Cerrito
'Cerrito'

© Checo Records 2001

	Come A Little Bit Closer
	You Tell Me

One of six children, this New England-born artist of Italian heritage, performs traditional country music in English and Spanish. Cerrito started singing as a youngster, influenced by artists who included George Jones, Jim Reeves, Merle Haggard and Hank Williams. By the age of 16, he performed as a regular in local clubs surrounding his hometown, Providence, Rhode Island.

In the mid 1980's, Cerrito headed to L.A. where he made the acquaintance of one Dottie West after a show in Las Vegas and immediately became close personal friends. Dottie was the inspiration and motivation that encouraged him to follow his dream.

Cerrito's interest and success in learning to translate traditional country music to the Spanish language opened doors to a number of opportunities. Renowned Nashville producer Byron Gallimore approached Cerrito with the request to translate Tim McGraw's hit record "Re-fried Dreams," and the Country Music Association, Nashville solicited him to perform on stage at the first "Fiesta Nashville" show, Fan Fair 2001.

Cerrito describes himself as a traditional country music artist whose forte' is to perform a ballad that tells a story and there are plenty of those on this 11 track release.

The album opens with a great version of Karla Bonoff's "Tell Me Why," a big hit for Wynonna some time ago. Cerrito adds new dimension to the song by performing it in both English and Spanish, as he does all of the songs on this fine album.

Merle Haggard's classic, "Today I Started Loving You Again" is given a slightly more uptempo treatment here and benefits from the wonderful, female duet and harmony vocals of…..I think……Felipe De La Rosa, although there are 3 females mentioned in the liner notes, but none accredited to any song in particular.

Answer songs are something that were very popular in the 50s and 60s, but are very rarely…if at all…..heard of nowadays. Well Cerrito revives the trend here with an answer to the classic, "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You" as he follows up a great version of the original with his self penned "You Tell Me (Tu Dices)". Wonderful!!

I've always liked The Janie Fricke hit, "Come A Little Bit Closer" and Cerrito presents a cracking version of the song here that, I am sure, if it was released as a single, would be a certain chart topper. I love this one!!!

With fine versions of the Max D Barnes/Vince Gill penned "Table For Two," a #2 hit in the EMS European charts last year(2001)and Buck Owens "Don't Be Angry," as well "Please Don't Let Me Love You" another success in the EMS charts, this is an excellent album for those who like their country music traditional with a touch of Tex-Mex a-la Freddy Fender/Johnny Rodriguez.

The album is very deservedly, one of Metro Country's "Album's Of The Month" for April 2002. Check it out!!!