Willy Perez-Feria

<big>Willy Perez-Feria</big> (born William Alexander Perez-Feria; September 4, 1964) is a popular American songwriter and music producer.

He is the owner of the Miami based company WillyPop Music+Production, encompassing 3 organizations including WillyPop Productions (record production), WillyPop Music (a music publishing company) and WillyPop Records (an independent record label).
Perez-Feria first came to prominence in the early 1990’s as a composer/producer working exclusively for Emilio Estefan at ESTEFAN ENTERPRISES (FIPP). His distinguished 15 year tenure with Estefan started with him writing big overseas hits for Japanese artists like superstar instrumentalist Masayoshi Takanaka for whom he wrote “The Party’s Just Begun”, “Tell It Like It Is” and “So Excited” and Japanese pop queen Seiko Matsura for whom he wrote “Leave It Up To Fate”. He then composed a total of 3 songs in both English and Spanish languages for pop superstar Jon Secada's debut albums JON SECADA & OTRO DIA MAS SIN VERTE in 1992 that went on to sell 11 million copies worldwide. In 1992, Jon Secada won the Grammy for Best Latin Pop Album for the album JON SECADA which featured Perez-Feria’s songs “Tiempo Al Tiempo” and “Enseñame”. Perez-Feria has been a producer, songwriter and/or collaborator on albums that have sold over 20 million copies worldwide.
Early life
Perez-Feria was born in Boston, Massachusetts to Cuban/American parents who migrated to the United States as political refugees fleeing the oppressive communist regime of Fidel Castro. He was born in Boston but moved to Arecibo, Puerto Rico when he was 2 years old and finally came to live in Miami, Florida when he was 7 years old. Having written what he called “poetry” and re-writing popular songs with funny lyrics all through elementary school, his songwriting career began in earnest when for his 14th birthday his parents gave him a classical nylon string guitar and guitar classes with the legendary Miami based Cuban guitar instructor Eduardo Espigul, founder of the much celebrated Cuban music group “Trio Espigul Del Valle” and popular host of a local call-in and sing-a-long radio show.
Perez-Feria was soon combining his “poetry” with music and writing original songs. While attending Glades Junior High School, Perez-Feria met and became lifelong friends with salsa superstar, composer/producer Roberto Blades and pop superstar, composer/producer Jon Secada. He would continue on to Southwest Miami Senior High Schoo] with good friend and co-writer Blades and then attend and graduate the University of Miami School of Music as a Jazz Vocal Major with good friend and co-writer Jon Secada. Both relationships proved key to Perez-Feria’s later success. He graduated with a Bachelors Degree of Music, Studio Music and Jazz Vocal from the University of Miami in 1986.
Career
Just before his University of Miami graduation, a recording of several songs that Perez-Feria had co-written with Jon Secada found their way to pop music impresario Emilio Estefan. At a meeting with Estefan, Secada invited him to attend Perez-Feria’s University of Miami Senior Music Recital at the on campus Gusman Hall, a concert that functioned as a final exam in which Perez-Feria would be tasked with composing and performing a variety of different songs and genres. Estefan attended the concert (much to Perez-Feria’s surprise) and was particularly impressed with an original song Perez-Feria had composed called “Brother” an ode of praise dedicated to Perez-Feria’s twin brother, former Editor in Chief of People En Español and current Editor In Chief of Complete Senior Magazine and Huffington Post Blogger Richard Perez-Feria. Two days after Perez-Feria graduated from college and on a hand shake agreement, he began a 15 year partnership with Emilio Estefan’s ESTEFAN ENTERPRISES as part of Estefan’s “Latin Motown” team that allowed him to collaborate as a singer/songwriter/producer with some of the biggest names in the industry such as Masayoshi Takanaka, Seiko Matsuda, Gloria Estefan, Jon Secada, Enrique Iglesias, Inner Circle, James Brown, Julio Iglesias, Chayanne, Alejandro Fernandez, Alejandro Sanz, Paul Simon, Jose Luis Rodriguez (El Puma), Jimmy Buffet, Celia Cruz, Emanuelle, Tito Puente, Charlie Zaa, Shalim, Roberto Blades an many others.
