North America

The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson

Antonio “Tony” Succar (Lima, May 18, 1986) is a Peruvian-American percussionist, composer, arranger, band leader and producer.

Succar was born in Lima, Peru. When he was two years old, his family emigrated to the United States and settled in Miami, Florida.

Among his relatives were several musicians who encouraged Succar to develop his own musical interests. The family’s musical tradition began with his paternal great-grandparents, Mexican composer Lauro D. Uranga and Spanish flamenco dancer Adelina Esteve Gregory.

Succar’s father, Antonio F. Succar, is a pianist and his mother Mimy Succar Tayrako Sakaguchi is a singer. Since he was 3 years old Tony started playing in The Peruvian Cajon, when Succar was 13, he started playing drums with his parents’ band when they played at weddings and other private and corporate functions, mainly in Miami, Florida, USA.

Succar attended Miami Sunset Senior High School in Miami-Dade County. At the time his ambition was to be a professional soccer player, and he played on several teams, including his high school team when it won the 2004 state championship. He later tried to earn a soccer scholarship to Florida International University. Unable to get a scholarship, he asked his father for study advice.

The advice he received was to apply to FIU’s School of Music.

Seeking an interview with the school’s drum instructor, he ended up auditioning for the Latin jazz ensemble and was quickly accepted. Succar earned a Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Performance in 2008 and went on to study for a master’s degree, which he earned in 2010.

Succar already had an active musical career while still an undergraduate student. As a junior in college he took over as musical director of the family band, which he renamed Mixtura.

On September 21, 2010, Succar released an album recorded at his graduation recital, a live concert with Mixtura at the Wertheim Performing Arts Center in Miami. This CD/DVD contains a mix of Latin-influenced arrangements of classic jazz numbers and original material. It received numerous positive reviews including from Audiophile Audition5 and JazzChicago.

After graduating from FIU, Succar became artist-in-residence in 2012, and continued to work with the school’s music students on a number of projects. He is the youngest artist to ever hold this appointment at FIU.

Succar has worked with several prominent artists in Latin music genres. These include Tito Nieves, La India, Kevin Ceballo, Michael Stuart, Jon Secada, Jennifer Peña, Jean Rodriguez and Obie Bermudez, who collaborated with him on Unity: The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson.

The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson

Unity: The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson is a collaborative project to produce a musical tribute to Michael Jackson. In addition to live performances, the project plans to release an album consisting of 14 Jackson songs rewritten to include Latin influences, primarily salsa and Latin American rhythms, Succar, who was a long-term fan of Jackson’s work, is the founder and producer of the project. Unity launched in 2015 with a concert at Miami’s Olympia Theater sponsored and broadcast on PBS TV, 360 stations, primetime, Friday night at 9:00 p. m., and also sponsored by Universal Music Classic.

Unity features over 100 musicians, Latin superstars such as Tito Nieves, Jon Secada, La India, Obie Bermudez, Jennifer Pena, Michael Stuward, Angel Lopez, Sheila E., Judith Hill, Jean Rodriguez, Fernando Vargas, Maribel Diaz, Kevin Ceballo, hosted on PBS TV by Gloria Estefan, and the magic of Jackson’s legendary engineer, Bruce Swedien.

Succar’s sound is refined and distinctive. His up-tempo songs have an unmatched explosive energy, while his slower arrangements are soulful and captivate the listener with the intricate nuances that are signatures of his sound.

Tony is currently working on his next album and touring the world with his band.

He has performed at the Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival (Aruba), the Ravinia Festival (Chicago), Auditorio Telmex (Mexico), Vivo Beach (Puerto Rico), Tempo Latino (France) and the 2019 Latin Grammy Awards (MGM Grand Las Vegas ), among others.

Contacts:

Youtube: tonysuccarofficial

www.tonysuccar.com

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Edwin Morales, founder, bass player, director of Mulenze.

Orquesta Mulenze was born in 1976 thanks to the motivation of Edwin Mirales who was a young rocker back then and decided to switch his guitar for a bass and to form the YAMBO Orchestra, which served as a companion of artists such as Hector Lavoe, Celia Cruz, Cheo Feliciano, Ismael Miranda among others arriving to Puerto Rico without an orchestra; then it was later identified and we would know it as Mulenze.

The orchestra was created at a time when salsa was booming and was fortunate to have musicians, composers, and singers of great stature who are currently recognized among which we highlight Cano Estremera (El dueño del soneo) who later joined the Bobby Valentin’s band as a vocalist; In the chorus, singer-songwriter Pedro Arroyo who has contributed several of his compositions to Mulenze; in the piano, we have Andy Guzman and Eric Figueroa, the latter was one of the influencers in the style adopted by the orchestra, practicing a rather sophisticated and little revolutionary rhythm for the public who follows popular music.

