Orchestra

Rubby Haddock is one of the greatest exponents of our most danceable Latin Music in the Island of Enchantment

Our orchestra was born at the end of 1969, year in which we also began to record the 1st production “Presenting” which was released at the end of 1970.

Many talented musicians have passed through our orchestra such as Juancito Torres, Mario Ortiz, Rey Santos, Frank Morell, Hugo Dumont and many more that we will mention later.

Rubby Haddock is one of the greatest exponents of our most danceable Latin Music in the Island of Enchantment

Singers such as Sergio Cariño, Juan Acosta, Raul Carbonell Jr., Tony Rivas, Cucho Caro, Andres Reyes, Pedro Arroyo, Ricky Ramos, Tito Gomez, Yolanda Rivera, Eddie Rosario and Johnny Maldonado.

Rubby Haddock is one of the greatest exponents of good Latin music. His orchestra is known as one of the most danceable “Big Bands” on the Island.

He is called “El Maestro” by his followers and fellow artists. Because of his long artistic career, exposed to the world of show business, Rubby has become one of the best connoisseurs in the history of Latin music.

Born in Manhattan, New York on February 6th to Puerto Rican parents. His mother lived in Miami most of her life and in the late 60’s his father, Ruben Haddock who was a musician in New York, founded the most famous Dance Club in Puerto Rico, MIRAMAR CENTER when he owned El Club Coameño in Rio Piedras and El Club Caborrojeño in Bayamon.

A glorious time where his Producer Father brought to the Island of Puerto Rico the biggest stars of Latin music such as: TITO RODRIGUEZ, TITO PUENTE, LA LUPE, EDDIE PALMIERI, RICKY RAY, JOEY PASTRANA, JOE CUBA, WILLY COLON, HECTOR LAVOE, LARRY HARLOW, ISMAEL MIRANDA, CHIVIRICO DAVILA, TNT BAND among others, besides being manager and producer of ROBERTO Y SU NUEVO MONTUNO.

Rubby Haddock grew up with his father as a teenager in Puerto Rico within the entire business operation of Don Ruben, knowing these top stars of our music and hence the vein of musician and producer during his artistic career and experience in show business.

Celebrating the Rubi of Salsa Rubby Haddock. One of the greatest exponents of good Latin music

Rubby Haddock studied piano but showed that his passion was playing trombone.

For the years 1972 under the label UNIART, Rubby Haddock launches his first record production, “PRESENTING ORCH HADDOCK” becoming a powerful hit on the Island with the musical cut MONACILLO Y CORREA COTTO as some of the hits of this production.

In this first stage of Rubby’s musical career are among the different recordings: “PRESENTING”, “ASI ME LLAMAN”, “LA LEYENDA”, “DE REGRESO”, “UNLIMITED”, “2ND CONCIERTO FAMILIA TH”, “THE ENTERTAINER”, “THE ENTERTINER 2”, “OTRA VEZ”, “SALSA TROPICAL”, “EL RUBI DE LA SALSA”, “PASAPORTE MUSICAL”, “EL RUBI DE LA SALSA” and “PASAPORTE MUSICAL”.

In the second stage of his career, in 1978, when Rubby was the most popular in Puerto Rico with the song “Son Los Nervios”, one of the songs that propelled merengue on the island, Rubby surprised everyone by joining the U.S. Armed Forces in San Antonio Texas and Washington State, where in addition to completing medical courses, he also completed his Bachelor of Music Education at the Universities of Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran.

In the 9th Infantry Div. Rubby became a member of the 9th Infantry Division Band where in addition to the Division Military Orchestra, Rubby most enjoyed the experience of being a member of the JAZZ ENSEMBLE BAND and the Big Band Jazz.

It didn’t take long for some of these great musicians to come and join Rubby’s Orchestra… At the request of a great Puerto Rican friend, and high ranking Army officer Eddie Velez, Rubby agreed to form his Orchestra back in Tacoma Washington State.

Remembering beautiful moments lived outside of his homeland until 1980, when he returned to Puerto Rico for a recording contract with the firm TH RECORDS, In this “come-back” in his return to Puerto Rico for the 80’s Rubby produces one of his most successful works: “De Regreso” with songs like: A Mi Jibarita, El Amor, Maria Teresa, Sra. Temptation with singers Raul Carbonell and Tony Rivas.

At the end of the 80’s Rubby Haddock ventured into Puerto Rican television, Wapa TV and Telemundo Channel 2, as producer of shows such as “Un puertorriqueño para la Historia (José Feliciano)”, New Year’s Eve Specials, etc.

Rubby Haddock y Sus Amigos, where the most prestigious artists such as: José José, José Feliciano, Mongo Santamaría, Barry Rogers, Eddie Palmieri, Julio Angel, and many more paraded in this section produced within the Midday Show. …. This show remained on the air for five and a half years.

