August

Adrian Suarez Composer, arranger, trombonist and percussionist

Trombonist Adrian Suarez’s musical career began when he was very young at a music school.

“From the age of five they put us to study theory and solfège, and four years later I managed to get my hands on an instrument.”

However, once he was able to play an instrument, he took a break to dedicate himself to baseball. “It was at the age of 14 that an uncle took me to some Latin percussion lessons and soon after that I started with the trombone.”

On April 23, 1969, in Caracas, Venezuela, Adrian Suarez was born.

Excellent composer, arranger, trombonist, percussionist and researcher.

Bachelor of Arts (UCV-1994), he studied music, trombone and composition at the Escuela Superior José Ángel Lamas.

He also studied Afro-Caribbean percussion and Afro-Venezuelan percussion (1985-1990). He was a researcher and advisor for the foundation of ethnomusicology and folklore, fundef, between 1993 and 1995.

Adrian Suarez Composer, arranger, trombonist and percussionist

He studied composition at the Cátedra Latinoamericana de Composición Antonio Estévez, with maestro Juan Carlos Núñez from 1994 to 1996. In Germany he obtained a master’s degree in composition.

As a professional, he has collaborated with the Papel Musical Magazine (1992); he has been a researcher and advisor for the Foundation of Ethnomusicology and Folklore (FUNDEF) under the direction of Dr. Isabel Aretz; and he has worked as a documentary advisor for visual arts exhibitions.

He studied composition with Helmut Lachenmann and Marco Stroppa. In 2001 he received his master’s degree in composition from the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Stuttgart, Germany.

Since 1999 he has been a founding member of the international group of composers Aspect, based in Germany, and since 1991 of the Musikós Association in Caracas. He participated in the Latin American Composition Chair Antonio Estévez, under the direction of Juan Carlos Núñez (1994-1996).

He has received numerous awards, including the Unique Prize of the Manuel Enrique Pérez Díaz National Composition Competition (CONAC, Caracas, 1998) for his work “Soledades”, “Hommâge à Octavio Paz”, for two guitars and harp, the Municipal Music Prize (Caracas, 2002 and 2017), the National Culture Prize (2010) as well as the Prize of the Ibero-American Composition Competition for Symphonic Band Ibermúsicas-Oaxaca (2016).

El 23 de abril de 1969, en Caracas, Venezuela, nació Adrian Suarez

He has worked as author and director of musical-dramaturgical shows in Venezuela, including titles such as: “Lamas siempre” (1995), “Proyecto Música e Hipótesis Aleatorias” (1997), “Atavismos del Sol y de la luna” (2000), “Maithuna” (2009), “Watunna” (2010), “Meñé Ruwa, los dueños del canto” (2011) the first musical theater play in the continent for instrumental ensemble and two shamans and “La salsa es trombón” (2012, 2015, 2017).

He led a band integrated by a group of the best musicians of the salsa scene nationwide: Tuky Torres, on piano; Carlos Rodríguez, bass; Víctor Cardona, on timbal and bongo; Freddy Rivas, congas; Johan Muñoz, trombone; Eliel Rivero, trombone. Special guests included soneros Edgar Dolor Quijada, Reinaldo Torcat, as well as a group of batá drummers.

Creator of the Ensemble Lux Aeterna, dedicated to the interpretation of spiritual and sacred works of all times. He is also founder of the Akoustikos New Music Festival in 2009.

As a trombonist, he has cultivated popular music from all over the continent, with special emphasis on Venezuelan and Caribbean music. His work as a researcher, composer and performer has allowed him to take his work and music to several countries in the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia.

La carrera musical de Suárez inició desde cuando era muy joven en una escuela de música

“It won’t be a master class in history,” says Venezuelan musician and composer Adrián Suárez with a chuckle; in reality it is a musical show, with hints of theater and dance, that will show the public the evolution of the trombone, and its relationship with the salsa genre from prehistoric times to contemporary times.

Adrián Suárez brings sacred sounds and turns them into music.

Suárez won the Second Iberoamerican Composition Contest for Symphonic Band Ibermúsicas, in the Mexican city of Oaxaca, with his work Aerofanía, retumbos místicos para banda sinfónica.

Salsa is trombone, Suárez assures, “It is a beautiful show that is not only educational, but also seeks to inspire the audience through the values and feelings it promotes”.

The artist and researcher’s expectation is that his audience will be completely involved with the sound and ambience: “To completely move the energy, since it is not only music to dance to, it is to sit down and listen to it carefully”.

Víctor Porfirio Baloa Díaz, more commonly known as Porfi Baloa

Adrián Suárez

“Canelita Medina” Caribbean popular music loses one of its best exponents

Canelita, the Venezuelan sonera, died on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. It was recently announced that the singer had to undergo surgery to implant a hip prosthesis.

The 84 year old artist was the mother of Venezuelan interpreter Trina Medina.

Rogelia Medina, popularly known as “Canelita” and nicknamed by the media as “La sonera de Venezuela” and “La sonera del Caribe”, leaves today at the age of 84 after having delighted the Caribbean and her country like birds, with all the strength of her tenderness.

