Choco Orta (born Virgen Milagros Orta Rodriguez on November 28, 1959) is a Santurce, Puerto Rico born Latin/Tropical/Salsa singer, percussionist, dancer and actress, and is one of the most acclaimed Salsa performers of the 21st century, with successful performances throughout North America, Latin America, Europe & Africa. She is renowned internationally as "La Reina Del Sabor", distinction that was given to her by the eternal king of Latin music; Tito Puente.
Press Reporter Ben Ratlif, wrote on May 15, 2009 in the New York Times about Choco Orta: "The Puerto Rican Salsa singer Choco Orta has a rich laugh and a nail-gun voice on high notes; as a performer she's an outrageous flirt and an excellent improviser with a trademark tag line that somehow doesn’t grow tiresome; Chocolocochón!"
Early years
Orta was born in the colorful Chicharo neighborhood of Santurce, Puerto Rico. She is the fourth child of five children born to Andrea Rodriguez and Tomas Orta. Tomas worked as a plumber, and Andrea as housewife, taking care of the family.
During Choco's early life in the late 1960s and early 1970s, she listened to many artists and musicians that later influenced her adult career as a singer, such as Ismael Rivera, Trio Los Panchos, Rolando La Serie, Tona La Negra, Vicentico Valdez, Ruth Fernández, Benny Moré, Celeste Mendoza & Barbara Streisand.
When Choco Orta was seven years old, she sang in public for the first time at her six grade graduation ceremony, at which she sang the tune "Campanitas De Cristal", written by her favorite composer; Rafael Hernández.
In the year 1973, Choco was invited by her dance teacher Antonio Pantojas, who also was an entertainer, to participate as a singer, dancer & comedian in his Show at the Bachelor Nightclub of San Juan, Puerto Rico, giving birth to her professional career as a performer.
Career