By 1992 Rubby Haddock y su Orquesta represented Puerto Rico in the Puerto Rican Pavilion at Expo 1992 in Seville, Spain.

In the mid 90’s, although Rubby still continued as the Director of his Orchestra, he also ventured as an Entrepreneur with his own commercial Advertising Agency, where in addition to directing the entire operation of the agency Haddock & Haddock Adv, he was also the Creative, being in charge of all the production of Radio, Press and Television commercials for all the clients of the Agency.

By that time Rubby had already founded his own Recording Studio (Pentagrama Round), where he produced his three most recent productions of this decade in addition to sharing recordings for artist friends such as: Omar Alfano with Son By 4, it was from this studio that hits such as “A puro Dolor” were released.

His recording engineer was the outstanding engineer Sonny Hernandez. With him he shared works with artists such as: Danny Rivera, Andrés Jiménez, Ismael Miranda, Elvis Crespo, Melina León, Edwin Colon Sayas, Trió Borinquén, and others.

In 2000 Rubby moved to the United States where he currently lives. His fans constantly ask him to re-form his Orchestra because they miss his music and they also ask him for a compilation of his hits and a “Historia DVD” exposing the History of his Salsa, which seems to be Rubby Haddock’s next endeavor as an Artist.

Rubby has 3 sons, the first 2 Reuben Haddock and Rubby Haddock Jr, dedicated their careers to the business world and his youngest son Randy Haddock, who currently lives in New York, is a musician, singer and composer, already demonstrating great talent and the vein that comes from Don Ruben (grandfather) and Rubby (his father).

A very special thanks to Edgar Berrio and all the staff of Las Leyendas Vivas De La Salsa #8 for this great recognition, on behalf of Rubby Haddock and his family

Sources:

https://www.rubbyhaddock.com/news

pequi34 via Musica.com

Also Read: Jerry Ferrao says in salsa key: “My life is a drum”.

Rocío Hernández is the Announcer and General Producer of “La Metrópolis”, an entertainment radio program broadcast every Thursday in Caracas

Rocio Del Valle Hernandez Diaz, better known as Rocio Hernandez, Venezuelan born in the current state of La Guaira, in its capital La Guaira where all the people from Guaira or Vargas were born, at that time it was Vargas, until its current change of name of the entity.

I was born on July 20, 1986, here in my beautiful country Venezuela, I come from a working class family with strong Spanish ancestry and a little bit of Venezuelan indigenous race, which I am very proud of my roots, all Venezuelans have a mixture of European, indigenous and African, we carry it in our blood.

Rocío Hernández is the announcer and general producer of "La Metrópolis", an entertainment program broadcast every Thursday in Caracas — Rocío Hernández is the announcer and general producer of “La Metrópolis”, an entertainment program broadcast every Thursday in Caracas

I am 37 years old and I am the mother of a beautiful, intelligent and magical 10 year old girl, who came into my life in 2014.

The eldest of 3 sisters, all of whom are professionals in this country, and Aunt of 1 niece and 1 nephew.

My family is a fundamental support for the development of my entire career, which I will now tell you, thanks to them my parents and sisters always move forward with work, honesty, respect, responsibility and education, values instilled in our home always.

Current resident in the state of La Guaira, specifically in the Carayaca Parish.

Administrator in Customs and International Trade graduated from the Universidad Simon Bolivar USB and Universidad Marítima del Caribe UMC, professionally my main base as a career.

It has been almost 20 years of career in this area of administration and international trade. I am a University Teacher specifically in the area of English Language in its teaching as a foreign language for 2 universities in this country currently I have worked for other institutions teaching Arancel de Aduanas, economic integration, foreign trade , also advertising and marketing, budgeting, marketing for careers such as graphic design, interior design and advertising and marketing ,additionally I got certified in Radio Voiceover in 2018 I started those studies from 2017 to 2018 in the Latin American Institute of voiceover in the Chacao municipality in the city of Caracas.

This study I did in parallel to my work in the administrative area of finance during that time, at that time. Which I started and finished satisfactorily.

The radio broadcasting certification gave us, radio production, radio technical equipment management, diction, public speaking, brand positioning and networking for that time, a very complete course, which allowed us to develop all our skills and abilities to speak into a radio microphone and the general public, this certification required us to design a real radio program, with 1 month test airing with real production, real guests, real recording and airing in a real way, on the web platform (www.radiosinprecedentes.com. ve) of the institute once a week for 1 month, at that time with my study group we designed this format The Metropolis with the help of the teacher of the subject of production is how this group of 5 people 4 women and 1 man designed the format of the program “The Metropolis”, which helped us to pass the subject, practice and experience a radio program which remained as a sketch there, to use in the future if we wanted so, at present each one went different ways inside and outside the country, and have developed different types of programs in the area where they work or simply do not practice radio broadcasting.

