May

Luis “Papo” Marquez, Musician, singer, songwriter and producer

North America / Miami / Florida

This son of music, born on December 18, 1972, in the Pinar del Río Cuba Province, was raised between notes and chords that led him to be the artist he is today, known as Luis “Papo” Marquez, and considered a complete musician: trumpeter, composer, arranger, singer and music producer.

As a child, he contemplated music as his environment, profession and way of life, thanks to his family who instilled in him all the passion for art and provided him with the tools to develop his knowledge. He began his trumpet studies at the age of 8 (eight) and, at 15 (fifteen), he already practiced professionally as a trumpet player in groups such as the Bella Mar Orchestra, Grupo Cumbre, musical grouping Los Trimmers, Grupo Íreme and Ricardo Hechemendía, in Pinar del Río and Havana.

At 19 (nineteen) he emigrated with his family to Venezuela, a country that opened the doors for his artistic consolidation, where he managed to make art on a large scale with the execution of his instrument and took the first steps within the world of composition and production.

“In Cuba, love and passion for music through the trumpet was born from me, but it was in Venezuela where I had, for the first time, the opportunity to look closely at how the art of composition worked. Suddenly, I was sitting in front of a piano and reading music sheet, trying to understand how they worked and falling in love with the trade. ” LPM

This is how he started a successful career, thanks to his perseverance and permanent study, having the opportunity to play his trumpet with Venezuelan orchestras such as Mauricio Silva, Erick Franchesky, Naty and his Orchestra, Biella Da Costa, Ilan Chester, Sergio Pérez, Porfi Jimenez , Alfredo Naranjo, Orlando Poleo, Los Incorregibles, Mulato, Repicao and Guaco.

He continues forging his path and arrives in Miami, where he expands his international path with artists such as Jon Secada, Bacilos, Willy Chirino, Oscar D ‘León, Juan Gabriel, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Jerry Rivera, Celia Cruz, Cheo Feliciano, Chayanne, José Luís Quintana “Changuito”, Jose Alberto “El Canario”, Víctor Manuel, among others, with whom he has the opportunity to present himself as a trumpeter and in some cases, as arranger and producer.

One of his biggest recognitions has been the delivery of an American Grammy Award for best music producer with the album “Son del Alma” by Willy Chirino; however, for LPM, the recognitions come day by day with the opportunity to make the music that moves and elevates them in their personal and artistic satisfaction.

Luis Papo Márquez defines himself as a “citizen of the world” born in Cuba and with a Cuban-Venezuelan heart. Work and discipline are his pillars to get ahead and his greatest passion will always be “creating music that makes the world move”.

Participation as Trumpeter and Arranger: Jon Secada, Bacilos, Willy Chirino, Juan Gabriel, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Jerry Rivera, Celia Cruz, Guaco, Cheo Feliciano, Chayanne, Edwin Bonilla, Luis Enrique, Victor Manuel, Rafael “El Pollo” Brito, Oscar D´León.

Record Productions:

Son del Alma (The rhythm of the soul). Willy Chirino. 2004. Grammy winner.
De corazon a corazon (From heart to heart). Team VIP. Luis Papo Marquez. 2007
Wireless Telegraphy. José Luis Quintana “Changuito”. 2007
Puedes volar (You can fly). Luis Papo Marquez. 2011
Arturo Sandoval tribute. 2016
Cuban Añejo. 2017
Firstborn. 2019

Gon Bops

USA / Los Ángeles / California

Gon Bops, Remains one of the oldest and most respected manufacturers of Latin instruments in the world

The Gon Bops legend began in 1954 California when Mexican-American Mariano Bobadilla (born in Guadalajara) – who would go on to become one of the most highly-regarded conga builders in the percussion industry – started designing and building Conga and Bongo drums.

A band instrument repairman and professional trumpet player, Bobadilla launched Gon Bops in his father’s old wooden garage in a downtown Los Angeles neighborhood.

He chose the name Gon Bops because “Gon” was one of the colloquial expressions of the time, as in, “everything is gone, man” – and “Bops” because his friends nicknamed him Bob, which sounded like “Bop” in the Latino dialect.

While Bobadilla’s drums remained true to the classic Cuban shape, he was a genuine innovator in the development of drum hardware. He designed the first teardrop crown with rounded counter hoops, developed to protect players’ hands – a concept that is now universally accepted.

He also gave birth to the first tunable hardware for congas and bongos in the United States. Having witnessed Cuban conga players heating up drums in their kitchens prior to performing, Bobadilla decided there had to be a simpler more reliable method to tension these instruments.