Songs such as: “Tanto, tanto, tanto” “Besos brujos” “Lágrimas negras” among others will remain forever in our hearts.

She had an unmistakable voice, both for her timbre and her sweetness, for that particular way of intoning with such a sweet strength, because she never wanted to impose herself. She was always herself, with a gift for people, and a truly unforgettable charisma.

What Venezuela, the Caribbean and Latin American popular music have just lost is not little, because she also represented effort, prudence and that femininity that dictated a lesson, even in the choice of her repertoire.

Life

She was born on March 6, 1939 in La Guaira, in the central Venezuelan coastline that she truly loved. Whether it was in the area of El Playón, near Caraballeda, or in the town of Anare or towards Catia de la Mar, Rogelia experienced the joy of the sea air and the way of being of those born on the coast, with drums, joy, cadence and music always. They have their own codes.

She is not the most Cuban of the Venezuelan women, as some media erroneously affirm. No and no. She is the greatest Venezuelan interpreting the Cuban son and much beyond, because she interpreted other Caribbean and Venezuelan genres with extraordinary solvency.

She always knew, and soon the rest of her countrymen knew, that she was born to sing. The musical environment at that time was not very favorable for women, much less in son or guaracha. Like many other women in Venezuela and the Caribbean, she started on the radio.

This is what she told researcher Jairo Aponte, from Puerto Cabello. When asked about her first contact with show business, Rogelia answered: “It was because of some friends I had who knew that I liked to sing. There was a program on the radio station Ondas Populares called Buscando Estrellas (Looking for Stars) and they insisted.

They encouraged me so much that I went to the program. The first time I was bleeped, the audience bleeped me, but the second time in the same program the accompanying orchestra was the Sonora Caracas and they suggested me to rehearse before competing again.

Then, hidden, we rehearsed “Saoco” sung by Celia Cruz. I returned the following week and won the contest, and best of all, from that moment on I stayed with the Sonora Caracas, with whom I stayed for eight years”. It was 1957.

In 2022 a tribute was made to him at the Museum of Afro-American Art located in San Bernardino, Caracas. Trina Medina, Betsayda Machado and Juan José “el Indio” Hernandez participated in the meeting.

Peace to his soul, God receive you in a beautiful place.

Great you are Canelita.

When it comes to compositions, Luis “Tata” Guerra is widely known internationally

Eduardo Zayas “Born Among Titans”

Eduardo Zayas fell in love with salsa during his sister’s Quinceañero and for the first time listened to the albums of the Fania Stars

Eduardo Zayas was born in the 1960s, a time of turmoil and conflict in our Nation.

Born in Ponce Puerto Rico and raised in the town of poets, Juana Díaz. He fell in love with salsa during his sister’s Quinceañero, when he first heard the Fania Stars records. From that moment he grew in a fascination for that hot music.

He completed his basic education in his longed-for town of Juana Díaz where he graduated from Luis Llorens Torres High School. “I study psychology at the Inter-American University in Ponce Puerto Rico”

The 70s were his greatest influence while growing up on the same street where the family of the great Tito Gómez lived, as well as other great musicians such as Héctor Tricoche.

During that period, rumbones were found on every corner.

Since childhood he was inclined to write poetry and shared his creations with family, friends and teachers.

At an early age he had the opportunity to write a poem and recite it on local radio.

While studying at the University; His interest in traveling and learning about new things motivated him to enlist in the American military service where he served for 26 years in different military branches until his retirement in 2007.

In those years he had the opportunity to visit many places and observe many experiences and events that fed his muse.

He was fortunate that his last military station was the beautiful island of Hawaii where he worked as a counselor for the military organization in cases involving discrimination issues and organizing educational and cultural events.

During that period he had the opportunity to demonstrate his poetic abilities by writing poems and works for his events.

Upon retirement in 2007, he was fortunate to be selected to work as a civilian employee with the United States Government Federal Service in Washington DC.

Eduardo Eduardo Zayas and his disk — Eduardo Zayas and his disk

Eduardo began writing songs since his early years in the military.

His love for music is so great that he has continued to write songs and had the opportunity in 2019 to produce his own musical production “Nacido Entre Titanes” with a great cast of musicians and singers.

All the songs in his productions are his own, until now some of his songs have been recorded by other artists such as Julita Stephens, Iván Montero and Awilda Hernández.

Others are soon to leave, their music is based on personal experiences and observations of events throughout their lives, their themes carry messages for reflection.

He feels the great purpose of his work is to be able to create good music and bring joy and positive messages to dancers and those who like to listen to great quality.

We are in Salsa!!!

Discography of Eduardo Zayas

After 12 years, “Pa’ la Calle Orchestra” returns to the world of music

After being away from the musical scene for about twelve years, Pa’ la Calle Orchestra, who reaped their successes between 1996 and 2001, now returned again with their unique and contagious style.

Created by Ángel Díaz and Carmelo Rivera, who reaped their successes under the independent label (PALA Records). Successes like “I’m in love”, “Love”, “It costs me so much” among others.

