Jorge Luis Piloto Alsar

Artistically known as Jorge Luis Piloto, he is a Cuban composer based in the United States of America. Piloto is one of the great Latin American composers of recent years and many artists have recorded songs composed by him. As a composer, he has positioned around 50 songs with millions of plays on different music platforms. Among his most recognized songs are "Yo No Sé Mañana," performed by Nicaraguan salsa singer Luis Enrique, and "Fabricando Fantasías" by Puerto Rican Tito Nieves.

In 2009, he won a Latin Grammy for Best Tropical Song with the song "Yo no sé mañana," co-written with Jorge Villamizar and recorded by Luis Enrique. Among his best-known songs are "Que le den candela" performed by Celia Cruz, or "Héroe," the Spanish version of Mariah Carey's "Hero," or "Falsas esperanzas" by Christina Aguilera.

Multiple artists have recorded more than 500 songs, of which more than 50 have achieved international fame.

In 2010, the American Songwriters Society (ASCAP) presented him with the Golden Note award for his 25 years of career and his musical contribution to the Hispanic-American repertoire.

A native of Cárdenas, he grew up in Varadero and when he was 15 years old, he moved to Havana. His father left home when he was 5 years old and lost contact with him. At age 20, he was called to do mandatory military service. There he formed a band. He was part of a musical group within the EJT (Youth Labor Army) called Habana 75, named after the year the group was founded.

He spent three years in the army. During his service, in 1978, he sent a song to the Adolfo Guzmán competition that was selected among the 24 finalist songs. He spent his time in the army alongside musician Ricardo Eddy Martínez. After leaving the army, he could not continue with music and worked in a mineral coal warehouse. He left Cuba in May 1980 along with thousands of other Cubans during what became known as the Mariel boatlift. He arrived in Key West on May 17. His mother remained in Cuba.

Early Years

Since he was 13 or 14 years old, he wrote music. He studied guitar for four years, from age 12 to 16. The first song that made him become a composer—he explains in one of his interviews—was Luis Eduardo Aute's "Aleluya."

At age 15, when he lived with his family in Varadero, he met Mauricio Pérez Vidal who introduced him to a song by Silvio Rodríguez, a moment when Piloto started following Cuban Trova. He was also influenced by Joan Manuel Serrat and Alberto Cortez.

His first opportunity as a composer in the United States was in Puerto Rico in 1983 with Lissette Álvarez, who recorded "La Noche," co-written with Ricardo Eddy Martínez. His first success came with the song "Por ella," recorded as a duet by José Feliciano and José José.

He was A&R for Sony Music (1988-1996).

He won the Latin Grammy for Best Tropical Song with the song "Yo no sé mañana," co-written with Jorge Villamizar and recorded by Luis Enrique. Since then, he has won various awards.

In 2010, the American songwriters society ASCAP presented him with the "Golden Note" award for his 25 years of career and his musical contribution to the Hispanic-American repertoire.

He has more than 800 registered songs, of which more than 500 are recorded.

Jorge Luis Piloto is one of the great Latin American composers of recent years and many artists have recorded songs composed by him.

In the Tropical Genre

Perdóname, Yo no te pido, Almas Gemelas, Cosas nuevas (Gilberto Santa Rosa)
Dime, como un milagro, Me estoy enamorando (Jerry Rivera)
No me acostumbro, Amiga, Si te preguntan, Estamos solos, Creo en el amor (co-written with Raúl del Sol) (Recorded by Rey Ruiz)
No podrás escapar de mí (Carlos Vives / Willie González)
Cómo se perdona, ¿Y Ahora, qué hacemos? (You Salsa)
Qué le den candela (Celia Cruz)
Estás tocando fuego (Víctor Manuelle / La Mafia)
Fabricando fantasías co-written with Raúl del Sol (Recorded by Tito Nieves)
La salsa vive co-written with Sergio George
Esa boquita co-written with Yoel Henríquez (recorded by Tito Nieves)
Mi mundo, Lo que pasó entre tú y yo, Lucía, Amor y alegría, Lo que es vivir, Tú no le amas, le temes, Yo no sé mañana (recorded by Luis Enrique) co-written with Jorge Villamizar
Aprenderé co-written with (Daniel Santacruz) (Héctor Acosta "El Torito")

Other artists who have recorded songs by him in the tropical genre are: El Gran Combo, Oscar D' León, Cheo Feliciano, Andy Montañez, La Puertorrican Power, NG-2, Tito Rojas, Anthony Cruz, Charlie Cruz, Willy Chirino, N'Klabe, Issac Delgado, Pupy Santiago, La India, Rubén Blades, Cano Estremera, Ismael Miranda, Huey Dunbar, DLG.

In the Pop Genre

Esa mujer (José José)
Héroe, Spanish version of Hero (Mariah Carey)
No podrás escapar de mí (Carlos Vives)
Falsas esperanzas (Christina Aguilera)
Quítame ese hombre (Yolandita Monge / Pilar Montenegro)
No sé por qué co-written with Claudia Brant (Chayanne)
No te mentía co-written with Claudia Brant (Ednita Nazario)
Cómo olvidar co-written with Gustavo Arenas (Olga Tañón)
Por ella co-written with Rudy Pérez (José Feliciano & José José)
No pensé enamorarme otra vez (Myriam Hernández & Gilberto Santa Rosa)
Cómo se cura una herida co-written with Rudy Pérez (Jaci Velásquez)
Día tras día co-written with Yoel Henríquez (Andrés Cepeda)
Lo que te toca (Gloria Trevi & Olga Tañón)
Abrázame fuerte (Lourdes Robles)

Other artists who have recorded songs by him are: Marta Sánchez, Tamara, David Bustamante, Sin Ánimo de Lucro, Melina León, Basilio, Dyango, La Mafia, El Chapo De Sinaloa, Lidia Ávila, and Yarenis.