Valerio Nicotra, known professionally as Valerio El Director, is an Italian pianist, composer, arranger, and music producer. Born in Italy in 1986, Nicotra originally studied piano and launched his music production career in 2008. His pathway into Latin music began after he discovered Latin dance in 2013, leading him to transition into producing salsa and bachata. By 2018, he had begun releasing his own salsa tracks, bachata remixes, and covers.
Nicotra's catalog features a variety of singles and remixes. His releases include "Amor En Coma" and "Easy On Me" in 2021, and the 2022 tracks "Verano de Amor," "Amor Eterno," and a bachata-influenced cover of "Il Bacio di Klimt." He remained active with subsequent releases such as "Antes de Mi" in 2023, "SUENA" and "El Mambo del Director" in 2024, and "Dos Almas" and "El Protagonista" in 2025, alongside the compilation album "Ritmo Latino."
