Singer, composer, guitarist, banjoist, and actor Juan Rafael Urrusti, was born the 14th of November of 1985 in Mexico City. He began his high school studies at the Modern American School where he received a “Certificate of Proficiency in English” from Cambridge College. In March of 2004, he endorsed his acting studies at the institute of dramatic arts “CasAzul”, and in 2005, he attended Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México where he studied English Literature. As to his musical preparation, it has been enhanced with the help of tutors like Humberto Calderón, singer José Guadalupe Reyes, composers Leonardo Coral and Ignacio Gutiérrez, as well as guitarists Raúl Gazca and Gerardo Tamez.

Being a former member of Mexican psychedelic rock band Sour Soul, he has also been a part of many projects regarding different musical genres like Irish folk and progressive rock. Venues like Lunario del Auditorio Nacional, Multiforo Ollin Kan, Bull Dog Café and music festival “Música para los Dioses” in Teotihuacán, Edo. de Mex., have all been stages for his presentations. He has had experience working on music for film and dubbing vocals for animator Carlos Fabregat, Rodrigo Jardón, Alán Clúa and cinematographer Francisco Cano. In December of 2007, he recorded with Sour Soul at Sonic Ranch Studios in El Paso, TX, where he had the opportunity to work with top-notch producers Ettore Grenci (Zoé, Los Inmigrantes, Chak, Jumbo…) and Stephen Stuart Short (Paul McCartney, Peter Gabriel, Robert Fripp, Grateful Dead…). Besides his solo and group projects, he has often been commissioned to make musical arrangements for artists like Lenny Kravitz and Ana Torroja with Sony ATV Music Publishing and has recorded in many important studios in México, such as Estudio 19, Estudios Los Temerarios and Fermatta Studios. In April of 2009, he gave a concert with Sour Soul and family to show his most recent material at Pasaje América in Mexico City. Today, JuanRa is working closely with Maestro Ignacio Gutiérrez on a swing project, singing and playing the guitar.

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