Other innovations from the young company were Taroles (wooden timbales), the first pre-mounted replacement heads for congas, chromatic tuned cowbells and numerous stands, adapters and other hardware.

Gon Bops enjoyed great early success. The instruments were highly sought after by the top players of the era – giants like Alex Acuna, Mongo Santamaria, Francisco Aguabella, Armando Peraza, Poncho Sanchez, Jose Hernandez and Rich Barrientos – all of whom contributed invaluable R&D input. Gon Bops quickly became the undisputed leader in Latin percussion instruments and remained so throughout the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s.

Mariano remained deeply committed to a hands-on role in production and retained complete control of the design and fabrication of all his products. As a result, Gon Bops instruments were mainstays on the biggest stages around the world, including the massive Woodstock festival in 1969.

But the winds of change were sweeping through the American percussion industry. By the time the 1980’s rolled around, all of the major US percussion manufacturers had moved offshore to manufacture their instruments.

Cheap Asian labor costs meant greater profits. But as manufacturing costs decreased, so did quality, and for that reason Bobadilla refused to mover his production outside of the US. As a result, Gon Bops began to struggle financially. Unable to compete against his larger competitors, Bobadilla had no choice but to close the doors of his highly regarded company.Thankfully, that was not to be the end of the Gon Bops brand.

In 2001 Don Lombardi of US drum manufacturer DW bought the company along with all of its patents and trademarks. Lombardi had met Bobadilla in 1978 when he used Gon Bops Timbale shells to build DW brass snare drums, and subsequently had continued to seek R&D advice from Bobadilla.

It was a great fit, and it was no coincidence that the quality of DW drums and hardware continued to grow after the Gon Bops acquisition.

To run his newly acquired Gon Bops brand Lombardi hired the best drum craftsmen in the US. He even bought San Francisco-based Sol Percussion in order to conscript its founder – drum builder Akbar Moghaddam – to the Gon Bops cause.

Moghaddam brought along fellow drum craftsman Octavio Ruiz, and Lombardi teamed them up with Alejandro Perez, a drum builder who had worked with Mariano Bobadilla in the original Gon Bops factory.

In 2010 cymbal-maker SABIAN Inc. announced that it had purchased the inventory, intellectual property, patents and manufacturing equipment of Gon Bops from DW.

The deep commitment to innovation that SABIAN applied to its own instruments had inspired founder Robert Zildjian and his son, SABIAN President Andy Zildjian, to a search for like-minded instrument companies available for acquisition. And it was a happy circumstance had Lombardi had begun to seek a buyer for Gon Bops.

“We’re excited to begin this new chapter in SABIAN and Gon Bops history”, notes Andy Zildjian. “Gon Bops instruments are a perfect blend of vintage craftsmanship and innovative thinking. Since its founding in 1954, the company has pioneered several features and improvements that have forever changed Latin instruments.

We are excited about not only expanding distribution, but also continuing to focus on groundbreaking designs that represent clear improvements in meeting the needs of musicians. The pursuit of the best sound is what our craftsmen work for every day. We know the fit is perfect, above all, because sound matters.”

Today, Gon Bops remains one of the oldest and most respected manufacturers of Latin instruments in the world.

Latin Saoko The Latin Corner Of The World

Latin America/ Buenos Aires / Argentina

Latin Saoko. The salsa and timba radio station in South America continues to make progress in its project of making anyone in all corners of the world dance.- Latin Saoko

Saoko Latino is the fastest growing Internet radio station in America, from its transmission headquarters in Buenos Aires in Argentina and to its master control in Tenerife Spain, its two creators continue betting on this great musical initiative that for more than 3 years they continue growing.

Latin Saoko The Latin Corner Of The World

This Latin-Caribbean genre station produces interactive programs with top-of-the-line speakers, music professionals who venture into designing proposals with ideal content for Latin music lovers. Among its main objectives is to create a space dedicated to the public that loves these Caribbean genres, strengthen Caribbean music and culture worldwide, extend the horizons of Latin radio in the world, among so many lines of development that seek to impact being the number 1 in the ranking of stations on the internet.

Their work reaches your hands through their web portal www.saokolatino.com or through their App available under the name Saoko Latino, from these channels they can delight you with their great musical content, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. of the week, without interruptions so you don’t stop listening to it.

From this month of April they venture into a new program called Timba timbero by the hand of its great moderator Ronny Peinado, the famous @DjTimbao. The aforementioned program seeks in 2 hours to address issues of great importance in the timba world, the spectacular Cuban musical genres, from where they delight their listeners with premieres of the most recognized artists of the Cuban arena, the newest representatives of this musical line, development of opinion, informative and many more topics, all developed with the sole intention of making you enjoy what we like the most, Cuban music.

