North America

Great conversation with New York singer Ralphy Ray

All about Ralphy Ray

Ralphy Ray is a New York songwriter and vocalist who spent a lot of his childhood in Barranquilla until he went to Miami to seek new horizons for his personal and professional life. As well as the vast majority of Latin artists who have found their way little by little, he has a very interesting story to tell to all his audience.

Ralphy Ray was born in New York, but grew up in Barranquilla

In International Salsa Magazine, we have been very interested in his story, so we decided to contact him and both he and his manager and friend John Caicedo have been very open to all the communication we did. Here are the issues we touched on during the conversation.

How his childhood influenced his music

Ralphy Ray was born in the United States, but his parents decided to return to Barranquilla when he was six years old, so he studied his primary and secondary in Colombia.

It is there where his interest in music began due to the great diversity of rhythms heard in that country such as vallenato, salsa, merengue, champeta and much more. What most got his attention to this branch of art was a certain group of tropical artists who aparked his love for this great profession to which he would dedicate his life.

When he turned nine years old, he began to study accordion for a short time, as he began to focus his mind on other areas such as singing and ballads. Whenever events were held at school, he was always included or he himself signed up to participate in them, so this curiosity for music continued to grow as the years went by.

His move to Miami

His move to Miami was due to personal reasons at first, since his uncle lived in that city and offered him to go live with him and count on his support once he decided to move to the United States definitely.

Today he says that it was one of the best decisions he could make in the professional field, as he had the opportunity to communicate and interact with local and very important groups in the industry, that’s when he met John Caicedo, who is now his manager and one of his greatest friends since then.

Now Ralphy lives in Miami, which has been very important in his carrer — Now Ralphy Ray lives in Miami, which has been very important in his carrer

He also began to interact and sing with great artists such as Celia Cruz, Eddie Santiago, Rey Ruiz, Luis Enrique, José Alberto ”El Canario” and many more. That is what has given him the experience he has today and made him take the risk of pursuing a solo career with his own style.

Solo career

Ralphy Ray was part of Los Babies De La Salsa, Los Hijos de La Arenosa, Grupos K-Oba, Sonora Carruseles, among others. When asked how he felt about the moment to launch as a soloist, he told us that the experience acquired with the aforementioned artists gave him the confidence he needed to take such an important step.

This decision was made in 2001, which is when he began to record solo. This path began with the single ”Mírala” of his own authorship.

Learning from other artists

Something Ralphy Ray says he has learned from all the artists he has worked with is discipline and the importance of being focused on what he does. Similarly, he also pointed out that you should never stop learning or mastering the technique needed to find the best version of yourself. ‘

‘The artists with whom I shared the stage taught me to give the best of myself at all times and to always be prepared to offer our talent with love and respect to the public”.

As far as things tat he advises not to do, he says that he has seen many artists being overwhelned by stress, fights and inconveniences. He points out that you have to know how to handle all these details and situations in front of the public no matter how difficult it could seem.

”There are also other cases in which some artists end up having friendships and relationships that are not good for them, which can lead them to lose their career and even their life. Many turn to drugs and other vices, but you always have to try to stay away from all that and focus on your own career” said the artist.

He also had memorable experiences and his conversations with Celia Cruz were very meaningful to him. ”La Guarachera de Cuba” always had good advice for new talents such as professionalism, punctuality, good physical image, vocal technique, among other details. ”I had great respect for Celia and I always keep in mind all the advice she gave me” he concluded on this topic.

Es El Amor

When we wanted to know the ins and outs of his latest single ”Es El Amor”, he told us that it is part of a group of songs presented to him by a great friend and colleague.

He said to have fallen in love with the lyrics because they are very romantic and do not degrade women, in fact, they speak of a feeling that is being lost in the world: love. ”I want to let my fans and people who follow me know that we must always go with love and live in that beautiful story” said the artist.

As for the music video, he said he chose the beaches of Miami as the location to record his material because of the beauty of the place and that was what he wanted to show to the public. Besides, this city has been very important in his career and he thinks it is one of the most beautiful in the United States.

Producer, film director and actor Jess Thomas

From actor to director

Jess Thomas is a producer, film director and actor whose academic background is centered at San Francisco State University and work speaks for itself as to his talent. Once he made the decision to move to Los Angeles, he started making occasional appearances as an actor and stuntman in some television series. As a director, he has written about seven scripts and plunged into the world of broadcast engineering for various television networks such as FOX and ABC.

