Alex San Dinero, a Lao Raggaeton artist, was born Vantharat Tapanya in a refugee camp in Ubon, Thailand. At the age of two Alex and his family, originally from Savannakhet, Laos arrived in Rochester, New York in 1979. They were sponsored and cared for by a retired couple known to Alex as Mr. & Mrs. Duboise. Later on that year, the family moved and reunited with their grandfather and his family who had resided in Wheeling, West Virginia. A few years after the birth of Alex's baby sister in December of 1980, his grandfather was able to get in touch with his friends out in San Diego, California, where there was a large Laotian population.
Besides, it was always warm and the temperature reminded them of life back in the homeland. The high cost of living in San Diego, California forced his grandfather to pick up the entire family and moved them over to Fresno, California.
Alex spent his childhood in a one bedroom duplex house that was rented probably less than $300-$400/month at the time on 2nd Street and Belmont Ave in Fresno, CA. The neighborhood was generally populated by Hispanics and African-American families and over the course of a few years, it changed to a predominantly Lao neighborhood. During the late 80's and 90's Fresno was plagued with gangster rap and the whole gang scene. However, getting involved in gang activities was never a question on Alex's mind with his father keeping him in check and explaining to him the consequences of that lifestyle. And this was not anything Alex wanted to waste his time being involved in, although it was easily accessible. With a loving family and his father's influences, Alex chose to walk down a different path. His father led the community in worship and cultural activities in the Lao Buddhist Temples of Fresno, CA.
Right after high school, Alex enrolled in the U.S. Navy and went on to serve seven wonderful years, a Hospital Corpsman in the 2nd Marine Division Grunt Infantry Unit for four years and was assigned
to the Pentagon for another three years in Washington, DC. His strong upbringings lead him to a life of discipline and success in the Navy and in his civilian living. A decorated Veteran and hero during his tour, Alex was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for his heroic efforts on the Emergency Team during the terrorist attacks of 9-11 on the Pentagon. Alex was one of the many rescue workers in the fire and rubble digging out victims and survivors from the terrorist attacks. He also witnessed the impact of the jet liner crashing into the large defense building.
Like his parents, Alex was a leader and heavy networking guru while he was serving on active duty. He was involved in club promotions and parties all over the metropolitan area. As his popularity grew in the area, so did his success in business. Currently, Alex and his wife, Analy lives in Miami Beach during the winter months and return back to Washington DC during the summer. Living in the DC Metropolitan area exposed Alex to a new music culture and genre he had never seen before in Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, and REGGAETON! He fell in love with the dynamics of its sound (Dembow) and wanted to bring the same passion to his Lao people, only in his native language. After talking with several other Lao artists about bringing this new genre which he calls, LAOggaeton, they seemed to be interested only in Rap, Hip-Hop, and R&B. So he decided to use his own creative talents to bring the world and his Lao people up to speed on a new introduction to the Lao urban culture in America and internationally, LAOggaeton!
Laoggaeton Videos
Lao Reggaeton
Interview
by Laoville
What was your childhood like?
A: We weren't rich growing up in Fresno, but we weren't poor either. We had a roof over our head. And I was always happy as a child, as I am a happy adult today. My father and mother were the most loving and supporting parents a person could ask for. To me and my sister, they were a great example of a loving couple and a couple in love. I know a lot of Lao families struggled financially and emotionally to survive in America, especially because of their language barrier. Many children grew up unhappy because of their situation. I was fortunate enough that even though my parents went through the same struggle, they protected me and my sister with so much love, I stayed happy long enough to make it through my youth and realized what I needed to do for myself as a man to get myself out of that road block and overcome those same struggles my family experienced. When and how did you first become interested in the music industry?
A: I became interested in the industry back in August of last year 2007. A friend of mine was building a company called Bizzle Boy Productions and he came to me for financing options on his studio. They had a lot of great artists lined up already and I had seen some of his work. So I wanted to become co-owners of the business with all rights to the artists' royalties and production including shows and so forth. I liked the long term thinking and idea of creating residual income to pass on to my family when I come to pass someday. What is Lao Reggaeton or Laoggaeton?
A: There is no difference between Lao Reggaeton and Laoggaeton. It's just my way of creating a name or theme that would be catchy enough to grab the Lao media and the audience who enjoy my work. It's still Reggaeton. However, because my flow is strictly in Lao, I've claimed its genre and have decided to name it Laoggaeton. And I believe that as time goes on with more exposure to this genre across the globe, it will become a genre of its own and identified as such to our Lao people. Just like we have MorLum, Rock, Pop, and even Hip-Hop in Lao from what I've seen so far. My production team and I have discussed of ideas of implementing the Lao Kaan into some of our beats as well as other Lao instruments. But since it's so new to all of us, we're still learning how to do that. It's still only the baby stages of our triumph but, I think we're doing pretty well with what we have going on so far. Who are your musical influences?
