Arthur Hanlon - Music Career

Music Career

With his 2005 hit, “La Gorda Linda,” Hanlon became the first pianist, and the first non-Latin, to reach No. 1 on the tropical airplay chart of Billboard Magazine, according to an article published by Billboard on April 26, 2006, coinciding with the Billboard Latin Music Awards. Hanlon was the first pianist to enter the Billboard Latin charts in more than a decade, according to the magazine. “La Gorda Linda,” which he penned, was also on the top ten of the “Billboard Top Latin Songs” chart and a subsequent remix by DJ Norty Cotto spent weeks on the Billboard dance charts. As a result of “La Gorda Linda,” Hanlon was a double finalist for the 2006 Latin Billboard Music Awards in the Tropical Song of the year and Dance Track of the year categories.

In a memorable moment, Hanlon played "No Me Llames Extranjero," a song about immigrants, with Fonsi and Montaner during the 2006 Latin Billboard Music Awards which aired on Telemundo. In the live concert arena, Hanlon has shared the stage with the likes of Ricardo Montaner, Luis Fonsi, Laura Pausini, Alejandro Fernandez, Myriam Hernández and pop star Chayanne, for whom he opened a series of arena dates in 2007. Arthur was also nominated for a New York Emmy Award for his jingle "Esta Navidad" (This Christmas), based on his single of the same name, which was picked up by Univision as its Christmas jingle and spot for 2008.

Also established in the mainstream instrumental realm, Arthur was a featured guest on pianist Jim Brickman's "Beautiful World" CD and PBS special and toured the U.S. with Italian star Laura Pausini in 2009. Most recently, Hanlon was a recurring guest artist on the Univision network's music reality contest "¡Viva el Sueño!," appearing weekly on prime time television alongside the contestants. Hanlon was also a guest on the international debut album by "¡Viva el Sueño!" winner, Ana Isabelle, "Mi Sueño".

Hanlon's album "Piano Sin Fronteras" was released on March 2009 with Universal Music Latino. The album, written entirely by Hanlon, includes collaborations with the top names in Latin music, including Colombian star Juanes, Italian diva Laura Pausini, Puerto Rican star Luis Fonsi, Venezuelan icon Ricardo Montaner, guitarist Sergio Vallín (lead guitarist of Mexican band Maná), Brazilian crooner Alexandre Pires and Chilean superstar Myriam Hernandez. Hanlon was seen performing alongside Cristian Castro at the Billboard Latin music awards in April 2009 and with Luis Fonsi in Madison Square Garden in August 2009. In July, he performed alongside Alejandro Fernandez in his mass concert, "Jalisco en Vivo" before nearly 200,000 people. He was a guest artist on Laura Pausini's 2009 U.S. tour. Hanlon also performed a series of intimate acoustic shows with Myriam Hernandez in Chile in October.

Hanlon returned to the Billboard charts in the Summer of 2009 with "Ya Te Olvide," a single from "Piano Sin Fronteras" featuring Ricardo Montaner. To date, Hanlon has had four major label releases, all under Latin labels, making him an anomaly in the pop music world. He is currently signed to Universal Latin. Aside from his new album, his history of recorded collaborations includes Gloria Estefan (in her album "Unwrapped"), Arturo Sandoval (with whom he recorded "Marianela," from Hanlon's album "La Gorda Linda"), Crooked Stylo (with whom he co-wrote the track "Don Miguel," from the album "Malhablados"), Tito Nieves (who sings in the track "La Gorda Linda" from Hanlon's album of the same name) and Ana Bárbara (who sings "Estar a Tu Lado," from "La Gorda Linda").

Hanlon also composed and produced "La Gota de la Vida" (The Drop of Life), a song recorded by 46 artists to benefit Cancer Research Center City of Hope and whose video was directed by Simon Brand.

Hanlon again reappeared as the star of Univision's 2010 Christmas campaign, with a Spanish language version of "Jingle Bells" titled "Navidad Navidad" and featuring urban duo Chino & Nacho and Mexican pop star Dulce Maria. Hanlon wrote the Spanish language lyrics and arranged and produced the track, which made it onto Billboard Magazine's Hot Latin Pop Airplay chart.

His most recent project is "Encanto del Caribe" (Caribbean Fantasy), a live concert recorded at historic San Cristobal Castle in Puerto Rico with guest artists Marc Anthony, Laura Pausini, Natalia Jimenez, New York Yankee great Bernie Williams on the guitar, Cheo Feliciano, and Ana Isabelle (though she does not appear on both the DVD and CD but credited on both). A UNESCO World Heritage Site, San Cristobal allowed filming inside its premises for the first time in history with "Encanto del Caribe." The special is airing on public television stations across the United States and a CD/DVD was released by Universal August 21, 2012. "Encanto del Caribe" features original instrumental recordings composed by Hanlon as well as Latin standards. The album was produced by Grammy winner Julio Reyes Copello and the musical direction of the show was under Puerto Rican bandleader Cucco Pena.