Producer, film director and actor Jess Thomas

We had the opportunity to talk to Mr. Thomas to know many more details about his career and we were pleasantly surprised with the receptivity of the talented filmmaker and his wife and producing partner Anayancy Thomas. Below, we’ll talk a bit about his beginnings, recognitions and his most recent film ”God & Salsa”.

How his interest in film began

Thomas tells us that she had a fascination for the world of entertainment since she was very young, as both his parents were always related to the arts one way or another. His father Jess Thomas Senior was an opera singer, while his mother Bettye Wright was a dancer and model. This family background led him to venture into all this at a very early age and the best example is the creation of super-eight films (film format in which eight-millimeter wide film is used) in high school.

He recalls that he had to produce a 60-page assignment for his history class, but his teacher allowed him to produce a short film instead. The grade was an A on that assignment and the teacher was so delighted that he showed the tape to the rest of his classmates and put him as a great example of creativity in cases like this. This is how a very young Jess already felt that his destiny would follow this same path for the rest of his life.

Anayancy Thomas, Jess Thomas' wife and producing partner — Anayancy Thomas, Jess Thomas’ wife and producing partner

Beginnings as an actor

He took his first steps in this profession as an actor and thought that this was the branch to which he wanted to dedicate himself definitively, but over time he discovered that writing, directing and producing were much more appealing to him. Jess found that he enjoyed joining the pieces together to take a film from a script to a screen much more than simply acting on it.

However, the filmmaker acknowledges that having acted allows him to communicate much more effectively and empathetically with the actors in his productions, as he understands the language of acting perfectly.

The Seeker

His first work as a director was the documentary ”The Seeker”, which tells the story of a quadriplegic who embarks on a journey on a motorcycle adapted to his disability and won in the category of Best American Documentary at the Rome International Film Festival. On this subject, Jess told us that the plot of the film was not his idea, but that of his friend Evan Somers, who stated his intentions to create a material that would raise awareness about this type of disability.

The idea of following him around the country on a motorcycle (designed by Somers himself) so much that he put all his efforts into learning all about the struggles of his friend, which led Somers to hire him as producer and director for a film about his story. They spent a month shoting the scenes and always something special and unexpected happened as the days went on.

Poster advertising ''The Seeker'' — Poster advertising ”The Seeker”

Although they cannot be sure that everything would go as they planned, the result of the recordings spoke for themselves. In reviewing the tapes, they realized that they were getting something truly beautiful and completely spontaneous, as there was absolutely unscripted or unprepared by the team in charge of making the material.

In the end, they simply had to honor it in the editing room and sew all the pieces come together in a single masterpiece.

God & Salsa

Her most recent film work ”God & Salsa” has given much to talk about since its release in 2022. It all started when Jess met his now wife and producing partner Anayancy Thomas at an Entertainment Ministry event hosted by the church where they both attended. She told him she had plans to make a documentary about the negative impact that divorce can have on both children and parents in the long run, which Jess loved because his parents divorced when he was a child.

This event represented a before and after in his life during his adolescence, which made him develop certain behaviors and conducts that were destroying him, such as anger, lethargy, drug addiction, alcoholism, among others. In view of their shared the taste for this subject, they came together to make a feature film in which they would develop this point through characters who had these same experiences in the most natural way possible.

Javier Luna, who plays Shane in ''God & Salsa'' — Javier Luna, who plays Shane in ”God & Salsa”

Although it is fiction, Thomas made it clear that there were several elements that had much to do with him and Anayancy herself, who began taking salsa classes to distract herself from various negative aspects of her life in those years through the use of the body and the mind required by the dance discipline. In fact, her teachers, Enio and Terryl, appear in the film and are part of the cast.

During all this time, there was a very special feeling between the two, so they ended up falling in love and got married shortly thereafter. 10 years later, they have a finished feature film, which premiered in October 11, 2022 in the United States and will soon be distributed in Latin America and the rest of the world. ”Our greatest inspiration for this project is the duty to use our pain to help others overcome theirs” said the director.

How the cast and soundtrack were chosen

When we wanted to know how the cast of ”God & Salsa” was chosen, he revealed that they shot a short film with the purpose of knowing how the movie would look like. It was also intended to serve as a proof of concept and a means to raise funds so we could create the feature film the way they wanted to.

Jovanna Vidal, who plays Raquel in ''God & Salsa'' — Jovanna Vidal, who plays Raquel in ”God & Salsa”

”We put out a casting call through the Backstage platform, since our search was not focused on well-known actors, but on emerging talents avid of opportunities to shine. That is how we managed to find Javier Luna and Jovanna Vital, who did such a wonderful job that we decided to use them for the feature film. The other roles were assigned to people we already knew or had worked with previously, even if they didn’t have a lot of acting experience,” he continued.

