Antonio Nolasco Cartagena Bernales, known professionally as Antonio Cartagena, is a Peruvian salsa singer-songwriter born on August 7, 1967, in Bellavista, Callao. Raised in a family of Afro-Peruvian heritage, Cartagena initially worked as a police officer before starting his artistic career around 1990. He is widely recognized for his focus on romantic salsa and his signature vocal catchphrase "Muchacha."
Cartagena has established himself as an active figure in the Peruvian salsa genre. He has collaborated with various musical acts, including his performance on the track "Siempre Seré (Homenaje a Tito Rojas)" with Septeto Acarey, Combinación de la Habana, and Karibe Band. His recordings span salsa and timba music, with active releases in catalog records starting in 1993.
In recent years, Cartagena has continued to release a steady stream of music. His catalog includes the two-volume album series "¡Salsa nomás! Vol. 1" and "Vol. 2" in 2022, followed by the albums "Salsa Chocolatera: Primer Tiempo" and "Segundo Tiempo" in 2024. In 2025, he released the album "Simplemente Antonio Cartagena."
