Cheo Zorrilla
Dominican composer (1950–2025)
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Eliseo Zorrilla Gómez (17 February 1950 – 8 June 2025), better known as Cheo Zorrilla, was a Dominican composer, trumpet player, and singer.
Life and career
Zorrilla was born on 17 February 1950 in Tamayo, Bahoruco province.[1] He is considered one of the Dominican composers most recorded by international artists. Some of his best-known songs are: "Apocalipsis", "Al nacer cada enero", and "Con las alas rotas".[2]
In 2016 Zorrilla was inducted into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame in Miami.[3][4]
Zorrilla died on 8 June 2025, at the age of 75.[5]
At the OTI Festival
Zorrilla represented the Dominican Republic in the OTI Festival twice as singer and five times as songwriter. He also represented Puerto Rico once as songwriter.
| Year | Country | Song | Performer | Songwriter | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 |  Dominican Republic |
"Al nacer cada enero" | Fernando Casado | Cheo Zorrilla | 2nd |
| 1982 |  Puerto Rico |
"Sin tu música" | Lunna |
|
18th |
| 1983 | Dominican Republic |
"Olvidar, olvidar" | Taty Salas | Cheo Zorrilla | 2nd |
| 1985 | "Con las alas rotas" | Gina D'Alessandro | Cheo Zorrilla | Finalist | |
| 1986 | "Sol de la noche" | Cheo Zorrilla | Cheo Zorrilla | Finalist | |
| 1992 | "A su tiempo" | Cheo Zorrilla |
|
Finalist |