As for the film’s soundtrack, the director told us that they focused their attention on local salsa bands and composers. Enio, Anayancy’s aforementioned dance teacher, recommended Carlos Navarro and his orchestra Son Y Clave, which has played in many of the best local and foreign clubs. Once we listening to them, we loved the sound, so we involved him in the project from the beginning of the proof of concept. Both Carlos and his musicians appear in some scenes showing all their talent.

They also used some of the music composed by Stephen Giraldo and Voodoo Tracks Music Publishing.

Jess Thomas, Anayancy Thomas, and Carlos Navarro

facebook.com/Godandsalsathefilm/

Rolando Sanchez

USA / Hawaii / Honolulu

Rolando Sanchez: Percussionist, Singer, Composer, Producer and leader is the best selling Latin American artist in Hawaii

Rolando Sanchez Percussionist – Singer – Songwriter – Producer, leader of Hawaii’s Premiere, longest running, bestselling Latin recording artist from Hawaii.

In this Site you will experience the history and achievements of this musical Family called “SALSA HAWAII” for over 20-years, performing, recording, touring and just sharing the love and ALOHA of our Latin Music Wolrdwide.

With CDs sold Worldwide and the number of awards and accolades from press, government, musical organizations, community organizations, locally, nationally and Internationally.

HONOLULU TROPICAL

Celebrating 20 years of Latin Music in Hawaii Rolando Sanchez Salsa Hawaii Singer, Songwriter, Percussionist (timbales-congas-bongos-drums) Recording Artist, and Producer. Born in Masaya, Nicaragua, to a musical, artistic family; his father, an accomplished songwriter, pianist, and singer.

His mother also played piano and sang as with most of his immediate family. His musical influence began at a very young age playing drums with neighbourhood kids emanating the music of the time (i.e.: Beatles, Trini Lopez, Paul Anka, etc.).

In his early teens he began listening to more Latin music styles, which formed the basis for his music today. The bands that influenced him at the time were Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Billo’s Caracas Boys, Sonora Matanzera, Sonora Santanera, Daniel Santos, and a Nicaraguan band Los Satelites del Ritmo.

Rolando Sanchez playing drums in concert

In the late 60s, the family relocated to San Francisco, California where he grew up and truly realized that music was to be his life. The music scene in the Bay Area at this time was very diverse. He delved in all the different styles.

During that time, Latin music was beginning to blossom and all kinds of Latin-style bands such as The Aliens, Latin Bloods, Los Beamers, Bandido, Unidad 77, and Limbo began to play in and around the Bay Area.

Cesar’s Club was THE place to be to experience the best Latin musicians (Pete and Coke Escovedo, Roger Glenn, Luis Gazca, Pablo Telles, Victor Pantoja, performing live.

That’s when Rolando Sanchez realized his passion for Latin music and particularly Timbales. Then it happened! Santana Band came out and proved to be the biggest inspiration for all Latin musicians in the Bay Area (the world) including Rolando. It seemed that Latin bands were coming out of the woodwork: Azteca, Malo, Sapo, Dakila, and Salsa De Berkeley to name a few. He played with different bands in San Francisco’s Latin music scene and shortly thereafter, decided it was time to start his own band called SOLAR; they played a mixture of Latin rock and Latin jazz fusion

Rolando Sanchez and his brother Mario (still playing congas with Bay Area bands) were also some of the guys hanging out at Dolores Park in the Mission District playing congas and timbales along with such notables as Raul Rekow, Karl Perazzo, Chepito Areas, Carlos Badia, John Santos, and many other well-known Bay Area Latin percussion artists of today.

His band gained popularity and started playing the circuit where he met and befriended such artists as Pete and Sheila E. and Master Armando Peraza who helped develop his affinity for percussions.

While playing in the Bay Area, SOLAR was billed with bands like Azteca, Azuquita, Sapo, Cal Tjader, Cesar’s All-Star Band, Willie Bobo, and others.

After their break-up, he formed the band SUNSMOKE together with his uncle, Freddie Velasquez, who had just returned to the Bay Area from touring the country with the Phil Driscoll Band. SUNSMOKE quickly became well-known in the Bay Area and they toured the west coast and Canada where they opened for blues master B.B. King and performed at the Canadian Rock Festival with bands from all over the world.

