Choco Orta, born Virgen Milagros Orta Rodríguez on November 28, 1959 in Santurce, Puerto Rico, is a commanding voice in salsa, percussion, dance, and acting. Raised amid Santurce’s vibrant Afro‑Puerto Rican culture, she first performed publicly in her teens and gained formal training in percussion, dance, and theater at the University of Puerto Rico and the Conservatory of Music. In the late 1980s, she joined Julio “Gunda” Merced’s Salsa Fever, appearing on his 1987 album with cuts like “Huracán,” and broke through in 1997 with her solo debut Sentimiento y Sabor, featuring heartfelt tracks like “El Hombre Que Yo Amo.” She followed that with La Reina del Sabor (2001), recorded at New York’s Copacabana and cementing her title as "The Queen of Flavor." Her 2009 album Ahora Mismo… was produced by Gilberto Santa Rosa and included the powerful title track and heartfelt duets. In 2011 she launched Choco Swing, a praised fusion of salsa and jazz that showcased her depth as a composer and arranger. In recent years, Choco Orta continued to honor Puerto Rican traditions with singles like “Así es mi tierra” (2022) celebrating her heritage and contributions.