Pa’ la Calle Orchestra exceeded their sales expectations and with their second production under the V.I.

Music was titled “Now I’m Going” with songs like: “I’m crying”, “You’re like this”, “That girl”, and “Where will my love be”. The latter being the one that marked the success of the musical career of this group.

The year 2012 without a doubt marked a new stage in the musical life of the orchestra, and with the return dedicated to our late drummer José “Neri” Rodríguez.

Pa' la Calle Orchestra members — Pa’ la Calle Orchestra members

Pa’ la Calle has been presented on WAPA TV, on radio stations making themselves known with the new musical themes, sounding strongly in Chile, Venezuela, Santo Domingo where they hope to present themselves strongly. In 2012 they resumed their musical path with the recording of 2 new songs, the cover “I’ve Lived Waiting For You” and “No Sufre Mi Corazón” Original lyrics. In 2014 the 3rd theme was recorded, the Cover “Que Lloro” which was strongly heard throughout Puerto Rico and strongly marked its path again and in 2016 they recorded the fourth theme “Vamos Pa Lante”, it was strongly sounded in Puerto Rico and Chile.

Pa’ la Calle Orchestra – Logo

Now we are presenting our fifth cover “Te Quise Olvidar” and the sixth “Mi Niña” and soon they will finish the seventh theme which they will call “Vamos De Fiesta”. They mention to us that… “This is the beginning of what will be our 4th Production that will be titled “A mi Amigo” and it will have a song called “A Mi Amigo” that is dedicated to our deceased colleague and co-founder of the orchestra”.

In this 4th production they will present a song with the salsa rhythm and we will have a Christmas song called “Esta Navidad”; It is important to note that it is being produced by Nelson L. Cordero at his Muralla Studio.

The “Pa la Calle” Orchestra is ready to continue performing in all kinds of activities and they have a varied musical show. If you want to listen to the new musical themes, click on the following links and enjoy them:

Video LET’S GO FORWARD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us2VmzPAdlA

MY GIRL video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uOm4bli3QU

Sirak Miguel Baloyan. Bassist, Musical Creator and Songwriter

Sirak Miguel Baloyan, artist, producer and composer, originally from Tijuana, Mexico “is the most internationally recognized Mexican salsa artist, the first in history to have appeared at the OSCAR’s on two consecutive occasions, also, singer-songwriter of numerous hits of the romantic cut (boleros & ballads).

Sirak Miguel Baloyan, talented musical creator, prodigy son is now among the best exponents of music in the world.

Sirak, from a very young age, was amazed at his creative ability that has led him to countless recognitions and satisfactions. His particular interpretative expression with different musical instruments gives an example of his originality and style.

Sirak Miguel Baloyan and la Sonora Antillana

The experience of living and traveling around the world has taught him the styles, culture, rhythms and different musical genres around the planet.

Now, with more than 20 years of experience, we see his impressive work both in his albums as an artist and in his productions and compositions for performers of the highest level.

In 2002 he obtained the PLATINUM AWARD for his production of the album “SABOR A MEXICO” by singer Bertín Osborne.

He is affiliated with the society of composers ASCAP. In his multifaceted experience and participation within the musical range we can include; Graduated from Dick Grove Music School Los Angeles, Graduated from San Diego State University, student at the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music, artistic director and producer of the SBB Records record label, research studies in the Afro-Antillano genre and director of renowned radio programs , among others.

Sirak, with more than 130 musical works (Ballads, Bolero pop, Bolero Trio, Bossa Nova, Chachachá, Dance/Pop, Flamenco, Jazz, Latin Jazz, Mariachi, Norteño, Rock, Salsa, etc.) demonstrates his skill as a composer. His compositions have been recorded by artists of great international prestige.

In 2002, Sirak’s innovations still continue. His dream of bringing together excellent musicians from the Antilles (Caribbean) now comes true with the formation of his well-known orchestra LA SONORA ANTILLANA.

His new album DE LA MATA will surely become one of the most innovative albums of the moment. DE LA MATA, a top quality project, promises to be very successful in the Latin American and European markets. Album recorded in Puerto Rico, it has 10 songs inspired by Sirak and produced by himself, it includes the most prestigious arrangers of the tropical genre such as: Jose Madera, Tommy Villarini, Rafael Torres, Tito Rivera, Mandy Vizoso and Sirak.

On Feb 24, 2008, Sirak y Su Sonora Antillana performed on OSCAR night at a concert sponsored by Billboard Magazine and Children Uniting Nations. The guests at this annual event are movie and music personalities.

Previous years have featured artists such as Prince, Wyclef Jean, Ruben Studdard, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, The Black Eyed Peas, Gladys Knight, Al Green and many more.

Singer-songwriter, 2 Shows at the Oscars, winner of awards: M.V.Award, cd triple platinum, walk of fame, 100 videos on YouTube, 150 compositions (salsa, bolero, ballad, latin jazz, bossa nova, etc.) 200+ articles press.

To see his YOUTUBE channel (98 videos):

http://www.youtube.com/user/sirakbaloyan

For more information:

www.sirakbaloyan.com