After a couple of very busy years, including recording some demos for major record labels, they broke up and Rolando spent some time in Los Angeles checking out the music scene there. Upon returning to the Bay Area, he joined MESSIAH, one of the hottest Funk/Gospel/Rock/Disco bands. Their single, “Get up on Your Feet and Dance”, became a hit in the International disco scene. MESSIAH then went on to Japan where they enjoyed instant success and toured for 4 months. Shortly after their return, the band broke up and the Rolando Sanchez Band was born. Composing and writing his own material, Rolando released his first single cassette with two original songs, “She’s the Lady” and “Cold Hearted Woman”.

She’s the Lady” was made into a music video shown on local stations on both east and west coasts at the very beginning of the MTV movement. It featured some of the Bay Area’s nest musicians including vocalist Jo Baker (Elvin Bishop Band). After being in the Bay Area for nearly 20 years, Rolando felt the need for a change of pace in his life. In 1984, he visited his sister in Hawaii and the rest, as they say, is history.

Not long after arriving in Honolulu, Rolando decided to make it his home and the place where he would throw his musical fate to the wind.

His very first musical engagement in Honolulu was at the Waikiki

Shell with one of Hawaii’s hottest singer/songwriters of that year, Mr. Audy Kimura, in celebration of 25 Years of Statehood. This made it all the more clear to him that he was in the right place.

Good initiatives must be shared!

North America - United States - New York

We were taking the Salsa exhibition to Puerto Rico for the I Encuentro de Coleccionistas de Salsa, we made an exhibition of the clothing, records and instruments used by the Fania All Star orchestra, Tito Puente, Héctor Lavoe, Adalberto Santiago, the Gran Combo and others. For the first time, the last “tuxedo” that Tito Puente used in his participation with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico was exhibited.

Spanish Harlem Salsa Music Gallery, offered an exhibition and Master Class on the history of Salsa at the Escuela Especializada en Música Jesús T. Piñero in Cidra, Puerto Rico. We transported ourselves to Puerto Rico in search of an opportunity to publicize the Salsa Museum-Gallery in New York.

This is part of the efforts being made for the participation and dedication that is made to the people of Cidra in the Desfile Nacional Puertorriqueño 2020 and that is locally coordinated by the Patronato Cidreño along with other civic and professional organizations.

We were able to benefit hundreds of students at this school who are precisely focused on music. The knowledge offered in the three conferences and being able to closely observe the exhibition helped to foster the enthusiasm of the students who make up the campus, unique in the mountains of Puerto Rico, dedicated to the creation of good musicians and knowledgeable in musical art.

We are dedicated to enhancing Latin music and offering spaces focused on arts education, accessible and friendly to the community as a strategic partner.

I thank valuable people such as Laura Torres, Silkia Vázquez, Wilson Nazario and Wilfrido Torres “Puruco” for all the attention and teamwork that we were able to develop during our visit. I cannot stop also thanking my assistant in Puerto Rico, Carmen Cruz; and to Joseph Cruz for his magnificent and beautiful work with me during this pleasant experience.

I also take advantage of this space in International Salsa Magazine because I want to tell you about an artist and a great friend who is doing his best for music and Salsa. Without a doubt, Yova Rodríguez is a long-standing professional who has developed countless projects and initiatives to support those who need it most. With his music, his work and his human quality, he has reached many hearts from New York.

Geovanni “Yova” Rodríguez Ruiz, born in Puerto Rico, had a musical inspiration since he was a child, his uncle Antonio “Toño” Ruiz – his mother’s uncle who played the cuatro – was his first music teacher (melody) and his uncle José Antonio “Pipo” Ruiz Crespo -mama’s younger brother- taught him how to sing aguinaldos (lyrics); and with this they formed the solid foundations that encouraged little Yova to prepare himself accordingly for his foray into the musical world.

The celebration of the Promesa de Reyes, a celebration in which he participated with his mother at his short seven years, leads him to worry about creating and recreating aguinaldos to be interpreted each year, which in some way becomes the seed of composer that we know today.

At the age of 14, he attended the Escuela Libre de Música Ernesto Ramos Antonini in Mayagüez, hand in hand with piano teacher César Toro, rising as vocal leader of the Orchestra after a year.

Years later he gave himself the task of forming his own musical concept, and thus Sakao Aká was born. This orchestra was in charge of accompanying singers such as Camilo Azuquita, Ray de la Paz, Pupy Cantor and Herman Olivera in their presentations in Puerto Rico; and the cover letter for some of these singers to integrate Yova as a chorus girl in their presentations in various countries in Central and South America.