Daily from 3:00 p.m. Colombia time, 9:00 p.m. Spain and 5:00 p.m. Argentina you can tune in to this great program, be part of the participation through its live chat through its website or its App, in the same way you can locate them through Itunes for the followers of the Apple line, everyone can have access to the musical initiative of the moment on the web.

Now don’t hesitate to tune in and get carried away by its great musical content, it’s time to enjoy the best music.

By Jose Perez, ISM Correspondent, Caracas, Venezuela

Because even from home You can compete with Venezuela es Latina

Latin America / Venezuela / Caracas

Venezuela es Latina prepared a preview of its 2020 edition to be enjoyed online, relying on social networks, anyone who wishes can be part of the competition or the spectator public.

Since 2007, Venezuela is Latina was born as a competitive event that sought to innovate and open a new path to dance competitions in Venezuela, hence since its birth, the event managed to capture the eyes of many by presenting new ideas, from the divisions of the competitors in categories to the emergence of a show in conjunction with the best dancers and academies in the country.

From its first delivery in August 2007 and until the last in a row in 2017, this event usually achieves hundreds of people at great moments, a custom that is maintained for this new edition. It reaches its 12th day, after a stop of two years in its annual run, for this 2020 they have prepared a comeback show, supported by the slogan, a tradition returns and we want to see you dance, this great event seeks to renew the systems a little of competitions that are constantly taking place in beautiful Venezuela, from changes in some categories to innovations in others, we must be prepared for everything that this great event could show us.

For now, they have advanced a mouth opener with an On Line competition through the famous Instagram social network, highlighted by the hashtag #CompiteEnCasa, this idea seeks to open a competition channel for all beginner dancers who can post a video from their homes demonstrating their freestyle skills to win additional prize money from other surprise dance surprises, all supported by great sponsors.

To be part of this competition, those interested must search for all the information contained in their account on Instagram @vzlaeslatina, in addition to reviewing the price of the prize daily at @enviostenerife, the official sponsor, and join this initiative to stay home but take advantage of the time to compete. .

Be sure to follow in the footsteps of this great initiative and be part of the qualifying jury.

By Jose Perez, ISM Correspondent, Caracas, Venezuela

Franky Swing

Latin America / Venezuela / Caracas

Franky Swing: From Venezuela Triumphed in Latin America

Franky Swing was born in Caracas-Venezuela, on December 3, from a humble family, as the main musical reference we will find his older brother, from a very young age his interest in singing was noted, he sang whenever he could, his father encouraged him to do it in family gatherings performing very naturally. During his childhood he belonged to the choir and the marching band at his school, his singing teacher saw great potential in him and advised him to dedicate himself to music.

Franky grew up, and could not devote himself to singing academically, because, to support his family, he worked at a nightclub where he only had one day off a week.

One day he had the opportunity to sing in another nightclub, where his brother worked, and it was there that he discovered that what really moved his life was music.

The night witnessed his first musical experiences, and thus, between clubs, events and private parties he was making himself known musically among friends, neighbors and clients; without losing sight of his desires: to soon realize an important musical project.

In 2007, he began as a soloist, a great professional experience that did not transcend beyond personal enrichment, then he became the vocalist of the LYRI-K group with which he was able to make himself known with more projection at a national and international level, and thus embarking on that artistic path that he longed for so much.

Songs such as “GUARAPO Y MELAO”, “LATINOS” and “REGRESA A MI” sounded throughout the national territory, the latter achieving position No. 8 in the record report on the country’s radio stations. LYRI-K was a good professional experience that Franky Swing had, because with it he not only gained great national exposure, but also managed to cross borders showing his talent in countries like Ecuador.

Additionally, with LYRI-K he participated in national events of great impact such as the Solid Fest (2011) and social concerts, being the image of the SENOSALUD FOUNDATION.

At an academic level, Franky attended speech workshops to acquire more knowledge about this exciting world, managing to participate in radio commercials for different brands and companies.

After his departure from LYRI K, FRANKY SWING undertakes a new solo project and comes with a romantic song entitled “NADA SIN TI”, lyrics and music by Ramón Montes, arrangements by Leo Gonzalez and Lino Paz, an excellent single to conquer the heart of the international public with his warm voice, covered in ballads and merengue.

Franky Swing continues to reap successes now with new songs that have crossed borders, currently in Mexico presenting songs like “Mi vecina me tiene loco”, “Olvidarme de ti” this particular single was recorded in Mexico and Venezuela, by the hand of Lois and Blackie and the Cuban Yumar Bonachea, can be enjoyed in two versions: Batucada and Electronic Merengue; also the single “Quiero”, authored by Francisco Figuera produced in Electronic Merengue.

