Koki Acosta (born Rafael Acosta Álvarez on October 24, 1959, in Santo Domingo) is a Dominican singer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist, and bandleader. The grandson of accordionist Dionisio Mejía Guandulito and son of sonero Guillermo Acosta Núñez, he studied at the Conservatorio Nacional de Música and developed a career as an arranger and leader of his own merengue orchestra, with songs including «Y te vi», «Mueve, muévete», «No te puedo llevar», and «El palo».

Musical lineage and conservatory training

He studied percussion, music reading, and harmony at the Conservatorio Nacional de Música in Santo Domingo. He also taught himself piano, guitar, and electric bass. In a 2021 interview, he recalled his relationship to Guandulito and his father’s musical activity.

Breakthrough as arranger and orchestra debut

He worked as an arranger on recordings by Aramis Camilo, Sergio Vargas («Ese es mi pueblo»), and Nelson Cordero («Plátano maduro»). The Archivo General de la Nación lists him among the arrangers of a record by the first of these ensembles released by Discomundo.

In 1984 he formed his own orchestra and recorded for «Karen Records», working with Bienvenido Rodríguez. Press accounts date his first release, «Calentando la pista», to that year, although digital editions carry other dates. It includes «Y te vi», written by Frantoni Santana.

Commercial success and international reach

Singers who performed with his orchestra include Raffy Díaz. His catalog includes «Mueve, muévete» (1987) and «Shining Star» (1988).

Notable songs in his catalog include:

• «Y te vi»

• «Mueve, muévete»

• «No te puedo llevar»

• «El palo»

• «Eso no»

• «Perdiendo el cariño»

• «Qué novia»

• «Nathalie»

• «Acaríciame»

Spain and later projects

In 2010 he was living in Gijón, Asturias, where he produced and hosted a Latin music show on Energía Stereo 106.7 FM from Monday to Thursday. A contemporary announcement of his interview on New York radio program «Quisqueya y sus canciones» also documents performances with his orchestra in Spain and other European countries.

In December 2016 he received recognition from Acroarte’s New York chapter alongside other figures in the arts and media. In 2021 he joined Tito Kenton and Jacinto Gantier in the project «Los Kenton con Koki Gantier», which began that new stage in February with the release of «Corre».

Legacy

His career combines arranging, singing, and orchestra leadership with instrumental training in percussion, piano, guitar, and bass. His work leading an ensemble in the 1980s was followed by activity in Spain and later projects with other merengue performers.