At the end of the 90s, on a trip to Cuba, he was impacted by the music of Fernando Borrego Linares, better known as Polo Montañez, to the point that, some years later upon learning of his death, he had the idea of paying tribute to him, his musical reference, thus giving birth to the idea for her debut feature Homenaje a Polo Montañez (2005), a production of 10 songs by Montañez, and covered by Yova Rodríguez with the participation of renowned musicians from the patio such as Herman Olivera, Héctor “Pichie ”Pérez, Papo Lucca, Edwin“ Caneca ”Rosas, Edwin Colón Zayas, among others.

In 2008, like many of her compatriots, Yova prepares her luggage and heads to the southern United States, where she stays for two years and then moves to New York, a city that has become her center of operations and from where He has extended his working ties as a composer and where he records his next two productions.

The album Letras, canciones y sueños, musical work of 8 songs all written by Yova, comes to light after some years of having published his first production and of having worked silently composing and waiting for his opportunity. This possibility is materialized in 2013.

Already in 2015, the album Mi musa en las voces de mis amigos is released.

Recently, Yova Rodríguez has created more than 420 songs, and many of them have been duly registered with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Editors (ASCAP) under the registry “El Negrito De Delia Music” . “Exceso de amor” is the first composition he has interpreted and recorded; like the song “No me odies”, it is the first recording of a song by him made by a third party.

Now they are going to hear more from Yova, as some productions that will include her compositions are in the process of recording / publishing. Attentive to the upcoming releases of the young Puerto Rican percussionist José Jomar Marcano, the master trumpeter Luis González, the young trombonist, arranger musician and also singer Leo Morales; the renowned DJ Andy Rodríguez, better known as DJ ANDY and the Venezuelan sonero Marcial Isturiz .

As always, remember that Spanish Harlem Salsa Gallery is in 1708 Lexington ave New York N.Y. 10029. Open free to the public all Thursdays & Fridays from 4 to 7 pm and Saturdays from 1 to 8 pm. Check the updates in our website: spahasalsagallery.com.

Also, The Johnny Cruz Show, the # 1 Salsa Show on television on all 5 Boroughs of New York on CH67. Saturdays from 3:30 to 4:30 pm.

Contact: Johnny Cruz. 917-747-8505. [email protected]

By Johnny Cruz, ISM Correspondent, New York, New York

“Tito Puente: When the drums are dreaming” A biography of the King of Latin Percussion by Josephine Powell

North America – USA –CaliTifornia

This month we are sure that you will have time to enjoy an excellent reading at home. So we recommend this book by Josephine Powell. An interesting biography about the legendary Tito Puente, that takes us on a journey through the more than 60 years in which he performed.

Further the life of Tito Puente, you can know his insight into the Latin music industry. With many anecdotes of his encounters, racial discrimination while touring and how that impacted his relationship with other band members. There are also numerous insights into his personality, his temperament, and the many obstacles he had to overcome to achieve legendary status.

Josephine Powell’s book on Tito Puente and his contributions to Latin music and dance is a treasure trove of people, places, facts and history. Because of the author’s place in the history of Latin dance, she takes the reader with her through that fascinating maze of how artists like Puente changed the exposure and tastes of the American public and the world.

The Latin Ballroom world today reflects how we adore – and then neglect and forgets – the people who made us who we are. She mentioned many fascinating dance-related characters in this story that takes place in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, the Catskills and Havana.

It is also a much-needed history of great nightclubs and ballrooms, which are only dim memories for the young – but in their time, were the breeding grounds of Latin music and dance. Tito Puente’s percussion and passion are finally brought to life in a fascinating book.

To remember Tito Puente’s career as accurately as Josephine Powell has done makes this biography a worthwhile read. Tito Puente the man and Tito Puente the musician are blended into the tempo of the times during which the musical man lived. For young musicians seeking success Josephine Powell’s well-written commentary provides a glimpse of what can lie ahead in one’s career; so do read Powell’s take on Tito Puente’s life and perhaps capture a taste of how you too can climb the charts with a dash of spice in your style.

With over 100 albums, several Grammy nominations, 7 Grammys and posthumously awarded The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003, his footprint in the world of music will forever be the standard of excellence that others will look to emulate.

Josephine Powell took on the monumental task of writing about his life, the forward was written by Tito Puente 2 months before he died.

Because of their lifelong friendship of many decades, Josephine was the one person who could create this book. Her talent and passion will pulled this off to perfection. He was a man who brought his music to the world, and put the Mambo on the map.

