Latin America

Latin America / Venezuela / Carabobo

Jesús Federico Betancourt was born in the city of Valencia, Carabobo state, on March 22, 1940. He was always attracted to music from a very young age.

In his adolescence, he liked Cuban rhythms, being influenced by Sonora Matancera, Mon Rivera, Eddie Palmieri and Joe Cotto. Before entering the entertainment world, he works at the Bank of Venezuela.

He affirms that he has not carried out formal studies at the musical level, learning the necessary theory to be able to perform as an orchestra conductor, but without interest in interpreting any instrument, but with a well-tuned ear, which has allowed him to remain in the music business for decades. , in fact on certain occasions he is named as the King of the Güiro.

His career began when he entered the Los Selectos Orchestra, where they played songs by the Billos Caracas Boy’s and the Los Melodicos Orchestra, which were at their peak in the 1960s, all this in a particular way, said Orchestra did not go beyond that.

In 1965, Federico Betancourt decides to satisfy his artistic restlessness and founds a band called Federico y su Combo Latino. The members that made up this band were chosen from among the founder and together with Roberto Monserrat.

But it was not until the middle of 1966, when the twenty-six (26) year old undertook the recording of the LP that would make him famous forever. This record production entitled LLEGO LA SALSA, would mark an important stage in Venezuelan Salsa, because it was the first LP that made use of the word SALSA in the country.

Federico Betancourt himself recounts that the Venezuelan announcer Phidias Danilo Escalona had a Radio Program called LA HORA DE LA SALSA, EL SABOR Y EL BEMBÉ, where all the Cuban and Puerto Rican Caribbean rhythms that were fashionable at the time were placed, among those who highlighted La Sonora Matancera with Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Joe Cuba, Tito Rodríguez among others, and who was the one who supported them the most in terms of recording the album.

The production was recorded under the Palacio label, and the LP was titled LLEGÓ LA SALSA, he affirms that the title was chosen without taking into account the importance that it would revert in the future, he also affirms that it was not the name that gave him success , the album was a “bump” in sales, since all the songs were the most requested at the time, using his words: “The album sold like hot cakes”.

The music lovers of the time requested it on specialized sites such as the LA SALSA album. Federico says: “The father of the word SALSA was Phidias Danilo Escalona, ​​he used it for the first time in his radio program, and I, humbly, with the success of my LP, gave him the push for its mass use.”

In Venezuela, the word SALSA was welcomed by the public willingly, since it suggested a mixture of flavors, which was exactly what happened in the Phidias program, but at the level of rhythms. After the appearance of Federico’s album, all the shows that were performed at the level of Caribbean and Cuban rhythms, carried the name of SALSA.

It is important to name the musicians who took part in this historic production: The musicians are: Ali Rojas Bongo and Cencerro, Roberto Monserrat Music Director and Timbal, Pedro Medina Congas, Alfredo Arcas Trombone, César Pinto Trumpet, Enrique Iriarte Piano, Rafael Prado Bass, Carlín Rodríguez Singer and maracas, Dimas Pedroza Singer, Federico Betancourt Güiro and Director of the Orchestra. The musical arrangements were by the famous trumpeter Eduvigis Carrillo (RIP). Production themes:

1.- Cocolía 2.- Conmigo 3.- El Pachanguero 4.- Sancocho Caliente 5.- Guaguancó Manía 6.- Celosa

7.- Despierta Rumbero 8.- No Critiquen 9.- Saoco 10.- Baila Yemaya 11.- Café Y Pan 12.- Que Me Querías

After the success obtained with the record work, the time came for the first international outing, which was to Colombia, in 1969. It happened because the singer of Los Melodicos, Víctor Piñero, informed Betancourt that he was stuck in Cartagena and Barranquilla with the themes El Cobrador and Federico Boogaloo. After the information, the young musician went to the neighboring country and got a contract for the famous Reina del Mar parties, in Cartagena, on November 11, 1969.

The experience of the band was so good, that in 1970 they returned to visit the country. From then until our days Federico y su Combo continues to be an emblematic and legendary band in Venezuela, for this reason the WEB of the classy salsero SALSA BRAVA, offers its respects to such an important salsa figure.

