2023-10-13 01:57:23
His mother named him Rocky following the historic American boxer Rocky Marciano. Jorge Rocky Whittembury Belmonte, better known as Rocky Belmonte (Lima, 1966), was a basketball player. He is a musician and TV presenter. He is the only Peruvian in history to perform three times on the stage of the OTI Festival. He was the main figure of the program “Fantástica” and, recently, following 30 years of absence, he returned to Peruvian television as part of the cast of competitors in the third installment of “El Gran Chef: Famosos.” “This new beginning is like a rebirth for me,” he tells us.
“I agreed to be part of ‘The Great Chef’ because I loved the program, plus the bug was there, I wanted to do things here once more, refresh my image a little, show myself as I am. I have reached new generations. Now children and teenagers stop me on the street to ask for photos. It’s incredible,” she comments.
EC | Interview with Rocky Belmonte: his story, his time on “The Great Chef” and more
Before coming to television, Rocky Belmonte stood out as a singer. At the age of 16 he recorded his first single, “Enséñame a Querer”. In 1987, his debut album “Su Miedo de Amar” led him to win at the festival in Buga, Colombia, as Best Performer among 14 countries. The following year he shared third place with Juan Luis Guerra at the OTI, with the song “Partiré,Buscaré” by composer Jorge Manuel Tafur. Among the jury of that competition were the Mexican José José, the Spanish Juan Carlos Calderón and the Peruvian Mario Cavagnaro.
“It was a very beautiful time. In 1990 I participated once more in the OTI, in Las Vegas, with the song “Viajero” by Jorge Manuel Tafur. Four years later they invited me to participate once more. It was in Spain. I sang the song “Mía” by Armando Massé,” he recalls.
They were years of terrorism, of blackouts, without Internet or social networks. Rocky Belmonte, in parallel with music, ventured into driving. “Fantastic” marked a before and following of his career. It was the leading program in prime time, with more than 40 daily rating points.
“As they already had Katia Balarín as the main driver, they wanted two cool kids. They called Franco Scavia and me for the casting. I honestly thought he wouldn’t make it because he had very little experience. In the end they chose both of us. They asked me for the Wild Foal, Franco for the questions, and Katia for La Ballesta,” she says.
“We had the children of Alan García and Fujimori in the Wild Horse. Everyone went. In an anniversary edition in which we received Magneto and Pandora as guests, we reached 51 rating points,” he highlights.
Rocky Belmonte was not at the “Fantastic” farewell show. (Photo: Julio Reaño)
─Why do you think that, being so successful, it went off the air?
I think it lost identity and the viewer disconnected. At first it was Katia, Franco and me. Then Jean Voltaire entered in Franco’s place. When Katia leaves for personal reasons, I assume the main leadership. Several drivers also enter. There were regarding 12 of us. There were Fabiola Palomino, Mónica Zevallos, Susan León, Mario Liberti, Jaime Bayly’s brother and others. There were too many of us. I was super young, I was 25 years old. The success of the program was amazing, we left with 28 rating points.
─You were the only host who was there from the beginning to the last program.
I was not in the last program, the farewell program, because they made me sign a contract termination document that I, inexperienced, signed even though there were nine months left to end my employment relationship with the channel. I didn’t like what they did. That is why it was Mario Liberti who was in charge of saying goodbye to the program, accompanied by the other hosts.
─Did fame destabilize you at some point?
I can’t deny that I got a little lost. It was a lot of fame. But I never stopped being nice to people, or taking photos. When I stopped going to charity events because I believed my figure, my mother slapped me twice and put me back in my place.
─What does “Fantastic” represent in your life?
All. It launched me into national and international stardom because it was seen in Chile, Ecuador and other countries. Unlike many, I can say that I was a prophet in my land.
─And is it true that you had 400 suits?
It’s true, but I didn’t buy them, Miami Style, the program’s sponsor, gave them to me. In addition to two shirts, shoes and polos, daily. They gave me to show them off. I admit that I should not have commented on it because many people were struggling every day to survive due to the economic crisis that was being experienced at that time. It was a theme of youth, of immaturity. I made a mistake.
─Do you regret anything?
That I met my son, Mario, when he was 18 years old. I found out that he was his father because there was a note on “Never once more,” Andrea Llosa’s program. That speaks volumes regarding how immature he was. When my son reports me, I come to Peru immediately to take the DNA test, which came back positive. Since that moment we have been together. I give everything I can, logically with rules. We’re still getting to know each other. If I was suspicious at first it was because I had experienced a complicated situation before. An ex-couple told me that she was expecting my daughter, and it turned out that the father was someone else. I bought him clothes, the crib and everything he needed. I bought the mother a car to get around and gave her a driver. I had her as a queen. The next day following giving birth, I returned to the hospital to see them, and I mightn’t find them. He left without telling me anything. I investigated what had happened. It turned out that she was married, she lived with her husband. They only used me. It was a mini band of some kind. They saw my stupid face.
─Do you plan to stay in Peru? What projects do you have?
I have some plans. I’m looking at doing something with Lightning in the Bottle. I have a project called Rocky Neighborhoods, which integrates the different neighborhoods. It has several sequences with YouTubers and TikTokers. I talk to people. It has a musical. It is an hour-long program, which can hit. At this age, I can’t afford to wait 30 more years. I have to propose, innovate, and I have the strength and desire to do it.
“Fantastic” launched Rocky Belmonte to stardom. (Photo: Julio Reaño)
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