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Al Cruz was born and raised in the hard streets of the Bronx. While his friends were out playing basketball or getting into trouble, Al always found himself listening to his father play his guitar and sing. Joining his father in the songs he knew, Al Sr. began to take notice of the special gift his son had.
His music teacher at P.S. 33 Mark Finkle also took notice and began to challenge Al by putting him in shows and introducing him to the director of performing arts at Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club, Harold Maldonado Jr.
Harold was so amazed that such a beautiful sound was coming out of a small body and after one of Al's performances Harold announced that Al Cruz was going to sing with Country Music singer KENNY ROGERS. Al went on to sing with Kenny for four consecutive years.
Mr. Finkle knew there was more to be done and began to take Al Cruz on auditions. Soon after, he landed the lead role in the off Broadway production of TWIST in 1996. Shortly after that, Al was hired to do the workshop of THE LION KING where he played the part of "Young Simba" and later became part of the original cast on Broadway.
After doing the workshop for Paul Simon's THE CAPE MAN, he was again called upon to be part of that cast but had to decline having already committed to THE LION KING. After his run on Broadway, Al decided to take a short break to do what he really wanted to do which was becoming a recording artist.
He began recording and performing in small venues. One day, Platinum recording salsa singer LA INDIA was performing and the crowd forced her to let him sing one of her songs. Blown away by his performance she quickly announced that Al Cruz was going to perform with her in MADISON SQUARE GARDEN.
In no time she signed Al to a production deal taking Al on the road to perform with her and International Salsa superstar Mark Anthony. Vocal coached by Don Lawrence, AL began to develop his voice. After two years, they parted ways and Al hooked up with Reggaeton icon EL GENERAL and signed to a production deal. Al began to write and produce his own material and began to find his own sound.
Since the termination of his contract with EL GENERAL, Al has been working with various producers to help complete his sound. Striving to establish himself as a singer, songwriter, producer and arranger, Al has co-written a song with rapper BABY BASH on his latest album. He's also written and produced songs for Bad Boy recording artist Nelson.
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