Latin America / Colombia / Bogota

Born on July 8 in the city of Bogotá, Colombia. Who since he was a child had an inclination for music, especially for singing, inheriting this artistic vein from his father. Charlie Cardona in his childhood sang with his brothers, at family gatherings, later with groups of friends and later he came to the stage with different musical groups in renowned night spots in the Colombian capital.

The opportunity to start his professional career was presented to him the same night he received his bachelor’s degree when he made his debut with LA MÁXIMA DE MAÑUNGO, an outstanding orchestra in Colombian folk music that he joined for two years, hence his taste for this genre.

In 1987 he began his studies of Solfeggio and Singing at the National University of Colombia, shortly after he met a group of musicians with whom he began in the salsa environment and through them he had contact with the producer and percussionist Willie Salcedo who is the one who takes for the first time to the recording studios where he begins singing jingles and choirs for different groups.

Year later, Charlie Cardona recorded with the tropical group FUERZA CARIBE, the song TE QUIERO under the production of the Ramírez brothers, being the beginning of a great list of successes in the voice of this great interpreter.

In 1989 with LOS ALFA 8 he recorded the songs TU Y YO and AL ROJO VIVO, songs that were his first hits in the Salsa genre, which became very popular on radio in Latin America and the United States.

In September 1990, he was called by Jairo Varela, director of GRUPO NICHE, to be part of the most important salsa institution in Colombia. For Charlie Cardona, it was his great trial by fire; He leaves his beloved Bogotá and settles definitively in Cali. Cardona assumes responsibility for a repertoire full of successes that in less than a month lead him to debut in the framework of the National Beauty Reign, a concert that is televised live throughout Colombia and they are the witnesses of the launch of the new star of the Colombian sauce.

In 1993 he recorded the songs DUELE MÁS, LAS TRES SON CARIBE and UN ALTO EN EL CAMINO, the theme and title of the album for which they received the award for Best Tropical/Salsa Group of the year at the Premios lo Nuestro de la Música Latina.

Charlie Cardona, with his voice and style, reflected his artistic acumen in five records over six years at the head of GRUPO NICHE until July 1996, the date when he retired from this institution to make his dream come true, to start his career as a soloist. In May 1997 he signs with the WEA Latina label and it is the beginning of his solo career, his first album, made in New York City under the direction of the outstanding musician and producer Sergio George.

El Amor Todo Lo Poder is the title of his second production as a soloist, which was made in 1999 in the city of Miami, where he presents us with a more mature Artist interpreting excellent songs, among which stand out PARA OLVIDARLA, TONTO CORAZÓN, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH and I ASK YOU FOR PEACE, the latter dedicated to his Colombian land.

In the same year he is nominated in the category of Revelation Artist of the Year at the Lo Nuestro Awards for Latin Music. In 2008, he released his third musical production Para Ser Feliz, the first under the NL Entertainment label, where he presents nine songs dedicated to love, family and God, including the hits LA MUJER DE MI VIDA and YOUR HANDS / CARPINTERO DEL LOVE.

From this musical history it can be concluded without a doubt that Cardona is a Colombian artist with international recognition, who remains present in several generations of different countries of the world with great acceptance, recognition and remembrance, with a large discography full of successes. Charlie studied Advertising and Marketing at the Central University of Bogotá, although it was a great effort to fulfill these two great commitments, he recognizes that the two careers complement each other and enrich his professional life.

In addition to being a great singer, this incredible artist is an excellent communicator; In 1999, he presented the program THANK YOU TO GOD SALSA for two years, on Radio Caracol’s Tropicana Estéreo station in the city of Cali, achieving first place in all of southwestern Colombia.

Cardona currently resides in Colombia with his family, focusing on soccer, swimming and athletics in his spare time. BUENA FORTUNA is the title of his new musical production, a work that was recently presented to the tropical music market.

It is the fourth in his solo career and was produced by N.L. ENTERTAINMENT. BUENA FORTUNA is the result of the mixture of the talent of a varied and significant number of Colombian and foreign artists, instrumentalists and arrangers, all successful in the salsa market of which our award-winning artist is a part and makes history, always leaving the name of his beloved high. Colombia.

With CHARLIE CARDONA Salsa has a great interpreter, and music a unique vocalist. GOOD FORTUNE to all!