Latin America
Argentina Directory 2023
Betsy Colombian Salsa, Bolero and Son Cubano Singer
Betsy, Colombian singer who began her career at the age of 17, in Bucaramanga in the tropical genre.
She is part of the most recognized orchestras of her region, standing out as one of the most powerful voices of the genre.
She recorded with local orchestras, tropical productions and at the same time consolidated as a commercial voice.
Her love for salsa, bolero and son has led her to belong to important orchestras such as RUMBATA directed by maestro Edwin Rey and LA JOHND BAND directed by JOHN DENNIS ESCOBAR from Cali.
Betsy records with the maestro Edwin Rey, the album “SINCERIDAD”, interpreting in the single PROMESAS, she a song called MI CUMBIA, composed by MARIO ENCALADA, CHILENO and Colombian folklor is heard again with a young and modern oxygen.
In 2020, she recorded the single “SENTIR”, original arrangements of You Salsa de Perú, generating a very positive result to the ear of the public lover of romantic salsa.
In 2021, with the help of producer ALBERTO RUEDA and MS PRODUCCIONES, he releases the album “Una vida de Son”, composed of 10 salsa hits, among which stand out: (Los olores del amor, Siempre Seré, Si te Preguntan, Caretas), in a new, fresh version with that wonderful Cuban touch.
With this album, she was nominated as best female singer SALSA, in the last edition of the CRISTO REY Awards, in the city of CALI, which took place on October 21, 2021.
In 2022, she released the album esencia, sabor y son, which contains 10 tracks of emblematic salsa songs, in Cuban son version, such as DIME POR QUÉ, CASI TE ENVIDIO and with an interesting bet on the songs YA LO SE and UN SUEÑO y NADA MÁS, by Calle Real and Polo Montañez respectively.
At the end of 2022, she won the PANORAMA DE PLATA AWARD, as PERSON OF THE YEAR IN SANTANDER, for her outstanding musical performance during the year and for taking the Department to other regions of the country.
For 2023, the album “YO SOY” is released, which contains the title “Si ya no estás”, written by maestro Jorge del Valle, Cuban composer, with arrangements by maestro Alberto Ardila Rueda and recorded in the studios of MS PRODUCCIONES in Bucaramanga.
In addition, this musical cut is part of the new record production entitled “Yo Soy Betsy”, which has several songs such as: “Caballo Viejo”, “Cuando”, “El Me Mintió”, “Manantial de Corazón”, “Mentira”, “No Sabes Como Duele”, “Que Suene Mi Campana”, “Que Vas Hacer”, “Yo Quisiera” and “Si Ya no Estas”.
Betsy, Colombian singer of SALSA, BOLERO Y SON CUBANO presents her album “YO SOY BETSY”.
Betsy Moreno, Colombian singer, specialist in Bolero, Salsa and Son Cubano, launches her album: “YO SOY”, which contains the title: “Si ya no estas”, written by maestro Jorge del Valle, Cuban composer, with arrangements by maestro Alberto Ardila Rueda and recorded in the studios of MS PRODUCCIONES Bucaramanga – Santander – Colombia.
“Si Ya No Estas” is a romantic song arranged by Alberto Ardila Rueda, a song for lovers of romantic son.
In addition, this song is part of the new record production called “Yo Soy Betsy”, which has several songs such as: “Caballo Viejo, “Cuando”, “El Me Mintió”, “Manantial de corazones”, “Mentira”, “No Sabes Como Duele”, “Que Suene Mi Campana”, “Que Vas Hacer”, “Yo Quisiera” and “Si Ya No Estás”. This is a highly recommended production for lovers of good music and is already available on all streaming platforms.
Follow BETSY MORENO’s career on her social networks and all digital platforms.
Instagram: @betsycantanteoficial
Facebook: betsycantantebucaramanga
Youtube: Betsy Cantante Oficial
Tik Tok: @betsycantanteoficial
Twitter: @betsycantanteoficial
E-mail: [email protected]
Contacts and Bookings: + 57 316 6348316
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Leo Pacheco Sonero del barrio and beloved example of father and friend was lead vocalist of the Orquesta Renovación under the direction of the tumbador Nico Monterola.
On May 17, 1948, Alejo Veliz Pacheco was born in Las González, Miranda State.
Under the musical influence of his father, an outstanding Afro-Venezuelan drummer, his debut as a professional took place in 1973, when he became the lead vocalist of the Renovación, after the departure of Orlando Castillo “Watussi” to the orchestra of Porfi Jiménez.
