The Salsa revolutionary, Victor Hugo was born over 150 years after  his French namesake in Caracas, Venezuela to Maria Luisa Toro, actress,  jazz singer, and well-known soap star.  
With such a famous name, how could he fail to succeed?
Our  Latino renaissance man grew up to became a singer, songwriter,  producer, director, and photographer
as his love of Venezuelan, Puerto  Rican and Cuban music inspired him to sing and compose his own music 

A teenage Victor starred and directed musical productions including Gospel, Hair, and Jesus Christ Superstar.
He went on to  compose and direct his own musicals Vimazoluleka and Pascall.

European dreaming 

After graduating from Universidad Central de Venezuela in the  unusual combination of Biology and Performing Arts he moved to London  at the tender age of 18. 
A scholarship from the Venezuelan government  gave him the enviable opportunity to study filmmaking and continue his  musical career in London. 
His first band was King Salsa, which he co-founded with  percussionist Robin Jones.
Victor Hugo & La Clave was his next band and one of the original Salsa bands in the UK with Jim Lemessurier,
another London percussionist who collaborated with the new Salsa  project. 

The Palmieri Factor 

Victor’s big break came when he performed with piano virtuoso  Charlie Palmieri in London. Palmieri asked Victor to replace Hector  Lavoe on a short European tour.
This kick started Victor‘s Salsa  singing career in Europe. Sadly, Charlie passed away soon after, but  not before inspiring and encouraging Victor to pursue a career in salsa  music. 
With turbulent political change in Venezuela, and withdrawal of  his film making scholarship, Victor continued to pursue his dream of
becoming the premiere European Latino artist from his London base.
His  multi-talents also saw him working as a professional photographer where  he organised shoots for major artists such as Pink Floyd and other LP  percussion protégées. 
He formed his own Latin pop band No Way Jose and released Tequila on Island Records.
A huge hit across Europe it went top 40 in over twenty European and American countries.
The Latin Thing released  later on Faze Records also entered high into the charts. 
Despite Victor’s commercial success with Latin related pop music he  always longed to sing Salsa and reformed his group, Victor Hugo con  Picante.
This huge Salsa extravaganza went on the road with over 25  people – musicians and dancers - joining Victor on stage. 

Victor recorded his first solo album Oye Latino with his band Picante. Another album entitled Tropicalisimo featured master  percussionist Alex Sarria from Cali Colombia. 
It was only after a chance encounter with Grupo Niche that things really begin to take off. 

International Victor 

Concerts across Europe have seen Victor performing with  chart-topping artists The Corrs, Ricky Martin, Ronan Keating and  Beverley Knight.
He has also shared stages with a whose who of Salsa  legends:
Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Oscar D’Leon, El Canario, Palmieri,  Grupo Niche, Gabino Pampini, Son de Cali, David Pabone, Pedro Conga and Tito Nieves. 
Even international royalty have not escaped Victor’s South American pizzazz!
Royal Brits such as HRH Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Anne,  Prince Charles, Princess Diana, and Prince Andrew have got lost in Victor’s music. 
These ‘by appointment’ performances have taken Victor into the Royal Palace of Amman in Jordan, Westminster Cathedral and London’s landmark St. Paul’s Cathedral. 

Award-winning Salsa 

Victor’s international reputation was secured in April 2005 with the release of the album Salsa Pa’America which featured Kike Harvey on the track Viva la Salsa.
It won Best Salsa Album while the song Havanera from the album won Best Salsa Song at the 2006 JPF music awards in the  USA. 
Victor was also nominated for Best Latin Artist in the UK in  2005. the same year he landed an exclusive deal in Asia after a successful tour of Hong Kong and Singapore.