Draco Rosa: Tiny Desk Concert

From jazz and Tejano to norteño and ska, 'El Tiny' returns with a takeover from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 for Latin Music Month.

Felix Contreras | October 13, 2026

Draco Rosa's trajectory from '80s boy band star to enigmatic solo performer music fascinates me to no end. Behind the Desk, Rosa creates shimmering, electric guitar-driven ruminations on life and love.

After his tenure in Menudo and some solo success, Rosa went on to produce and co-write some of his former bandmate Ricky Martin's biggest pop hits, including "Livin' la Vida Loca," "She Bangs" and "The Cup of Life (La Copa de la Vida)." But it was in 1996 that Rosa released what I consider to be one of the best rock en Español albums of all time. Vagabundo spiritually hovers this Tiny Desk performance, culminating in an extended take on the title track's existential themes. Special mention must be made of Puerto Rican jazz trumpeter Charlie Sepulveda, who adds a late-career Miles Davis stamp to the song's climax.

SET LIST

"Lie Without a Lover"

"Quiero Vivir"

"Todo Marcha Bien"

"Vagabundo"

MUSICIANS

Draco Rosa: vocals

Josh Sonntag: guitar

Jebin Bruni: keys

Jorgen Carlsson: bass

Toss Panos: drums

Charlie Sepulveda: trumpet

Hector Espinosa: congas

TINY DESK TEAM

Producers: Felix Contreras, Anamaria Sayre

Director/Editor: Maia Stern

Audio Engineer/Mix: Neil Tevault

Host/Series Producer: Bobby Carter

Videographers: Maia Stern, Kara Frame, Joshua Bryant

Audio Engineer: Josephine Nyounai

Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer

Photographer: Zayrha Rodriguez

Translator: Phoebe Smolin

Tiny Desk Team: Josh Newell, Dora Levite

Series Editor: Lars Gotrich

Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed

Executive Director: Sonali Mehta

Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson, Robin Hilton

#dracorosa #tinydesk #nprmusic