Mulenze was one of the first orchestras to use synthesizers in salsa, rhythmically working outside the beat in which the clave pattern is established to give a jazz variation to their music; this innovation that was not widely accepted by the groups established at that time, although this would give respect and an identity of its own to the orchestra with its amazing arrangements.

Edwin Morales known for his first name only in his family circle. But if someone calls himself a salsero, he has to know who Edwin “Mulenze” is.

This bassist of Bayamon, who has performed with the most important exponents of the salsa genre, has written his own page in the history of this musical genre as the founder and director of the Mulenze Orchestra.

“Salsa will not die and I would say that it is in a fulfilling moment. The new orchestras, which are like us when the pillars of salsa were in full swing and we were called the youth orchestra, are carrying out their work very well.

To this is added a group of boys who are taking their dance academies to municipalities and have resurrected the salsa dancer,” said Edwin.

Pedro Brull continues to see him as the official voice of La Mulenze although he left the group in 2005 to start his solo career.

Edwin succeeded in establishing an identity for the orchestra and my singing style flowed really well with his proposal. But after 24 years, I wanted to seize the opportunity to record an album (Pronóstico).

Today I work mostly outside Puerto Rico and have to admit that I am traveling the world thanks to “La Mulenze,” Brull commented.

For the first time in Miami in the framework of his 40th Anniversary this Saturday, September 11, the Orquesta of Eternal Youth “Mulenze” will perform with its original singers Pedro Brull, Kenny Cruz and Rafael “Ito” Andino.

The event will take place in the “Carpa Salsera”, this concert promises to be a huge success because with more than a year and a half without live performances due to the global pandemic caused by the Coronavirus, thanks to the organizers Giovanny Lopera, Lucy Corres, Mauro “El Fantástico”, José “Rumba” and its primary sponsor “El Rancho de Miami”.

 

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A career worthy of admiration 

José Tabares, known as El Caballero del Bajo, is one of those figures that, though not so well known, play a very important role in the performances that have left many generations of lovers of good music breathless. This very talented bass player is not widely recognizable by many people, but without a doubt, his musical career leaves more than one open-mouthed. 

José Tabares was born in Medellín, Colombia, on April 6, 1971, but spent much of his life in the United States, where he arrived while still very young and started taking part in music playing his first guitar, which pointed him in the same direction as his father and brothers, who were also professional musicians. 

At 11, he began standing to take his first steps in the musical world by performing for groups of the time in New Jersey, among which we can mention Los Chéveres de Colombia and Los Apóstoles. He became particularly known for bass, but also showed a great skill to play other instruments such as the bongo, the trombone, and the conga. 

Joined projects and inspirations

One of his great opportunities came when he took the place of one of his brothers on bass in one of the groups with which he collaborated, and it can be said that it was at that moment his professional career with this instrument became more serious. It was from that moment on that many of the greatest luminaries of Latin music began to take him into account for their best shows.   

Celia Cruz, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Tito Nieves, Tito Rojas, La India, Ruben Blades are among the artists with which Tabares has worked. Unquestionably, all these collaborations were golden opportunities that the musician never missed and made him one of the best Latin bassists of today. 

When he has been interviewed, the bassist said that he has been influenced by many other great musicians, from whom he has learned what he knows and whom he has observed closely to get the best out of each of them. Such is the case of Bobby Valentín, whose work has been a very important reference point for the career of Tabares and is the one that inspired him to fully enter the world of salsa. 

We can also mention Carlos Roldan, who became an extremely important reference for the artist due to the so clean way in which he plays his instruments. It was thanks to exponents like this that Tabares was trained on stage in such a great way and raising the name of his native Medellin very high. 

All this inspiration and learning have obviously borne fruit, as the artist has been part of many great musical works which have been nominated and winners of the Latin Music Grammy Awards and a variety of acknowledgments to the effort made. Despite not having such a well-known name, he is still a great pride for salsa and Latin music lovers. It is important not to lose sight of this talented Colombian. 

By: Johnny Cruz correspondent of International Salsa Magazine in New York City, New York

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How her career got started

The family is the fundamental pillar for every human being and decisive for the path of any individual will take in life. A great example of this is Arlene Gonzalez, whose home training has played a key role in the beginning and continuation of her career as a bilingual musician and composer. This New Yorker of Puerto Rican and Ecuadorian ancestry began making a name for herself once she left her homeland and moved to the south of Florida in search of new professional and personal opportunities. 

