Matthew Collin Marrero
Ever hear of a black woman trapped in a white boy's body? Have you tasted the inimitable sweetness of an Uh-Oh Oreo? Collin Marrero embodies these anomalies. Collin's voice is resolute, and without a doubt, harmoniously idiosyncratic With a range that encompasses all your favorite octaves, Collin Marrero enjoys the thrill of rendering his audiences speechless by visiting the glass-shattering highs and the guttural basement-dwelling lows. In addition to his dynamic range, his voice is full of warmth, emotion and a graceful power that has been found in the legendary performers of yester-year. Rest assured, ladies and gentlemen, it will knock your proverbial socks off. From pop to R&B, soul to jazz, and even the theatrical, his voice combines elements of these genres fluidly, with an end result of a spectacularly broken mold.
As early as can be remembered, Collin Marrero cannonballed into the fabulous waters of singing and writing, and hasn't come up for breath since. He began his professional musical career on the stages of the Connecticut Cabaret Theatre, working his way up the ranks from chorus boy to leading man, continually wowing crowds with his scale straddling. Collin has played well over two dozen roles in the past few years, allowing his stage presence to develop steadily stronger.
A seasoned performer on the stage, Collin delved into studio work. And why the heck not? With years of practice and passion as a platform, he has since been dedicated to producing his own album of original work. He has been heavily influenced by throwback performers such as Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, and Aretha Franklin, and also the modern day Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, and Deborah Cox. Think Freddy Mercury meets Christina Aguilera. Hard to imagine? Exactly. Collin wishes to use his talents in the studio to rupture stereotypes and reach new heights. His inspirational song "Indestructible" expresses what he does best: "You can't be heard unless you speak high above the crowd." With his own voice to back him up, he all-at-once gives a nod to the tradtional masculine staff, frequents the tenor line, rents property in the alto, and has a timeshare in the soprano. With a smooth beat behind him and the technology to multiply himself infinitely, there is no part unsung in his "Set You Free," evidenced within the first ten seconds of the song. His haunting pop-infused iTunes debut "Sweet Dreams" can already be heard in dance clubs across the world and has recently made its wildly successful television debut, raising awareness not only for his personal craft, but also the way in which he gives back to the community: his children's theatre program, Starmakers. The program builds confidence, allows children to rehearse for- and then participate in- a full stage production (written and produced by Collin himself), and fuels passion for the arts in kids of all ages and backgrounds.
Whether you've snagged his professional demo, caught one of his theatrical performances, or surfed your way onto MySpace, Facebook, or collinmarrero.com, you'll want to continue seeking him out as he untiringly climbs the ladder of vocal competitions and the regional performance circuit. With an unabashed passion for his crowd-pleasing art, resilience, drive, and a truckload of heart, Collin wants you to unwrap his LP, give it a listen, and then agree, that the "skinny white boy" is only a decoy, and this overachiever puts the "I" in "diva."
