José Alberto Justiniano Andújar, known professionally as José Alberto "El Canario", was born on December 22, 1958, in Villa Consuelo, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. At the age of seven, he relocated with his family to Puerto Rico, where he attended Las Antillas Military Academy and focused on his singing. In the early 1970s, he moved to New York City, where he performed with several local orchestras before gaining international recognition as the lead vocalist for Típica 73 starting in October 1977. Fans awarded him the nickname "El Canario" due to his melodious singing voice.
Following his success with Típica 73, he established a solo career, with his recorded catalog active from 1983 through 2025. His musical repertoire primarily focuses on salsa, son cubano, and timba. Over a career spanning five decades, he has remained a consistent presence in the Latin music industry through extensive touring and frequent recording.
In the mid-2020s, José Alberto has continued his prolific output. His recent projects include the 2024 singles "Yuca, Lechón y Congrí", "La Cleptómana", "No Sabía", and a remastered version of "Niña y Señora". In 2025, he released the albums "De Pueblo y Con Clase" and "BIG SWING", as well as a series of singles, including "El Muñeco", "Sábado", "Atado A Tu Volcán", "El Tumbaito", "Calabozo", and "36. José Alberto 'El Canario' (Ensamble etéreo)".