An advanced group, which emerged on February 6, 1973, under the musical influence of Harlow y la Perfecta, became the ideal competition to the “Galician” Dimensión Latina.
Under the direction of tumbador Nico Monterola, La Renovación, despite not having much luck, presented in its ranks timbalero Alfredo Cutuflá, (great Venezuelan timbalero, with a brilliant career in France), then Cheo Navarro (Director of Bailatino), the future trombonists of Oscar D’ León, the Piñango brothers: Nené and Taito.
This is the first recording for the album of La Renovación, one of the best Venezuelan salsa groups of the 70s. La Renovación since its foundation had in its ranks a select group of musicians that in the future would make a brilliant career in our salsa, needless to say that this group in its different stages has always tried to maintain a very fat and hard sound in the style of the good bands of New York”.
This LP gathers many good songs but there is one in particular that I like very much and it is “Guaguancó a Barlovento”, authored by Orlando Watussi, who was also founder of this group, but he left before the recording of this first album.
Rafael García on bass, Félix Suárez “Shakaito” (future director of the Bronko), Hungria Rojas (later Oscar D’ León’s bongos player) and the vocalization of Leo Pacheco, who recorded with them, (5) Cinco Producciones: Echa Pa’ lante (1974); Llegó la Renovación (1975); Pare Cochero (1975); Lo máximo es Renovación (1976) and A todo el mundo le gusta (1976).
Due to some problems he left La Renovación and went on tour to Colombia with Nelson Henríquez, commitments that prevented him from joining the newly formed orchestra of Oscar D’ León, who observed in Leo his great conditions to do the chorus and second voice, (as a substitute for the work done by Wladimir Lozano in Dimensión Latina), and in a nightclub, Oscar told him: “Leo was looking for you, because the two of us, for whatever comes out …”, “here there is nothing else…”, “here we are going to bust everybody…”.
In fact, after Rodrigo Mendoza’s departure in March 1977, the band replaced him thanks to Leo Pacheco’s very special timbre to do the chorus and second voice, with some songs that served as witnesses, such as the unforgettable: Juramento, Fuego de Amor, Capullito de Azucena, Cruel Desilusión (Con la Crítica de Oscar), among others.
The last days of May 1977, the breakup of Oscar D’ León’s Salsa Mayor is announced, where the bassist-singer in record time reassembles his orchestra dismantling the Renovación itself, while Leo Pacheco, together with the timbalero Alfredo Padilla, Henry Camba, William Puchi, Miguel Pacheco, José “Pipo” Pérez form: “Nuestra Orquesta La Salsa Mayor”, with whom he recorded three anthological albums: De frente y luchando (1978); Strong & Hots (1979); Sello de garantía (1979).
He continued his musical activity in the following years with La Crítica, Combo Venezuela and other groups.
“There was a lot of history left to tell, impossible to tell in this opportunity for reasons of space, although we hope it will be the beginning of a series of works on Venezuelan Salsa, which unfortunately we begin with the sad news of the death of Leo Pacheco, who left us with the fullness of his vocal cords and strength, which impressed the doctors on the day of his death when he resisted 8 hours with a heart attack while driving home in Ocumare del Tuy in his native Miranda state”.
For July 2023 the Lutier, Percussionist and friend Maestro Nico Monterola made a well-deserved tribute with a single titled:
“Tribute to Leo Pacheco”.
Sonero of the neighborhood and beloved example of father and friend.
Source: Jose “Cheo” Guevara of Asocosalsa 74
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Argenis Carruyo is known in the music scene as “El Volcán de América” (The Volcano of America) due to the power of his voice
Carruyo He was born in Maracaibo on August 22, 1953 at the Chiquinquira Hospital in Maracaibo, located in the same sector where he grew up.
Argenis Carruyo he had the good fortune of being a neighbor of Los Blanco, who 12 years after his birth hired him as an instrument picker, an experience that served to awaken in him the love for music, a feeling that was nurtured when he discovered in him an unmistakable talent to make singing his life support.
“The Volcano of America” because the power of his voice makes the senses of those who have the opportunity to listen to him rumble; so sings Argenis Carruyo, from Zulia, who from a very young age began to demonstrate the vocal quality that characterizes him.
He has stood out as an interpreter of the gaita zuliana and during the 1970s and 1980s belonged to the Dimensión Latina.