After moving to her new home, she started a brilliant musical career from the hand of performances and tours in which she always showed the innate talent which has accompanied her in each of her shows. One of her most important collaborations was done with the famous producer and Grammy winner Jon FX. 

One of the reasons why Arlene is best known in the music industry is her great talent as a composer, so she does not need the support or collaboration with anyone else at the time of writing all her works. This is what gave her the push he needed to create her own label Platinum G. Records, so she has not required the support of a record label which in the long run would only limit her as an artist and as a person. 

Achievements and current affairs

This talented American of Latino descent has worked with a large amount of television networks with respect to promotion and presentation of shows that help the emergence of up-and-coming artists in many cities across the country. Likewise, his music is increasingly present in important radio stations as in the case of Wepa FM in Florida or 94.5 FM in New York. 

She has managed to tour in many countries throughout Latin America thanks to his efforts to achieve a prestigious place in the industry. His salsa song Vete became very successful in nightclubs throughout several cities in Panama and a large part of North America, where his music was welcomed with open arms. 

For this year, she will be throwing a tour of Jamaica on a cruise ship in which she will sing her entire repertoire and delight the present ones with hits like Boy toy, Quiero bailar, Illusion, Boriqua somos, and so on. It will be a great opportunity for the artist to improve its visibility with those who have not been able to enjoy her great talent every time she performs any of her incredible songs. 

At this point, she is writing new songs for her latest album, whose predominant genre will be salsa and main single will be the song Tendrán que respetar, which has been a creation of the talented composer José Luis Pagan, who has trusted in the talent of González to try rhythming and become a real piece of work. In addition, the single already has its own videoclip and arrangements made by the famous maestro Oscar Hernandez.   

In contrast to her career as a singer, the New Yorker is about to launch a line of lipstick, demonstrating that she is quite a very skilled entrepreneur in the cosmetics industry. 

This promising figure of music has given a lot to talk about from the beginning, and no mistake, that will continue to do so as long as she enjoyed sucess and delighted everyone with good music as usual.   

By: Johnny Cruz correspondent of International Salsa Magazine in New York City, New York

 

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The magic of a great musician is that he has the key to open your soul.  He takes you to a dimension full of happy emotions, you forget all your pain and troubles and you just dance!  For the Yoruba’s, one of the sons of Obatala, is Changó. He represents strength, virility, drums, music, fire, lightning, dance, justice, the need and joy for living.  If one person was all of that, it was Mr. Johnny Polanco.  Mr. Polanco is dearly remembered by all those whose life he touched.  This June 2nd marks the sixth year of his passing.   Altagracia and Socrates, from Puerto Rico and Santo Domingo were his parents.  They lived in the Bronx in New York.  Socrates was the owner of an auto mechanic shop.  This is probably where Johnny first came into contact with automobile engines.  He developed a passion for working with automobile engines.  Johnny graduated from Alfred E. Smith High School; a school reputed for teaching shops.  It’s very probable that he furthered his knowledge of engines there. His talent grew to engineering levels.  If anyone could fix a problem on an engine, it was Johnny.  All the musicians knew that if there was a problem, it was Johnny who could fix it for them. There’s a story about how DJ Robbie called Johnny at home one such time at around 3:00 am and Johnny got out of bed and went to his aid.   His other passion was music.  Johnny never attended music school.  He mastered a number of instruments, all on his own. Everyone says that around five years of age, he was given a guitar.  But it wasn’t until the age of ten, that he became serious in learning music.  At the age of fourteen, he was already playing with the Steve Colon band. He played with a number of New York groups, Charanga Sensual, Conjunto Saoco to name a few. Johnny had flat feet, but nonetheless in 1979 he enlisted in the United States Marine Corp.  The Marine Corps capitalized on his knowledge of engines and assigned him to the motor pool. His early assignments were in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Parris Island, South Carolina, and Okinawa, Japan. Johnny was a patriotic American who loved and served his country.  Just before enlisting in the service at twenty-four, Marion Gonzalez gave birth to Christopher and three years later to Melody.  In 1980 the marines sent Johnny to the west coast, Camp Pendleton, California. Marion and Johnny married, but their union did not survive. Marion and Johnny had joint custody. Johnny’s visitation turn was usually from Fridays after school to Monday morning, returning them to school.  In 1984 Johnny was playing at the New Porter Inn, in Newport Beach, California.  That night he met Joanna, a lady from Bronx.  They say it was love at first sight.  On January 23, 1987 they married and she remained his companion for the rest of Johnny’s life.  Joanna worked as a Registered Nurse and had two children of her own, Angela and Anthony Wheaton.  They made their home in Lakewood, California, where they had all their four children together on the weekends.  They were fortunate, because the kids all got along well. Some called them the Brady Bunch.

The long full gear marches and Johnny’s flat feet became a problem. In 1987, with the rank of E-5 sergeant, Johnny decided to be a full-time musician and separated from the Marines.  Close to their Lakewood home Johnny took a daytime job working for Mr. Tom Scott a Union 76 service station owner. Johnny stayed with Tom for next six years, when Tom sold in 1992.  The job was conveniently within walking distance of his Lakewood home.

In Hollywood, there was a Vietnam disabled veteran who had been studying business, Armando Castro.  Completing his studies, Armando opened a small restaurant. Although of Nicaraguan origin, Armando decided to serve Cuban food and named the restaurant El Floridita. On Monday nights they started to play Salsa.  Cali Aleman was the first band that played.

In 1993 Orquesta Versatil was playing on Monday nights. It was then that Armando Castro introduced Johnny to the band leader, Carlos Navarro.  At the time Versatil was a popular, strong, well liked band and Johnny fitted right in.  Then things started to happen, the band leader Carlos had to fly to Venezuela, also the arranger Niño Jesus Alejandro went to Canada. So, they held a meeting with Armando.  “mete mano Johnny, put a band together and take over.”  For the next 22 years Johnny played Monday night with his Conjunto Amistad at El Floridita.   Johnny’s band was in demand.

Albert Torres was a consultant and MC to over 50 yearly Salsa Congress’ around the world.  Albert had a lot of connections and started to manage Johnny for some 15 years.  With Albert’s connections the band played in Japan, England, Italy, Spain, China, Thailand, Mexico, Costa Rica to name a few.  Everyone was busy with little time to spare, eventually Johnny started handling his own bookings and the relationship with Albert just disappeared.

In business they always say location, location, location! Nothing could be truer than that for “El Floridita.”  You see folks, this little restaurant in a small strip mall, is just across the street from … Pickford Center.  What’s Pickford Center? It’s the film industry Academy of Arts.  You know the “Oscars!”  The clientele boasted of directors, writers, producers, actors like Patrick Swayze, Jay Leno, Jennifer Lopez, Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall, Mick Jagger, Edward Olmos to name a few.  They didn’t just go there to eat; it was the film industry’s connection to Salsa and the work just poured in.  Johnny played for Hugh Heffner at the Playboy mansion and also the Playboy Jazz Festival. Prince chose Johnny to be his opening act in Las Vegas.  Johnny did the music for countless films (see bio).    When a victorious general was paraded in Rome, above his head, a slave would hold the laurel reave, while at the same time continuously whispering “this too shall pass.” The idea was to keep him grounded. Johnny didn’t need that.  He was a man who saw the injustice in the world and was always looking out for the little guy, the underdog.  He was a man who shared the wealth.  Many remember how Johnny would call them to give their bands work.  To this day many a story is told about how Johnny helped them out.  He was a man who in his car, would carry cat food and milk to feed the strays.  May God bless you in heaven Johnny.  We remember you as a kind man who loved and cared for the poor.   His accomplishments were so many that we created a link for you to view the photos and also his biography of recognitions and accomplishments.

Changó

The magic of a great musician is that he has the key to open your soul.  He takes you to a dimension full of happy emotions, you forget all your pain and troubles and you just dance!  For the Yoruba’s, one of the sons of Obatala, is Changó. He represents strength, virility, drums, music, fire, lightning, dance, justice, the need and joy for living.  If one person was all of that, it was Mr. Johnny Polanco.  Mr. Polanco is dearly remembered by all those whose life he touched.  This June 2nd marks the sixth year of his passing.  Altagracia and Socrates, from Puerto Rico and Santo Domingo were his parents.  They lived in the Bronx in New York.  Socrates was the owner of an auto mechanic shop.  This is probably where Johnny first came into contact with automobile engines.  He developed a passion for working with automobile engines.  Johnny graduated from Alfred E. Smith High School; a school reputed for teaching shops.  It’s very probable that he furthered his knowledge of engines there. His talent grew to engineering levels.  If anyone could fix a problem on an engine, it was Johnny.  All the musicians knew that if there was a problem, it was Johnny who could fix it for them. There’s a story about how DJ Robbie called Johnny at home one such time at around 3:00 am and Johnny got out of bed and went to his aid.
His other passion was music.  Johnny never attended music school.  He mastered a number of instruments, all on his own. Everyone says that around five years of age, he was given a guitar.  But it wasn’t until the age of ten, that he became serious in learning music.  At the age of fourteen, he was already playing with the Steve Colon band. He played with a number of New York groups, Charanga Sensual, Conjunto Saoco to name a few.
Johnny had flat feet, but nonetheless in 1979 he enlisted in the United States Marine Corp.  The Marine Corps capitalized on his knowledge of engines and assigned him to the motor pool. His early assignments were in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Parris Island, South Carolina, and Okinawa, Japan. Johnny was a patriotic American who loved and served his country.  Just before enlisting in the service at twenty-four, Marion Gonzalez gave birth to Christopher and three years later to Melody.  In 1980 the marines sent Johnny to the west coast, Camp Pendleton, California. Marion and Johnny married, but their union did not survive. Marion and Johnny had joint custody. Johnny’s visitation turn was usually from Fridays after school to Monday morning, returning them to school.
In 1984 Johnny was playing at the New Porter Inn, in Newport Beach, California.  That night he met Joanna, a lady from Bronx.  They say it was love at first sight.  On January 23, 1987 they married and she remained his companion for the rest of Johnny’s life.  Joanna worked as a Registered Nurse and had two children of her own, Angela and Anthony Wheaton.  They made their home in Lakewood, California, where they had all their four children together on the weekends.  They were fortunate, because the kids all got along well. Some called them the Brady Bunch.

The long full gear marches and Johnny’s flat feet became a problem. In 1987, with the rank of E-5 sergeant, Johnny decided to be a full-time musician and separated from the Marines.  Close to their Lakewood home Johnny took a daytime job working for Mr. Tom Scott a Union 76 service station owner. Johnny stayed with Tom for next six years, when Tom sold in 1992.  The job was conveniently within walking distance of his Lakewood home.

In Hollywood, there was a Vietnam disabled veteran who had been studying business, Armando Castro.  Completing his studies, Armando opened a small restaurant. Although of Nicaraguan origin, Armando decided to serve Cuban food and named the restaurant El Floridita. On Monday nights they started to play Salsa.  Cali Aleman was the first band that played.

In 1993 Orquesta Versatil was playing on Monday nights. It was then that Armando Castro introduced Johnny to the band leader, Carlos Navarro.  At the time Versatil was a popular, strong, well liked band and Johnny fitted right in.  Then things started to happen, the band leader Carlos had to fly to Venezuela, also the arranger Niño Jesus Alejandro went to Canada. So, they held a meeting with Armando.  “mete mano Johnny, put a band together and take over.”  For the next 22 years Johnny played Monday night with his Conjunto Amistad at El Floridita.   Johnny’s band was in demand.

Albert Torres was a consultant and MC to over 50 yearly Salsa Congress’ around the world.  Albert had a lot of connections and started to manage Johnny for some 15 years.  With Albert’s connections the band played in Japan, England, Italy, Spain, China, Thailand, Mexico, Costa Rica to name a few.  Everyone was busy with little time to spare, eventually Johnny started handling his own bookings and the relationship with Albert just disappeared.

In business they always say location, location, location! Nothing could be truer than that for “El Floridita.”  You see folks, this little restaurant in a small strip mall, is just across the street from … Pickford Center.  What’s Pickford Center? It’s the film industry Academy of Arts.  You know the “Oscars!”  The clientele boasted of directors, writers, producers, actors like Patrick Swayze, Jay Leno, Jennifer Lopez, Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall, Mick Jagger, Edward Olmos to name a few.  They didn’t just go there to eat; it was the film industry’s connection to Salsa and the work just poured in.  Johnny played for Hugh Heffner at the Playboy mansion and also the Playboy Jazz Festival. Prince chose Johnny to be his opening act in Las Vegas.  Johnny did the music for countless films (see bio).
When a victorious general was paraded in Rome, above his head, a slave would hold the laurel reave, while at the same time continuously whispering “this too shall pass.” The idea was to keep him grounded. Johnny didn’t need that.  He was a man who saw the injustice in the world and was always looking out for the little guy, the underdog.  He was a man who shared the wealth.  Many remember how Johnny would call them to give their bands work.  To this day many a story is told about how Johnny helped them out.  He was a man who in his car, would carry cat food and milk to feed the strays.  May God bless you in heaven Johnny.  We remember you as a kind man who loved and cared for the poor.
His accomplishments were so many that we created a link for you to view the photos and also his biography of recognitions and accomplishments.

By: Eduardo Guilarte & Karina Garcia

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