C-Note

by Heather Phares
Orlando's C Note formed in 1997, when the vocal group that Jose "Brody" Martinez, Raul Molina, and David "D'Lo" Perez were in at the time lost two members. With a talent show performance drawing near, the trio recruited Andrew "Dru" Rogers to complete their harmonies. The quartet's victorious performance at the show caught the attention of Transcontinental Records -- the force behind multi-platinum vocal acts like the Backstreet Boys and N'Sync -- who then offered C Note a record deal.

Like their former labelmates, C Note blends style, singing, and dance into their act, but the group's diverse heritage adds a unique Latin flair to their look and sound. Martinez was born in Puerto Rico and moved to Orlando as a child, Molina was born in the Dominican Republic, and Perez grew up in New Jersey, the son of Cuban and Puerto Rican parents. All three sang and danced from childhood and adolescence; Orlando-native Rogers, however, started singing as a high school senior, when he noticed that girls liked his voice. C Note spent 1998 rehearsing and recording with top producers like Full Force and performing on stages across America, all in preparation for the release of their debut album, 1999's A Different Kind of Love, which features the group's charismatic, multicultural style.