In 2002, he struck out on his own and launched his own production, publishing and boutique recording label under the company name of WillyPop Music+Production.
In 2002, Perez-Feria signed with Universal Music Publishing (UMPG) as an exclusive songwriter where he has remained to this day. Focusing on independent artists as well as Universal Music Recording Artists, Perez-Feria has collaborated on projects as a songwriter/producer with many well-known artists and producers. In 2003, he collaborated with the legendary Eliot Weisman of Premier Artist Services' and the late master producer Phil Ramone on a project which featured a band composed of the progeny of famous rock musicians called BLOODLINE which included a young, but incredibly gifted Joe Bonomossa on lead guitar and vocals. Perez-Feria collaborated on 4 albums of the reggae band Inner Circle, worked with legendary Mexican singer Luis Miguel and also collaborated on an album for the late, great James Brown. He has also shared the stage with The Bee Gees, Paul Simon, Juan Luis Guerra, Ruben Blades and the great Tony Bennett.
Also in 2002, good friend Roberto Blades album “ENCORE” won the Grammy for Tropical/Salsa Album of the Year on which Perez-Feria had 3 songs “Por Tu Amor (Ballad)”, “Por Tu Amor (Salsa)” and “For This Love” all co-written with fellow Estefan alumni, songwriter/producer Rachel Perry Taylor.
Perez-Feria now has hundreds of songs on his FIPP/UMPG catalog. He completed work as the writer and producer on Jon Secada’s album SAME DREAM, contributing the title track & since then he’s worked with multi-talented singer/songwriter Alih Jey on GOTAS DE PIEL (UMPG), in which he contributed 2 songs "Fall On My Sword" and "Al Verte Partir" participating as both songwriter and producer, as well as producing & writing the debut pop song "30 Segundos" for Roberto Blades and 2 songs for Universal Recording Artist Daniela Guzman called “Perfectamente Para Ti” and “Te Extraño”. He then went on to produce and write 3 songs for Venezuelan Singer/Actor Raul Olivo called “A Un Paso Del Amor”, “Como Ese Ayer” and “Te Prometi”.
Since 2010, Perez-Feria has collaborated and/or placed songs with Niccolle Chirino, Cesar Franco, Angels, Ektor, Nohe, Felipe &[Morgan Li on recent projects.
In 2011 Perez-Feria wrote & produced all 6 songs on the debut EP NO SOY IGUAL for independent recording artist Liliana Marquez. In early 2012 he wrote & produced all 8 songs on the debut EP PHOENIX RISING for independent recording artist Vanessa D. Four of the eight songs on PHOENIX RISING feature the guest vocals of Perez-Feria's longtime friend & collaborator Jon Secada.
Perez-Feria is currently part of superstar producer/songwriter and dear friend Rudy Perez’s all-star songwriting/production/instruction team working for[IDA (Inspire & Develop Artists) an educational program for aspiring recording artists based out of Miami, Florida. Perez-Feria has also recently co-written half a dozen songs with Rudy Perez (an honor since Perez seldom collaborates on his award winning compositions) and those songs are currently being developed and pitched to some of music's biggest stars.
Working with Rudy Perez, Perez-Feria has composed & produced 8 completely original songs for young, independent, unsigned artists participating in the IDA Program since 2012, collaborating with master songwriters like Rudy Perez, Jon Secada, Mark Hudson, Troy Remi and Omar Sanchez.
Recently in 2014, Perez-Feria produced an 8 song EP of fun, high energy fitness children’s music called StarCISE for Coach Maxine (Maxine Haber) and wrote and produced "Know Your Name" a new ballad for Miami based singing sensation, recording artist EnVee as well as writing/producing the smash debut EP of Texas based pop artist Vee Gonzalez featuring “Rise Above” and “Go On”. Perez-Feria is the co-founder of the Contemporary Christian duo called SALT OF THE EARTH alongside fellow founder Rachel Perry Taylor and together they are working towards a 2015 release date for the project's debut EP which will feature co-written material produced by Perez-Feria.
Personal
Perez-Feria is a single male, living in West Miami, Florida and is a member of the worship team at Salt Life Church in Cooper City, Fl under the direction of worship leader Rachel Perry Taylor and Pastor Erik Kingsley.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu