North America

Joe Conzo, Jr. Born and raised in the Bronx, New York

Born and raised in the Bronx, Joe Conzo Jr. develop his passion for photography when he was young while attending the Agnes Russell School on the campus of Columbia University. He continued his formal art education at the School of Visual Arts (New York City).

During his early years, “Joey” witnessed volatile community activism in the South Bronx and the world of Puerto Rican avant-garde arts and music scene in New York. Any day, he could be found nipping at his grandmother’s heels, the late Dr. Evelina Lopez Antonetty (a dynamic leader and passionate activist), who was committed to a defiant act of civil disobedience in favour of the educational rights minorities in the South Bronx.

Other days, he could have been in constant company with his father, Joe Conzo Sr. (confidant and biographer of the late legendary bandleader and musician Tito Puente for a long time), and behind the scenes with the Latin music giants like Machito, Charlie Palmieri, Johnny Pacheco, and Ray Barretto.

These two lived realities will have a profound effect on the way Joey saw his surroundings through the lens of a camera.

He continued his formal art education at the School of Visual Arts (New York City). — Born and raised in the Bronx, Joe Conzo Jr

Coming of age as a young person and budding photographer in the mid-1970s turned out to be a baptism of fire in an unprecedented chapter of the urban decadence in New York. Joey belonged to a generation that had refused to be erased by corrupt politicians and a derogatory education system. His talent had found its place in collective acts of rebellion that reinvented the same world that had them dead. This socio-cultural movement would end up being recognized in the U.S. history books as Hip Hop.

The art, music, dance and aesthetics of his time resulted in a consciousness that challenged the authority and inspired personal battles with silence and hopelessness. There, at its earliest stage, Joey, aka “Joey Kane,” was passionately embracing his role as official photographer in a drama that was taking place. However, every revolution has its casualties and very few get away with it.

After a tumultuous period of substance abuse and homelessness, Joe Conzo Jr. wanted a positive change in his life. He started seeking change step by step With his archive of photographic work preserved with love in boxes by his mother and the members of the legendary Cold Crush Brothers group. His personal reinvention led him into the medical professions, where he eventually received the totile of Nurse. Then later, he joined the New York Fire Department as an emergency medical technician. It was his role as an EMT that led him to the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11, 2001.

On any given day, you could find yourself on the heels of your grandmother, the late Dr. Evelin López Antonetty (a dynamic leader and passionate activist) — Joe Conzo, Jr.

This near-fatal experience of Joe Conzo Jr. during the worst terrorist attacks on U.S. soil reinforced his decision to keep control of his life. Among his life choices, he resumed his stalling relationship with a camera, and found his passion for life from behind the lens again. A few years later, he met American photographer and videographer Henry Chalfant, who was working on the documentary “From Mambo to Hip Hop: A South Bronx Tale”. Chalfant asked Joey for permission to include some of his Cold Crush Brothers images in the film. This collaboration led to a friendship between the two of them that continues today. The documentary received the 2006 ALMA Award in the category of Best Television Documentary.

Source: https://www.amny.com/

Joe Conzo: ‘Born in the Bronx’.

Without the artists able to participate in traditional exhibitions this year, what does BEYOND THE STREETS provide to the art world?

With the disappearance of the traditional rule this year, BTS has been able to think outside the “box” and continue to provide a platform for artists like me to continue to promote and share their work with the public. After the hard blow suffered by the artthis year, BTS continues with very few limits to provide a platform for artists to continue being artists and sharing their work with the world.

What is your contribution to the show?

My contribution to the show is the publication of an expanded version of my book “Born In The Bronx” published the first time in 2007. BTS has become possible for the world to have another chance to own this classic book with 1XRUN, Rock The Bells and Boo-Hooray Gallery.

How have New York artists responded to the world this year?

New York artists are reistant and always look for ways to share their art and support each other.

As a photographer, it is about respecting the art form, their elders and supporting the growing generation. BTS has been that and continues to be that platform for artists all over the world.

As a photographer, it's about respecting the art form and its elders and supporting the younger generation. — Joe Conzo: ‘Born in the Bronx’

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Bella Martinez, the irreverent Salsa writer

Life is fun. Dare to live it

Bella Martínez was born in Puerto Rico. She is a graduate of Natural Sciences from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. She lived in the state of North Dakota as a member of the United States Air Force. She completed her master’s in Health Services Administration and Quantitative Methods at Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

In 2016 she published Schizophrenic: Imaginary Episodes from a Different Life. In 2020 she wrote Insurrecta: Schizophrenic Chronicles of an Indomitable Life from Ediciones Scriba NYC. She maintains contact with her followers through the blog Life is beautiful, dare to live it. Her mission is to inspire Spanish-speaking people around the world to live life to the fullest.

Her writings have been published in several international literary anthologies, including: Divina, la mujer en twenty voices by Ediciones Scriba NYC -awarded at the International Latino Book Awards 2019, in Los Angeles, California- and in various editions of the poetry book Siglema 575, of minimalist poetry, Ediciones Scriba NYC. If you want to know more about Bella, you can do so by visiting Bellamartinezescribe.com or through her pages on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest.

Bella Martinez led a pretty fun life — Bella Martinez, the irreverent Salsa writer

Bella Martinez I lead a pretty funny, sometimes complicated life; although I try every day to simplify it. I’ve even thought that one day I could be a minimalist…. Sure, in my own way; like everything else. I almost forgot to mention that I’m a vegan and a salsa dancer who dances until she collapses.

I should add that I love music that allows me to dance and express what is otherwise impossible to write or draw. In short; I dance salsa, I cook, I write and I dare to face whatever life brings me.

My mission is to inspire Spanish-speaking people around the world to dare to live a unique life because as I titled my blog: “La vida es bella…. Dare to live it”; I believe that life is to be lived the way you want it to be lived, doing good without looking out for others. I invite you to take a look at my blog .

I post about dance, music, beauty, fashion, vegan cooking, literature and everything else I can think of. Well, at least that’s the intention.

As for my narrative; and according to my great friend of always, Dr. Lopez Feliciano: “Through humor, and the narrative of the transgenerational transmission of the tribe, core values such as freedom, truth, integrity and fidelity are exposed.

The schizophrenic chronicles unveil an imaginary world in which cats, heifers, lice, mice are personified; and shoes, brooms, cars, keys and paper dolls are animated. The approach to reality is fantastic spun with ideas of references that are only experienced by an untamed life.”

And I say, “I expose in my memoirs through wacky stories and mocking the harsh daily reality of an ordinary routine; visiting stamps of my memories and nostalgically longing for the peasant activities of my ancestors whom I remember daily. You can’t help but fall in love with my picturesque narrative…”

The memories of Jimmie Morales comes to us from the pen of Puerto Rican writer Bella Martínez. In this new proposal by Martinez, she herself reported that: “it details the memoirs of the conga player who made his way into the world of salsa to become one of the most influential percussionists in the genre he has dedicated his life.”

From the pen of Puerto Rican writer Bella Martínez comes: A Conguero for History, The Memoirs of Jimmie Morales. — Bella Martinez, the irreverent Salsa writer
Life is fun. Dare to live it

The official launch of this daring text in which the author stresses the importance of our music and the influence that Puerto Rican performers have had throughout the history of salsa beyond our shores was on Thursday 19 November 19 2020.

This launch coincided with Puerto Rican’s Day. The list of contributors Bella counted on during drafting included the maestro Willie Rosario, who wrote the prologue, and the most prolific soloist of commercial salsa: Gilberto Santa Rosa, who wrote the introduction and the back-cover text. The virtual presentation of Un conguero para la historia was sponsored and streamed through the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña.

The text is available in paper form through the following links:

Amazon.com – Global:

Un conguero para la historia: Las memorias de Jimmie Morales (Paperback).

Walmart.com:

Un conguero para la historia, Las memorias de Jimmie Morales (Hardcover).

The book is also available at: – Fundación Nacional para la Cultura Popular, Old San Juan – Puerto Rico.

– El Candil Library, Ponce – Puerto Rico

– Laberinto Library, Old San Juan – Puerto Rico

– Pure Sound, Bayamón – Puerto Rico

– RZayas Music, Juana Días – Puerto Rico

– The Bookmark, San Patricio Plaza – Puerto Rico

In the following text, fro-Antillean music researcher and Colombian journalist Robert Téllez Moreno, who is a biographer of Ray Barretto and Willie Rosario, summarizes what the reader will find in the memoirs that the conga player Jimmie Morales shares with his followers through the voice of Bella Martínez:

Percussionist Jimmie Morales was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The son of Puerto Rican parents and owner of a natural talent, he developed an interest in music when as a child he listened to groups such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

As from 1967, Jimmie and his family settled in Puerto Rico, from where his connection with Afro-Caribbean music emerged, after having listened to various Cuban, Puerto Rican and New York conga players such as Ray Barretto, Patato Valdez, Candido Camero, Mongo Santamaria, Johnny ‘Dandy’ Rodriguez, Milton Cardona and Eddie Montalvo, among others.

His first approach to the instrument occurred when his neighbor, Rubén Beltrán allowed him to play congas at his home. Later, he joined the youth group ‘La Justicia’ , with which he began to work permanently, while having his own instrument given away by his father.

After three years of work with ‘La Justicia’, Jimmie Morales joined Beto Tirado’s ‘La Predilecta’, in which he remained until he joined Tito Allen’s orchestra to work as a conga player until 1978, when he received an invitation from the maestro Willie Rosario, ‘Míster Afinque’, to join his orchestra in place of Papo Pepín.

According to Jimmie Morales, during those eight consecutive years, he lived his most formative stage, and what he considers his “formal training in the music industry”. This happened when he was a member of Willie Rosario’s orchestra, which was one of the greatest institutions of the salsa movement.

With Willie Rosario’s orchestra Jimmie Morales participated in the productions: ‘El Rey del ritmo’, ‘El de a 20 de Willie’, ‘The Portrait of a Salsa Man’, ‘Atízame el fogón’, ‘The Salsa Machine’, ‘Nuevos Horizontes’, ‘Afincando’ and ‘Nueva Cosecha’.

In 1986, Jimmie Morales joined Gilberto Santa Rosa’s nascent orchestra ‘El Caballero de la Salsa’, participating in multiple recordings and traveling the world.

At the same time, Morales began an impressive career as a top-level studio musician. He received credit for hundreds of recordings of such artists as: Lalo Rodríguez, Oscar León, Paquito Guzmán, Eddie Santiago, David Pabón, Héctor Tricoche, Edgard Joel, Marvin Santiago, Tito Rojas, Rey Ruiz, Ismael Miranda and Frankie Ruiz, the latter, with this latter he participated in all his solo albums.

As an accompanying musician, Jimmie Morales has appeared as an accompanying musician on hundred of recordings of great figures such as: Willie Colón, Ismael Miranda, Juan Luis Guerra, Tito Nieves and Jerry Rivera, among many others.

In 2010, as a leader of his own proyect, Jimmie Morales released ‘El Tumbao’ with the songs “Píntate Los Labios María” popularized by Cuban guitarist of the Buena Vista Social Club Elíades Ochoa and arranged Louis Cruz, who was Ray Barretto’s pianist in the 70s. The recording also includs “The Continental”, a jazz standard, arranged by seasoned José Madera, who was percussionist and arranger for Tito Puente’s orchestra for more than 30 years.

Recently, Jimmie Morales has contributed with his talent to the recordings: ’40… y contando en vivo desde Puerto Rico’ by Gilberto Santa Rosa, an album that captures one of the most emotional nights of the recent tour of the ‘Caballero de la Salsa’ and ‘Opus’, the eighth album by singer Marc Anthony, and recorded at Art House Society and Criteria Studios in Miami under the direction of multi-Grammy Award winning pianist and producer Sergio George.

Jimmie Morales, continues his commitment to music, from the area of pedagogy, sharing his experience and knowledge through workshops and clinics provided to young people from different countries, who have a genuine interest in music.

Bella Martínez: Amazon

Bella Martinez, the irreverent Salsa writer

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Understanding the music business

By: Eduardo Guilarte.

Why are so many artists broke

The mystifying extravagant language of music disseminates passions in a land the written word has never known. Music fulfills two major human needs, the need for self-identity, and to be accepted, to belong. Freud- “adopting the model of another is the psychological process of Self-Identity”. That T-shirt with “Rolling Stones,” is broadcasting “these are my values” does anyone out there feel the same?

Music identifies and defines our values. When music is sold, there’s a lot more being sold. Your values are what is sold. Your musical selection makes you predictable. Madison Avenue advertising was excited, with needs there are opportunities. Not much different than “sex sells.” Well, music sells.

The merchants learned the art & science of anchoring. Take the Pepsi / Michael Jackson commercial. Story says, that Pepsi offered Michael $15 million dollars for a commercial. However, Michael set conditions. He refused to tell people to drink Pepsi, wouldn’t hold the product in his hands, the product could not appear in the same frame as Michael. Pepsi agreed to all the conditions. Michael appeared performing, followed by series of fade in and out. Michael never appeared in the same frame with Pepsi. The commercial was a resounding success, shot with Michael Jackson performing, then a series of fades-in/out.

Technology is changing music

Technology is constantly changing industry and the world. Look at taxis. A New York taxi medallion was selling for $250,00 to $500,000, then Uber happened. An application with a better formula. Uber gave better security, women could work as drivers, no exchange of money, work the hours you choose, response time greatly reduced, and a great contributor to the reduction of unemployment.

Another example of technology at work are applications like Shazam, Sound hound, Hound, Spot search. You hear a song playing and you want to know the name and artists. Apart from giving you the information for free, what it is really doing is gathering data for the industry. These apps are really telling the industry who and what is popular with the people. It’s a guide to very current trends.

The dot com era revolutionized the music industry. In 1999, Shawn Fanning and Sean Parker, developed MP3 file sharing. Napster, with 80 million users taught a new way of consuming music. Universal, Warner and Sony who control 80% of western music were furious. Lawsuits were filed, arguing copyright infringement and pirating. Although a 9^th circuit Federal judge blocked Napster, the door was now open. Through that door entered Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Deezer, You Tube Music, Pandora, Google Music and others with music streaming services.

First equipment for entertainment — record player, television and radio

There has always been a music industry. The 20^th century invention of the radio, television and record player redefined the industry. Those inventions became the start of what we call today the music industry. A multi-billion-dollar industry. Commercializing music is very different from being a minstrel. Two very different animals.

The world’s leading contemporary music institution, recommends that if you want to go into the music business, you take a year off and study the “business.” ICE, Institute for Creative Entrepreneurship at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, offers online or on campus programs to learn the business. Berklee College phone +1617 266-1400.

It’s an understatement when they say that “how the music industry works and how the money is distributed, is very hard to understand.” Publications on the subject are:

All you need to know about the Music Business by Donald S Passman, top music attorney Harvard Law. Reputed to know his business but he doesn’t go into music streaming which is what happens now.
Music Money and Success by Jeffrey Brabec & Todd Brabec, twins, tracs the flow of money, using real examples. Not an easy read but it goes in depth. Todd was executive VP for ASCAP for more than 30 years
Artist Management for the music business by Paul Allen, as the importance of labels diminishes, the manager’s role is more important.
Hit Men: Power Brokers and Fast Money Inside the Music Business by Fredaic Dannen, it has become the unofficial history of the pop music business. Journalist who investigated the behind-the-scenes activity of the major labels in the 70’s and 80’s. Reporting excess, greed, ruthless practices, struggle for money and power and bitter rivalries between biggest labels at the height of the industry. However, he is heavily criticked by former CBS head Walter Yetnikoff.

The first order of business is understanding the elements that go into making a song. Author of the lyrics, composer of the music. A trademark is not a copyright. Examples of what you can copyright are novels, poems, photographs, movies, lyrics to a song, musical compositions in the form of sheet music, sound recordings, paintings and more, like software code for a website or code for an application.

Once the work is created you acquire rights, often referred to as the bundle of rights. They are the right to:

To reproduce including phonorecords, physical or digital format
Prepare derivative works based on the original
Distribute and sell copies of the work, or rent, lease or transfer ownership.
To perform the work
To display
Audio transmission publicly or digital

These rights are yours regardless of filing a copyright. However, you should copyright the song. 17 U.S. Code §106 is where you will find the copyright law that talks about the bundle of rights that the bill gives to copyright owners. At www.Copyright.gov you can create an online account and register your song. A publisher promotes the song, gets it added to musical libraries, pitches it film, radio, television, etc.

Copyritht

Anyone who uses your work, including streaming, must pay mechanical royalties. So, who will collect the royalties for you? Performance Rights Organizations/Societies are tasked with getting you your money. ASCAP, BMI, PRS, SOUND EXCHANGE, Descarga.com, Kobalt Music are some of the PRO’s.

In the United States the government has predetermined mechanically the royalties. Any artist can record your song under the law of “compulsory licenses.” They must put the author on notice of intent and pay the royalties. As an example Simon Diaz wrote and composed “Caballo Viejo.” Many artists recorded their own versions, like Roberto Torres, Celia Cruz, Ray Conniff, Ruben Blades, and Placido Domingo. Simon Diaz

The power of the major labels usually dictated who became a star and who got sent home. Not always though, we hear that Shakira auditioned for Sony and was told to go home, that she didn’t know how to sing. They also passed on “The Beatles” losing an incredible fortune. It was common for artists to throw themselves at the feet of the labels signing predatory contracts.

We hear of advance money being paid if the artist signed. These were contracts that indicated 15% of the record sales to the artist and the other 85% to the label. However, the contracts had clauses in which the artist sold the ownership copyrights, and agreed to pay many costs, which resulted in the 15% being reduced beyond zero, resulting in an artist in debt.

How money moves in contracts — Flow Chart

Historically Major Labels have had the funds to commercialize new talent and pay advances. Yet, technology is again making changes and opening new doors to the artists. Artists are using Social Media to create a following for their music. Kobalt is the world’s leading independent music services company. Founded by Swedish musician Willard Ahdritz, Founder & CEO who says that old model is on the way out. Kobalt was ahead with its technology. In 2017 it reported representing over 25,000 songwriters, 600 publishers, and 20,000 independent artists. On average over 40% of the top 100 songs both in US and UK. Kobalt’s global technology platform is uniquely able to track and collect royalties for the billions of micro-payments per song in digital music today [email protected]

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“Vuelve conmigo” the new song by Enyel CO

Enyel Co

Salsa is a genre that never goes out of style, especially in Latin America, where new songs salsa songs are coming out constantly and they hit the radios of a lot of countries, and although there are many established artists in the salsa genre, there are others, that despite not having immense popularity in comparison to others, they surely emerge in a promising way, showing that their valuable potential is worth paying attention to; this is the case of Enyel Co.

Enyel Co is a Dominican singer whose musical career is starting, although, it is worth mentioning that in the year 2000 he was part of a Puerto Rican salsa group called “selección perfecta” (Perfect Selection), this while he was in the state of Massachusetts in the United States. It is pretty clear that his taste for the salsa genre gradually led him to start thinking in creating his own music. Although he has a lot of experience in multiple musical genres, Enyel Co has currently decided to lean towards salsa, the genre with which he is surely most familiar.

Enyel CO New song — Enyel CO’s New Song “Vuelve COnmigo”

‘Vuelve conmigo’ (come back with me)

Despite the fact that the base on which the salsa songs are created is similar, the trends tend to constantly vary over time, this is what makes new artists with different rhythms emerge, always trying to adapt to the times, so that they can please the audience. This is the case of the new song by Enyel Co: Come back with me, a song where he shows the talent that he owns.

The song is under the label of “tumbao media productions”. The influence that the great salsa masters had on Enyel is evident, listening to the sound of “vuelve conmigo” is enough to realize it. On the other hand, as the title suggests, the song lyrics are about missing a person and wanting her to come back after being away from him. It could be considered a romantic song.

Although the artist has performed the song years ago, it is in January 2021 that the single has been officially released. Enyel himself has published the news about it on his Facebook profile, inviting all his followers to read an article about the song releasing; this article not only talks about the song and Enyel as a musician but also ensures that the Dominican is currently working on a second single that is said to be out soon.

Enyel Co has previously played the song at some events, thus gaining valuable stage experience; plus, he has also shared the stage with other internationally recognized artists, such as the Latin Grammy nominees Chiquito Team Band, a group that for many years has gained much relevance in the salsa scene.

A lot of artists are emerging with new ideas that contribute something different to the salsa genre, so it is worth keeping an eye on these, after all, they can become important exponents of salsa in the future.

Vuelve conmigo is now available to the public, so if you want to enjoy the song you just have to do a quick YouTube research.

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Johnny Pacheco founder of the Fania All Stars says goodbye

This Monday Cuqui Pacheco announced the news

Johnny Pacheco, one of the great Latin musicians, died this Monday, February 15 at the Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, New Jersey because of pneumonia, which he had already suffered for several days and for which he was hospitalized. Called one of the creators of salsa, Johnny left this world at 85 years of age, but his legacy will live forever not only in the hearts of Latinos, but also in the history of music.

A short statement was released by what is now his widow María Elena “Cuqui” Pacheco and the rest of his relatives:

“With great pain in my soul and an emptiness in my heart I inform you that the teacher Johnny Pacheco with much peace passed away this afternoon. Thank you so much for all the prayers from him and all the love you always gave him. At this time we ask for privacy and prayers. “

There were and still are many reactions around the departure of the founder of Fania. Salseros around the world have mourned the news and many musicians who in one way or another knew Johnny have expressed their sadness:

Rubén Blades published on his Facebook account: “I just received information indicating that Dominican Johnny Pacheco, flutist, arranger, composer and leader of the group “Las Estrellas de Fania”, has just moved “al otro barrio”. At 85 years of age, Pacheco leaves us an important musical legacy, represented by all the collaborations that he made during his distinguished career, with figures like Celia Cruz … To his family and loved ones we send our condolences . Have a good trip Johnny and “Simá!”

