Zaa Pulls Rare Double on Billboard’s Tropical Charts

Charlie Zaa has pulled a rare tropical double

The 41-year-old Colombian tropical singer tops both Billboard’s Tropical Albums and Tropical Songs charts (dated Dec. 5), becoming only the second act to simultaneously top the charts this year.

Charlie Zaa

Zaa’s new album, the Sergio George-produced Mi Mejor Regalo, soars 18-1 in its second week with 1,000 copies sold in the week ending Nov. 19, according to Nielsen Music.

The album debuted a week earlier after pre-street date sales pushed it onto the list early.

The 10-track set is a tropical tribute to Mexican singer-songwriter Joan Sebastian, who died earlier this year (July 13, 2015). The concept to record the songs, in Zaa’s typical bachata/bolero style, was already in the works prior to Sebastian’s death.

Mi Mejor Regalo gives Zaa his fourth chart-topping album, the first of which was earned in 1997 when Sentimientos spent 15 weeks at No. 1. It’s also his best-selling album in the U.S., with 326,000 sold. His most recent No. 1 was in 2011, when De Bohemia reached the peak and spent 61 weeks in the top 20.

Meanwhile, on the Tropical Songs airplay chart, Zaa’s “Un Idiota” rises 52 percent in spins during the tracking week ending Nov. 22, according to Nielsen Music, shooting the track 9-1 and earning Zaa his first No. 1 (of his seven total charted tracks – which includes three top 10s).

Other than Zaa, salsa singer Victor Manuelle is the only other artist to concurrently top both Tropical lists. In 2015, “Agua Bendita” and Que Suenen Los Tambores each held the highest rank on the charts dated May 9.

Zaa to Release New Album “Mi Mejor Regalo,” a Tribute to the Late Joan Sebastian

Charlie Zaa is offering up a special tribute to the late Joan Sebastian

When the 41-year-old Colombian singer began working on his new album more than a year ago, he had no idea that the Mexican star would die within that time.

Charlie Zaa

Now, Zaa’s new album, Mi Mejor Regalo, a tribute to Sebastian, will come out this Fall on Sony Music following Sebastian’s death in July.

The timing is bitter sweet, considering that the notion of covering Sebastian made perfect sense for Zaa, who back in 1996 catapulted to fame by covering the music of bolero singer Julio Jaramillo in the album Sentimientos.

For his first recording in several years, Zaa teamed up with producer Sergio George, and decided Sebastian’s repertoire would also suit him.

Mi mejor regalo was recorded between November and February 2015 and was always envisioned as a special homage to Sebastian’s life. It has now turned into a posthumous homage that includes songs like “Secreto de Amor” and “25 rosas,” recorded in a fusion-like bolero style that incorporates bachata percussion, Mexican horns and bolero strings.

A first single, “Un idiota,” went to radio last week.