Dr. Zoraida Santiago born (May 25, 1952 in Santurce, Puerto Rico, is a noted composer and singer of Puerto Rican cultural themes.

Born and educated in the capital city of Puerto Rico, Zoraida developed an interest in musical intruments at a very young age. Her parents had her take piano lessons as a child. She also took lessons about musical composition and harmony. Zoraida is a self-taught guitarist.

After graduating from high school, Zoraida moved to New York where she persued her university studies in anthropology. In 1978, she met Roy Brown, who was also a fellow Puerto Rican singer. Zoraida joined Brown's musical group Aires Bucaneros and participated in the recordings of "Aires Bucaneros" (1979) and "Casi Alba" (1980). Both albums contain compositions by Zoraida. These are "Prisa Loca" (Crazy Rush), "De la Tierra en que Naci" (From the land I was born) and "Canciones para Vieques" (Songs for Vieques). Zoraida went on tour with the group to various countries.

In 1982, Zoraida returned to Puerto Rico and made her "first" solo recording "Tiene que ser la Luna" (It must be the Moon). During that decade she also participated in and produced some local theatrical productions. Among these were Las Bohemias, Mujeres Sin Hombres (Women without Men), Matutina and Tres Momentos (Three moments). She traveled to Mexico and the United States with the theatrical group.

Zoraida composed, intreprated and recorded the music for the movie made for T.V. "Luisa Capetillo, passion de justicia" (Luisa Capetillo, passion for justice), directed by Sonia Fritz. in 1985, she held a concert titled Antillanas at the Sylvia Rexach theater in San Juan.

In 1994, Zoraida recorded "Canciones Sublevadas" which included various of her compositions plus some poems of Julia de Burgos to which she added music.

In 2002, Zoraida and Roy Brown recorded "Bohemia" which included [boleros]] from different composers, such as Pedro Flores "Bajo la Palma" (Under the Palm Tree) and Rafael Hernandez "Silencio" (Silence). Their album was nominated for a Tu Musica Award for best bolero recording of the year.

Zoraida earned her Doctorate Degree in Anthropology and is a professor of Social Sciences in the University of Puerto Rico. She also belongs to a group of singers who operate an internet radiotrova. She has a program called Magia de la Cancion (Songs Majic). On April 2004, Zoraida released her latest album "Del Sueño al Hecho" (From Dreams to Reality).

See also

• List of famous Puerto Ricans