The 80’s was a very busy decade for this multifaceted character; he sang with Orlando y su Combo, and did a duet with Ender Carruyo in the orchestra “Los Hermanos Carruyo” and then again with the Super Combo Los Tropicales, until 1985 when he decided to found his own group called “Argenis Carruyo y su Orquesta”.
He began his musical career with the youth group Los Larkings. Later, he was part of Los Juglares and Los Casinos.
In 1973, he joined the ranks of Súper Combo Los Tropicales and in 1977 he was recruited by Dimensión Latina, with whom he sang until 1981. Later he joined the group Los Melódicos.
During the 1980s he had an intense artistic activity in which he sang with Orlando y su Combo, duetted with Ender Carruyo in the orchestra Los Hermanos Carruyo, worked again with the Súper Combo Los Tropicales and, in 1985, formed his own group: Argenis Carruyo y su Orquesta.
Sabor a Gaita:
Apart from his work with rhythms such as guaracha and salsa, Carruyo has also performed the gaita zuliana.
The Volcano of America has not only stood out among the great interpreters of the Caribbean for playing rhythms such as the guaracha, he has also honored his land by making famous great gaita compositions.
During his time in the genre he worked with groups such as El Número Uno, Rincón Morales, Guaco, Los Morillo and Gaiteros de Pillopo.
He owes part of his fame to the gaita, because the Zulian melody accompanied him on stages and still accompanies him in his veins as it does to anyone who appreciates being a worthy Maracaibero.
During his artistic life he has received numerous recognitions, as well as the publication of a book with his biography.
In 1975 he won the Festival de Cantantes y Compositores Zulianos and has received the Mara de Oro (1993, 1994, 1995) and Gran Cacique de Oro awards as best singer, the Gran Aguila de Venezuela as best singer and dance orchestra (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001), and the Catatumbo de Oro as best popular singer (1993) among others.
His orchestra received the Orden Ciudad de Maracaibo in its first class as best dance group.
He has performed in the most important nightclubs in Maracaibo, the country and abroad, alternating with the most recognized figures of the song, which is why he is considered one of the most genuine interpreters of tropical Caribbean genres in the Zulian region, such as salsa, guaracha, cumbia, merengue and bolero.
With a prolific career of more than twenty-five years that has served to demonstrate his talents as a vocalist and his own characteristic style, which gives him his most authentic identity.
Argenis Carruyo, with pride from Maracaibo, proclaims that he owes to Zulia the success and fortune that always accompanied him since he discovered the enormous talent he carried in his blood, his homeland became his main fan, to Maracaibo he owes his life and to its inhabitants the affection and the memory that will always keep him alive through his songs.
For 2023 Argenis was specially invited to participate in the excellent group Quintero’s Salsa Project – Tributo A La Dimension Latina directed by New York based percussionists Luisito Quintero and Robert Quintero.
Luisito Quintero grew up in the Latin and African percussion tradition. His father is as percussive as his uncle Carlos Nene Quintero and cousin Roberto Quintero. He became a member of the Venezuelan Symphony Orchestra, but soon joined ensembles such as Grupo Guaco and El Trabuco Venezolano and toured with Oscar D’León.
He then moved to New York, where he met Latin jazz musicians like Willie Colon, Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puente and Celia Cruz worked. He then turned to the fusion of jazz, funk, salsa and African music and played with George Benson, Herbie Hancock, Ravi Coltrane and Toshiko Akiyoshi, but also with pop musicians such as Gloria Estefan and Marc Anthony. Louie Vega produced his first album with him.
Quintero’s Salsa Project – Tribute To The Latin Dimension
Tracks: Ya Tu Lo Véras; Sin Tu Cariño; Cara de Guabina; Sigue Tu Camino; Irimo; Dulce Cantar; De Quintero a Dimensión; Ahi Nama; Te Conocí; Parampampam; Arroz Con Manteca; Frutas del Caney.
Musicians: Argenis Carruyo; Jimmy Bosch; Marcial Istúriz; Roberto Quintero, Luisito Quintero.
Record labels in which Argenis Carruyo has participated.
Top-Hit (TH), Maracaibo Record’s, Argenis Carruyo, Discos VRZ, SonoVen Records, L. G. Record’s C. A; iMusician | EDGARSARMIENTO, Palacio, among others.
Sources:
La Buena Musica: Argenis Carruyo
La Salsa es mi vida: Quintero´s Salsa Project – Tributo A La Dimension Latina
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