On his part, Marc Anthony took to Instagram to dedicate these words to him: “Teacher of Teachers and my good friend! Rest in peace! You were there for me from day 1. Your sense of humor was contagious and I am forever grateful for your support, for the opportunity to be in your presence and for your amazing legacy. “

Maelo Ruiz also left his words: “Today a giant left us ? We regret his physical disappearance! Thank you maestro Johnny Pacheco for everything you did for salsa, you left an insurmountable legacy for future generations! God receive you in heaven ? #QEPD #Rip #JohnnyPacheco #FaniaAllStars ”

Puerto Rican Victor Manuelle also used Instagram to remember Johnny: “Thank you teacher. I had the honor of honoring you in life. Your legacy will not die. Your music will live forever in our hearts. We are going to miss you, Master Pacheco. R.I.P.”

And another was El Caballero de la Salsa Gilberto Santa Rosa: “Today Salsa and music in general are in mourning. One of the pioneers, creative genius and in my personal case an exquisite person said goodbye … Rest in peace master Johnny Pacheco.”

And these are just an example of the many reactions that Latin musicians left when they heard the news. Johnny Pacheco definitely left his mark and a legacy that was difficult to emulate, but which gave the foundation to one of the most listened to genres in the world, of which Latin America is extremely proud.

The incredible career of Johnny Pacheco

Juan Azarías Pacheco Knipping was born on March 25, 1935 in the city of Santiago de los Caballeros in the Dominican Republic. His father was Rafael Azarías Pacheco and thanks to him his love for music arises since he was a clarinetist and a famous conductor. On his part, his mother was Octavia Knipping Rochet, who brought Pacheco a mixture of cultures, since she was the granddaughter of a French colonizer and great-granddaughter of a German merchant who married a Dominican woman of Spanish family.

Johnny moved to New York with his family at the age of 11, where he continued his studies, especially music, managing to enter the prestigious Juilliard School to study percussion. In 1960 he founded his first band: Pacheco y su charanga, after working in several Latin bands. With this band Pacheco achieves success by signing with Alegre records, and presenting a dance rhythm which he called the pachanga, in this way he becomes a star touring the United States, Europe, Asia and of course Latin America.

La Fania first started out as a record label, with a partner who was not thought to be interested in Latin music Jerry Masucci, a former policeman who became a lawyer, but fell in love with this music on a trip he made to Cuba. This foundation occurred in 1964, between Harlem and the Bronx where the productions were sold from the trunks of their cars. But the Fania legacy was only taking its first steps by giving an urban touch to Latin music using the term salsa to sell its releases.

With Pacheco, Fania achieved a new rhythm based on the existing ones of Caribbean music, especially the Cuban son, but by putting a faster tempo. One of the things that stood out in Fania’s music was the lyrics, which were used to talk about somewhat sensitive issues, from racism to the political problems of the time, without neglecting pride in their Latino origins.

During the ‘60s and ‘70s, Fania had under its wing many singers who today are considered the best in Latin music and the promoters of the salsa genre: Héctor Lavoe, Willie Colón, Celia Cruz, Rubén Blades to name a few, not counting the musicians who have been part of the band that accompanied the stars in their presentations. Practically the Fania All Stars became the school of many musicians.

Fania Records was called the Motown of salsa, becoming a music powerhouse, which led his band the Fania All Stars to tour around the world filling arenas and selling many records. Featuring never-before-seen collaborations such as Willie Colón, one of the best salsa composers, with Rubén Blades, a lyricist focused on the social part. Hector Lavoe was also a cult singer who made music history but whose career was very short and was marked by addiction problems which led to an early death at 46 years old.

During the ‘80s, Fania saw its end when facing many problems due to royalties and lawsuits, working with many artists was not easy and at that time there were many dark moments focused on addictions and monetary problems. In 2005 Fania returned to the spotlight as Emusica bought their catalog that was getting lost in a warehouse in Hudson, New York. Many hits were remastered and re-released in 2006.

Johnny Pacheco will always be remembered as the father of salsa, who with Fania managed to leave his mark on Latin music, rest in peace maestro.

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