Latin America

Latin America /Dominican Republic

Angel Bonne born in Santiago in 1961

Angel Bonne began his musical studies at an early age, developing his skills on the clarinet.

The artist confesses that genetically his father, Enrique Bonne, “has a lot to do with his musical taste”; he grew up watching him play the piano, and the drums played in the patio of his house, where musical meetings were held with greats such as Pacho Alonso and Omara Portuondo among others.

After graduating from the National School of Art, he worked as a saxophonist in groups such as: Galaxia, Santiago Feliú, Beatriz Márquez (where he also acted as director), Granma (Santiago de Cuba) and Cuban Orchestra of Modern Music (Santiago de Cuba).

He also participated as a saxophonist, in albums of renowned singer-songwriters such as Amaury Pérez Vidal and Evelyn García Márquez.

He also collaborated with other groups such as the Grupo Síntesis and the Irakere by maestro Chucho Valdés.

His interpretative quality and musical talent led him to form part of one of the most important orchestras of Cuban music, Juan Formell’s Orchestra, Los Van Van, where, in addition to playing the saxophone, he performed as an arranger and singer.

During this period, he interpreted everlasting successes in the history of Cuban popular dance music, as is the case of the song Azúcar, still very much in demand despite having been recorded for more than 25 years.

His passage by this musical group, is qualified by the own Angel Bonne, like one of the most important moments of his artistic career, in fact has continued collaborating with this transcendental orchestra in the record productions due to the mark left by its vocal timbre in the chorus.

At the age of 33, he decided to make his career as a soloist without abandoning his role as an instrumentalist and his qualities as a composer, and he formed several groups.

Since then, he has starred in several record productions: “Pa’ decir lo que yo siento”, “Circunstancias”, “Esta es mi música”, “Por favor escuchame” and “Bonne and Bonne Co. He has also made three albums in which his facet as a singer-songwriter is evident; these are these are: “De otra manera”, “Buscándome”, and “El guardián”. He has participated in more than 60 albums recorded with well-known Cuban figures.

He made the original music and soundtrack of the Cuban soap opera EN FIN EL MAR, from which hits like ESE soy yo, Sueños en la inmensidad and Cada uno por su lado were released.

His versatility allows him to venture into several musical genres, among which jazz, Nueva Trova and popular music stand out.

From Bonne’s discography, you will always remember songs like: ¨Usted will return to passer¨, ¨No I know why he wants me to mi¨, ¨Pura vestment¨, ¨Ya I went from the 20¨, Amigos, which was also nominated in the category of best video of the year at the PREMIOS LUCAS, (an important Cuban audiovisual competition) to others, which also showcase his skills as a composer, arranger, performer, bandleader and record producer.

 

By: Diana Marie

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Jimmie Morales was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut to Puerto Rican parents

Jimmie Morales was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut to Puerto Rican parents.

He spent his early childhood listening to American popular music on the radio, and it wasn’t until 1967, when his family moved to Puerto Rico, that he became fascinated with Caribbean music, especially the salsa genre.

Jimmie’s first foray into music was with the guitar, but his father gave him a bell and, later, a conga drum that would become his main artistic fascination.

He learned of his interest by listening to Cuban, Puerto Rican and New York salsa records; also to congueros such as Milton Cardona, Eddie Montalvo, Patato Valdés, Cándido Camero, Mongo Santamaría, Johnny Rodríguez and his favorite: the late Ray Barretto.

In a very short time, he found himself making inroads with local bands, and sharing his talent with the renowned singer Tito Allen.

Jimmie Morales and his experience with Willie Rosario

In 1978, Jimmie joined the popular rhythmic band of maestro Willie Rosario, and for eight years obtained what he considers his best formal training in the music industry.

Concurrently, he began an impressive career as a top-level studio musician, achieving outstanding participation in performances by the most important artists of the salsa genre, including Marc Anthony, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Roberto Roena, Oscar D’León, Lalo Rodríguez, Eddie Santiago and Frankie Ruiz, with whom he collaborated on each and every one of his solo recordings.

The sound of this great percussionist, his impeccable rhythm and his solid accompaniment defined him and have placed him convincingly as one of the most influential congueros of the last 30 years.

Trajectory with Gilberto Santa Rosa

In 1986, he joined a young Gilberto Santa Rosa, who had left Mr. Willie Rosario’s band to become the most prolific salsa singer in the last 25 years.

Since then he has traveled throughout the Americas, Europe, Japan, Taiwan and South America offering percussion workshops and accompanying different artists in a consistent and successful career as a percussionist. Jimmie Morales has also accompanied great artists such as Willie Colón, Ismael Miranda, Tito Nieves, Juan Luis Guerra, Grupo Niche and Jerry Rivera, among others.

He is currently promoting his line of congas sponsored by the Remo Company. As if that were not enough, this talented conguero enjoys the genuine respect and appreciation of the Puerto Rican and Latin American people. His humility, his affable treatment and his charisma, together with his musical virtuosity, make him worthy of an indisputable place in the history of salsa.

Since then, he has traveled throughout the American continent, Europe, Japan, Taiwan and South America offering percussion workshops and accompanying different artists in a consistent and successful career as a percussionist.

Jimmie has also accompanied great artists such as Willie Colón, Ismael Miranda, Tito Nieves, Juan Luis Guerra, Grupo Niche and Jerry Rivera, among others. He is currently promoting his line of congas sponsored by the Remo Company.

As if that were not enough, this talented conguero enjoys the genuine respect and appreciation of the Puerto Rican people and of salsa connoisseurs worldwide. His humility, his affable treatment and his charisma, together with his musical virtuosity, make him worthy of an indisputable place in the history of salsa.

A conguero for history Jimmie Morales’ memoirs

“Mr. Slap”       

Bella Martínez (Author)

When all the congueros were imitating the king of the hard hands, Ray Barreto, Jimmie manages without intending to be the one chosen by the master Willie Rosario to accompany with the conga the tuning that Rosario had already established.

That Willie Rosario originality must have influenced Jimmie’s impeccable style.

Let’s not forget that when all timbaleros were imitating maestro Tito Puente, that irreverent coameño – maestro of maestros Willie Rosario knew how to be original.

Jimmie repaid the fate that accompanied him at that crucial moment with an immense dose of vocation.

And that stroke of luck in the leather didn’t manage to erase the humility of his being.

I invite you to read what I have managed to compile about Jimmie Morales, whom, with your authorization, I show in this work that pretends to be a summary of the life and work of this incredible musician.

Here you will also see that in spite of his perennial shy smile, his hands of stone do not give a break nor allow tropical music to ignore his monumental influence.

Jimmie, the human being who communicates through the leather of his conga, presents us with the musical strength he continues to share with the world. I am deeply grateful for the introspection and candor of his testimony.

I recognize that I am fortunate that Jimmie has agreed to give me part of his voice and to perpetuate this story. I insist that it was a sin not to share this legacy before, but now it was Mister Slap who beat the drum.

 

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