A: My biggest influences in music are the Reggaeton legends from Puerto Rico. Guys like Wisin y Yandel, Hector "El Father", Don Omar, Daddy Yankee, Fantazma (my Producer), Alexis y Fido, Tito "El Bambino", Zion y Lennox, Rakim y Ken-Y. I'm very big into the Spanish music and beats. I'm working on making some Salsa, Merengue, and Bachata songs in Lao as well. However, my influences in these areas are guys like Marc Anthony, Oro Solido, Aventura, Toby Love, Domenic Marte and a whole laundry list of great Latin Artists. What are your songs about? Do you write your own songs?
A: I write all of my songs with exception to some new ones that will be coming out in September like "Dejalo Solo". My friend DJ Conspiracy wrote the Spanish cut of the song and I wrote the Lao version of it. It's a song about this guy talking to his baby sister about how he loves her and can't bare that thought of her running back to her abusive man over and over. All my songs are mostly about having fun, romance, and story lines of real life issues that are dear to me such as family. I try to write about what people, especially Lao people, I think would enjoy listening to and relating to. I have to ask myself and my team, "Is this what people what to shake their hips to when they hear the music and listen to my flow? Would they bump this song in their car over and over while they're sitting in traffic? Would they sing along with it when they hear it dancing yoo lum vonge? Besides music, what else do you like to do?
A: I took on music as a hobby and still continue to be. My biggest priority is my acting career. Acting is my ultimate passion. I just finished school with Sherry Faith Actor Studio and Thespis Rose Theater in Miami Beach. I've worked on theatre musicals, independent films like, Full Circle. Feature films such as Step Up 2 - The Streets, and I've done numerous commercials here in South Florida for companies like State Farm Insurance, DHL, ECOMB, and Wachovia, just to name a few. It's been a lot of fun and the greatest thing about it is that I'm just getting started. I've been acting now for 16 months and I'm having a blast. It's so nice to be able to enjoy your work and get paid well doing it. I hope my influence and work in the industry will encourage more talents of Lao descent to step up and take the challenge of a long rewarding career in the entertainment world.
Another activity I really enjoy is building other businesses. I currently own several other businesses in the real estate, title, and digital communications and, I'm looking forward to creating a new organization to give back to the people. The U.S. that is... For the wonderful opportunity this country has given me to be a free man and create my own independence. Currently, I also serve on the Board of Directors for a large financial firm that's reaching out to minority cultures in educating them on proper financial planning and the importance of a strong financial backbone. I have ambitions of building a worldwide conglomerate of charity organizations for health care, adoptions, and leadership schools for the less fortunate; so that they may be able to give back to the world from their blessings. What is the best part of doing all of this? It's so much fun. I make a living from what I get, but I make a life from what I give. And I hope others of our Lao ethnic will catch the bug from my example and carry on the torch.
How do you feel about the music industry?
A: I have mixed feelings and emotions about the music industry. Happiness and Joy....However, I do believe that it's a great business to be a part of. Music is blended in and involved in everyone's life in some way what-so-ever. It's a wonderful place to create wealth that you can pass on from generation to generation. I love how just one specific song can influence a person's life in the way they behave and relate to the words and the sound of the beat. I'm talking about good influences though. There are lots of songs that influence the opposite. I don't oppose to it but, I do stay away from it keep myself from making music in that way. My music will be heard by my unborn children someday and I want them to know and recognize that their Papi was a great Artist and influence to the world music compilation, and especially to the Lao music movement.
What do you want to say to your Lao fans?
A: I hope you appreciate the worked that I've put in to create this new genre for our culture. There is so much potential for what we're doing and it's so exciting. Thank you to everyone who has shown nothing but love and support on the internet, the shows, and the music sales. Your incredible response and feedback has meant the world to me and I cannot thank you all enough. What I did was a shot in the dark with no idea what I was really doing and getting into. But it's obviously been well worth it. I will continue to press forward for our Lao people and earn the recognition in the entertainment and business world to represent our people with bang! I look forward to meeting all of my fans at the next big show and while I'm out and about on the road. I love you all and can't tell you enough how much I appreciate your love and support. God bless you.
Alex spent his childhood in a one bedroom duplex house that was rented probably less than $300-$400/month at the time on 2nd Street and Belmont Ave in Fresno, CA. The neighborhood was generally populated by Hispanics and African-American families and over the course of a few years, it changed to a predominantly Lao neighborhood. During the late 80's and 90's Fresno was plagued with gangster rap and the whole gang scene. However, getting involved in gang activities was never a question on Alex's mind with his father keeping him in check and explaining to him the consequences of that lifestyle. And this was not anything Alex wanted to waste his time being involved in, although it was easily accessible. With a loving family and his father's influences, Alex chose to walk down a different path. His father led the community in worship and cultural activities in the Lao Buddhist Temples of Fresno, CA. 