Franky Swing - Photo — Franky Swing – Photo

The single “Llorando Fue” recorded in Venezuela, in the same Electronic Merengue vein as the album “Mira como es“, reaching important positions in the top 45 of Argentina called Elegidos 45.

In 2015, a new single titled “Una y Otra Vez” recorded in Venezuela, by Jhosir Córdoba, brings freshness in tropical Merengue with an urban touch, the lyrics and music are by Venezuelan Ottoniel Poveda.

Promoted in all social networks with a lot of focus on Latin America, particularly in Mexico City and in the important media in the country to infect everyone with his dance music.

Franky also took on the task of participating in humanitarian social works such as HELP IS, THE NIGHT OF DREAMS INFINITE LOVE AND I LEND YOU MY VOICE.

On the other hand, the recognitions received by FANTASIA TV THE PROGRAM, FINALLY THE END, HAYEK INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN MERIT AWARDS, RECOGNITION AS A SINGER BY THE OAXAQUE BOARD OF POPULAR CULTURE A.C., THANKS IN THE EL LAVADIARIO PROGRAM, RECOGNITION BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MEXICAN ANNOUNCER C , AWARDED WITH THE RAY TICO PRIZE OF THE COSTA RICAN COMMUNITY B. AWARDED AT THE INMORTAL AWARDS AS A TROPICAL MUSIC SINGER Already living in Mexico in 2017, he joins the group “INTERSALSA ORQUESTA“, where he had the opportunity to record several singles in which is the promotional “DILE A ELLA“, this theme was written by the Venezuelan Wilmer Hernández and musical arrangement by the Venezuelan Taylor Aranguren.

Among the musical themes we can highlight “TU NO SABES QUERER”, “ADIOS AMOR” a version of Mr. Cristian Nodal adapted to the salsa genre, collaborations in feautiring in the “GIGANTES DE LA CUMBIA” project with the song “UN SUEÑO” original theme of the group “LOS ANGELES DE CHARLY” duet with the singer “JUAN SOLO” the singles where Franky has been involved with his voice have been happy songs that have made the whole world enjoy, Franky Swing with his charisma, flavor and excellent voice gives him that authentic touch to each song he has recorded.

Franky Swing in 2018, presented us with his new single entitled “DAME UNA OPORTUNIDAD”, lyrics and music by Francisco Figuera and arrangements by Mauricio Jiménez, with the participation of Dante Vargas on trumpet, this song came to stay in the salsa genre and thus continue giving rumba joy and flavor to the international public.

All of us at some point in our lives have made mistakes, which perhaps have hurt someone’s feelings, it can be your partner, a friend, or in any life situation where the beings we appreciate are involved, and at Recognizing that we have failed, we seek forgiveness and try to correct the mistake, doing everything possible to put ourselves in the other person’s place and feel their pain.

Brief synopsis of the single “DAME UNA OPORTUNIDAD” Currently, Franky Swing follows the path of this tropical genre and this time comes with the theme “SABOR A NADA” a very interesting proposal, this arrangement was made in Venezuela by the hand of Wuilmer Herrera , where a fresh concept was shaped to continue giving good music to the international public, it should be noted that the lyrics and music of this single go hand in hand with the Venezuelan composer Jhon Semeco.

Sabor a Nada is the name of Franky Swing’s new single, this single is about those loves that are not consummated, where there are promises that are not kept, loves that are adrift and that fail to have a story, love without color without flavor, that’s what this great single by the great Venezuelan singer Franky Swing is about, who little by little continues to bring joy to Latin America.

If you want to know more about Franky Swing, I invite you to follow him on all his social networks Contacts: Frank Figuera:+52 155-6444-2153 / 55-7410-5180

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/frankyswing

Videoclip https://youtu.be/M7B2wJ4fKIo

Video lyrics https://youtu.be/ltee6FSIQYg

Plataformas digitales: Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4tvKmZc3DNOLW6bcOwFgFc

Sabor a nada iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sabor-a-nada-single/1449554732

Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/en/artist/14789867

G o o g l e p l a y: h t t p s : / / p l a y . g oo g l e . c o m / s t o r e / m u s i c / a l b u m /

Franky_Swing_Mira_Como_Es?id=Bw2svrdawij6iyvk3grloe3eqc4

Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/mx/album/mira-como-es/1386202738

Twitter: @franky_swing

Instagram: @FRANKY_SWING