This book never could have been written without her dedication and perseverance and the personal moments she shares. From the very first chapter, the quality of her writing can be seen as she starts with the moments leading up to his death and continues for 16 more, giving you the history of Latin music from its inception to the music of today. Throughout her many archives of pictures from her private collection, your eyes will wide with wonder.

Josie Powell traces the evolution of Afro-Cuban, Puerto Rican and jazz forms from their generally recognized origins through the end of the twentieth century, focusing on Puente’s interactions with professional allies and constant rivals.

Powell documents musical events as an aficionado of the Latin genres, almost religiously avoiding disclosure of Puente’s family life. Those not yet born during the Big Band decades or Mambo mania can imagine the atmosphere from descriptive passages of Manhattan ballrooms, Havana dance halls, LA nightclubs.

About Tito Puente

Ernesto “Tito” Puente was born in 1923 in Spanish Harlem and grew up with the advent of radio and American swing bands. At 10 years old he aspired to be a dancer, like Fred Astaire. An ankle injury gave him the opportunity to explore his talent as a musician. At fourteen he won the coveted Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa drum contest. Tito became a master percussionist. His instrument was the timbales, a pair of cylindrical drums beat upon with sticks. When he joined the dynamic Machito Orchestra at seventeen he saw a promising future, but the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 took him off to war.

He led a makeshift orchestra delivering lovable American wartime tunes when he was not fighting. He returned home wounded, weary and jobless. Puente’s tale should have been the story of every returning American GI, who went off to war, came home to his sweetheart, attended college, raised a family and settled down in an adorable house. Things were not that way.

After the war his obsession for Cuban music drove him to Havana. He attended secret meetings of Santería, an Afro-Cuban religious cult with its roots steeped in mysticism often referred to as black magic. With the lure of the sacred batá drum he discovered a world of rhythms never heard by a white man’s ear. He found himself inside the beat, and thoroughly possessed. Soon Tito became a devotee of Santería and used those drum patterns and calls, which were the mainstay and backbone of his music. Today this hot hypnotic music is known worldwide as Salsa.

About Josephine Powell

Author Josephine Powell – a music historian, lecturer, and consultant on ballroom music and dancing and Latin American music – was a consultant (music, history, and dance) on the motion pictures Salsa, Havana, and The Mambo Kings, and their soundtracks; The Mambo Kings track received a Grammy Nomination. She also consulted on two Golden Eagle television shows; two television documentaries, one Presidential Inaugural Ball, and two Grammy-winning record albums by her mentor Tito Puente.

In 1990, she obtained a star for her mentor on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, orchestrated his associated live concert on the Boulevard, and organized a gala event at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, with music industry executives, film producers, and celebrities.

Powell’s dance career took her to the South Pacific, the Philippines, Guam, Hong Kong, Thailand – where she performed for the Royal Family – and Vietnam, where she introduced mambo to the troops in a revue she wrote herself. A Gold Medal ballroom dancer, Powell was Tito Puente’s West coast mambo dance partner, and a cast member of the Broadway show Sketchbook in Las Vegas.

Through touring the country for over a decade with stage and lounge shows, along with work in the recording, television, and movie industries, Powell learned wardrobe design, writing, comedy, and choreography. Appeared at the Tropicana, El Rancho Vegas, Flamingo, and Nevada Club in Las Vegas; The Golden Hotel and Mapes Hotel in Reno; The Wagon Wheel in Lake Tahoe, and The President Hotel in Atlantic City, among others.

After an injury forced her to retire from dance, Powell became a real estate agent in Beverly Hills, where she became actively involved in political work with celebrities and later joined Connie Stevens’s organization Les Girls. Powell’s work and charitable activities afforded many opportunities to work with Hollywood producers, directors, writers, and luminaries.

Powell studied the history of ballroom music and dance, ethnomusicology, journalism, and Spanish at UCLA. A regularly featured musicologist on radio stations KXLU and KPFK, Powell receives many requests for lectures and consultations. She has been a presenter and judge at numerous dance competitions, including the Feather Awards and the U.S. Open National Swing Dance Competition. The Mormon Temple Genealogical Library in Los Angeles has made her its expert lecturer on French Colonial Maritime records. Since 1986, she has conducted ten research and study trips to Havana, where she is a curatorial consultant for El Museo Nacional de la Música Cubana.

With information from: https://josephinepowell.com
You can buy this wonderful book in Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Tito-Puente-When-Drums-Dreaming/dp/1425981585