'' (English: Puerto Rico Public Broadcasting Corporation). While WIPR- ...

Theatre

As an actor-comedian, Lou Briel has starred in various

Zarzuela () is a Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that alternates between spoken and sung scenes, the latter incorporating operatic and popular songs, as well as dance. The etymology of the name is uncertain, but some propose it may derive from the name of ...

s &

Operetta Operetta is a form of theatre and a genre of light opera. It includes spoken dialogue, songs, and dances. It is lighter than opera in terms of its music, orchestral size, length of the work, and at face value, subject matter. Apart from its s ...

s in

Centro de Bellas Artes Centro may refer to: Places Brazil *Centro, Santa Maria, a neighborhood in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil * Centro, Porto Alegre, a neighborhood of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil * Centro (Duque de Caxias), a neighborhood of Du ...

in Santurce. Some of them are: * ''La Viuda Alegre'' (''

The Merry Widow ''The Merry Widow'' (german: Die lustige Witwe, links=no ) is an operetta by the Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehár. The librettists, Viktor Léon and Leo Stein, based the story – concerning a rich widow, and her countrymen's attempt t ...

'') * ''La del Soto del Parral'', (The Grapevine Thicket) * ''Las Leandras'', (The Leanders) * ''El Huesped del Sevillano'', (The Guest of the Sevillian) * ''El Conde de Luxemburgo, (''

The Count of Luxembourg ''The Count of Luxembourg'' is an operetta in two acts with English lyrics and libretto by Basil Hood and Adrian Ross, music by Franz Lehár, based on Lehár's three-act German operetta ''Der Graf von Luxemburg'' which had premiered in Vienna in ...

'') * ''La Duquesa del Tabarín'' (''The Duchess of the Small Tavern'') * ''Amalia Batista'', (Amalia Batter), among others. He has also interpreted

Sancho Panza Sancho Panza () is a fictional character in the novel ''Don Quixote'' written by Spanish author Don Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra in 1605. Sancho acts as squire to Don Quixote and provides comments throughout the novel, known as ''sanchismos'', ...

from ''

Don Quixote is a Spanish epic novel by Miguel de Cervantes. Originally published in two parts, in 1605 and 1615, its full title is ''The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha'' or, in Spanish, (changing in Part 2 to ). A founding work of Wester ...

'' for different theater companies. Lou Briel has also starred in various children's musicals like: * ''Jack y la Mata de Guisantes'' (''

Jack and the Beanstalk "Jack and the Beanstalk" is an English fairy tale. It appeared as "The Story of Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean" in 1734 4th edition On Commons and as Benjamin Tabart's moralized "The History of Jack and the Bean-Stalk" in 1807. Henry Cole ...

'') * ''Los Pitufos'' (''

The Smurfs ''The Smurfs'' (french: Les Schtroumpfs; nl, De Smurfen) is a Belgian comic franchise centered on a fictional colony of small, blue, humanoid creatures who live in mushroom-shaped houses in the forest. ''The Smurfs'' was first created and in ...

'') * ''Sueños de Niño'' (''Child Dreams'') * ''Las Aventuras de Lubrielito'' (''The Adventures of Lubrielito'') * ''La Bella Durmiente'' (''

Sleeping Beauty ''Sleeping Beauty'' (french: La belle au bois dormant, or ''The Beauty in the Sleeping Forest''; german: Dornröschen, or ''Little Briar Rose''), also titled in English as ''The Sleeping Beauty in the Woods'', is a fairy tale about a princess cu ...

'') * ''Los Lobos Malos'' (''The Bad Wolves'') * ''Tarzán, el Defensor de la Naturaleza'' (''

Tarzan Tarzan (John Clayton II, Viscount Greystoke) is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungle by the Mangani great apes; he later experiences civilization, only to reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adv ...

, Defender of Nature''), among others.

Recent years

In 2004, Lou Briel reprised his role of "Lubrielito" as the leading actor in the family oriented TV film ''Yo Creo en

Santa Claus Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a Legend, legendary figure originating in Western Christianity, Western Christian culture who is said to Christmas gift-bringer, bring ...

'' (''I Believe in Santa Claus''). The film was produced by Leo Fernández III and also starred Lorel Crespo in her child role as "Lucía". The film was broadcast by Televicentro and WAPA-America. He was also the main director and composer, performing also on the soundtrack and title song of the movie. In 2005, he directed and performed in the inspirational

video clip Video clips refer to mostly short videos, most of the time called memes, which are short videos of silly jokes and funny clips, most of the time coming from movies or any entertainment videos such as YouTube. The term is also used more loosely to ...

''Dios Alumbra a Puerto Rico'' (''God Enlightens Puerto Rico''). It was the first time that 40 Latin pop and

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

gospel music Gospel music is a traditional genre of Christian music, and a cornerstone of Christian media. The creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of gospel music varies according to culture and social context. Gospel music is com ...

celebrities joined for a laudable purpose, the eradication of child abuse. In 2006, Lou Briel carried out a nine-month engagement at the ''Show Time'' nightspot, with his club act, ''Bohemia Live''. As of 2007, Lou Briel has been performing in ''Solo para Hombres.. y para Mujeres tambien'', in New York City,

, and

, as a singer, pianist, and musical director alongside, Nancy Alvarez, host of '' ¿Quién Tiene La Razón?'', broadcast by Telefutura. Briel's presently featured as an MC and singer in the ''Puerto Rican Folkloric Revue'', (designed for tourists), and including native folkloric music and dance, for English-speaking audiences. This spectacle is staged throughout the island and it also has a Spanish version. This performance is produced by ''Entertainment Concepts Inc''. As of 2008, Briel is featured, along Yoyo Boing,

Shorty Castro Israel Castro Vélez, better known as Shorty Castro (January 28, 1928 – January 22, 2018) was a Puerto Rican comedian, actor, comedy writer, stage director, radio host, singer, dancer, composer and musician, with a career spanning over 60 year ...

, Dreuxilla Divine, Jose Miguel Class, and Francisco Rosa, at the ''La Receta de la Abuela Tour'' (Grandma's Recipe Tour), throughout the island of P.R., sponsored by MCS Classic Care, and produced & MC'd, by

Luisito Vigoreaux Luis Vigoreaux Lorenzana (born July 1, 1951) is a Puerto Rican actor and producer. He is the son of Luis Vigoreaux, a Puerto Rican media personality and Rosaura Lorenzana Vilches. He is the brother of Roberto Vigoreaux, local senator, television ...

Discography

* ''Solo Por Fin'' (1981, CBS) * ''Yo Puedo'' (1984, Global-K-Tel) * ''Olas'' (1987, Velvet) * ''En Broma y en Serio en la Navidad con Dagmar'' (1986, TeleCumbre) * ''Reflejos'' (1988, LBM) * ''Sigamos Brindando con Ivonne Briel'' (1988, LBM) * ''En Otra Frecuencia'' (1991, LBM) * ''Edición Especial'' (1996, LBM) * ''Aplauso à la Bachata con Pascual'' (2004, GOGO) * ''Lou Briel con La Maphia Boba... Adondequiera'' (2008, JODIBA)http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=49886805477

References

External links

Video Voces en FunciónFundación Nacional para la Cultura PopulareconceptsVideoBriel Bohemia Live

Article in Primera Hora
{{DEFAULTSORT:Briel, Lou 1964 births Living people Male television composers People from Santurce, Puerto Rico Puerto Rican comedians Puerto Rican male composers 20th-century Puerto Rican male singers Puerto Rican male stage actors Puerto Rican male television actors Puerto Rican singer-songwriters Puerto Rican television personalities Television composers American male singer-songwriters