In my case I always dreamed of having my own radio space after getting certified because for a natural and authentic reason, from the bottom of my heart I wanted to take the course to get certified and practice radio broadcasting, even if it was for 15 minutes something short or long.

But it was not until the year 2023 that opened the door to have my radio space, after knocking on about 2 to 3 doors, through a lifelong friend who knew I was looking for the opportunity, I was offered this opportunity by the board of IUS radio an innovative radio, and offered me the schedule accepting the proposal and these coincidences and without chronicities of life and destiny, has allowed me to develop The Metropolis every week on Thursdays from 11am to 12pm. Radio space which I am going to comment below:

La Metrópolis an entertainment program transmitted every Thursday from 11am to 12pm by the platform or website www.iusradio.com.ve, in which I am the announcer and main producer of the space, this radio space is a place where we announce and recommend the best places to enjoy and visit in Greater Caracas hence its name La Metrópolis we inform about what is there, what is happening, what is happening, what is new in the most important area of our country, La Guaira, Caracas and Miranda.

This includes all the human beings that live here and their daily activities of importance and impact, human, social, musical, productive, scientific, educational, artistic, cultural, business, commercial, among others, everything that makes life here.

That is why we started in this first year with 3 original sections that I am going to talk about:

Section 1 La Tienda: Varied national and international news. Guide of places to visit and activities in the great caraca.

Section 2 El Café: Space for interviewing our guests (people who contact us or contact me or the production of the station).

Section 3 El Coctel: Space for interaction with our public, contests, gifts, with our fans, collaborators and society.

And that contact with whatsapp networks, Facebook, Instagram, X, fixed or cell phone.

Already after this year, on our own initiative and together with the production of ius radio, an innovative radio station, La Metrópolis has released 2 new sections of our own creation, which I will name below:

Section 4. Cinema City: Space of anecdotes, historical and current curiosities of the 7th art, Cinema.

Section 5 La Pasarela: Space for current trends in national and international fashion.

These sections have these original names to associate them to the city since they are allusive to the activities that we live in a City.

The musicalization is under my selection and musical taste. The musical cut is Pop and Rock in Spanish and English, Ballads in English and Spanish, Bossa Nova, Jazz, Ryth and blues, Venezuelan music, music of national talent, classics of always, Latin music only Salsa, Merengue and finally Rap and Reggaetón, keeping a close eye on the content of messages and lyrics that are not offensive and out of order for our esteemed, valued and exclusive radio audience of my program and the station. I am and we are careful in that out of respect for our listening audience and the national communication laws.

At this time the Metropolis has an approximate or regular audience of 100 to 200 people estimated, with low and high peaks.

This is how in the section in the coffee everyone’s favorite we always have our guests here we have had the opportunity to have in the booth, interviewing from film directors, actresses, singers, dancers, musicians, educators, doctors, lawyers, artisans, music DJ, motivational Coach, holistic healers, therapists, publicists, musical groups, dance groups, music academies, journalists, writers of books and stories, who make life inside and outside the country, but have a common denominator, they have a dream and make this country a better country to live, they are useful to them, their families and society.

A space to project them, and allow them to express and show what they do and their impact, this is how La Metropolis is ready to support any activity that allows human development in its maximum expression. Trusting that we will reach more public with more frontiers promoting everything positive for people for the coming years of professional work.

Rocio Hernandez is a Broadcaster and General Producer of "La Metropolis". — Rocio Hernandez is a Broadcaster and General Producer of “La Metropolis”.

So after all written about me, which I do in parallel with my work as a mother, daughter, sister, and administrative and teaching professional at present, I want to tell you that the satisfaction is great to achieve all these activities in a professional manner within the radio broadcasting, which is a magical, recreational space within a work of continuous learning, it is more than a dream, It is a hobby, it is a passion, it is a love to do radio, and I feel very proud and happy to do this activity for me and for all the people of the medium and for the public and Venezuelan people who need it so much, thanks to my producer and the entire team of the station and its directors who support us in making quality content for our country, with the greatest and deepest love and respect for this activity. With gratitude always.

Thank you for this opportunity to show and express myself.

Rocío is a Broadcaster and General Producer of "La Metrópolis". — Rocío is a Broadcaster and General Producer of “La Metrópolis”.

Facebook: Rocio Hernandez

Also Read: If you want to listen to Tasty Salsa tune in to Ritmo Sabor y Salsa with Nesmary J. Gómez

Marimba is the name given in Spanish to a very old musical instrument that, over time, has gained visibility and importance in many countries.

The marimba is a musical percussion instrument with a rich history that spans continents and cultures.

Although its exact origin is debated, it is believed that the marimba has its roots in Africa and was developed by different African cultures such as the Bantu and the Marimberos.

The term “marimba” comes from the Bantu “marimba” or “malimba”, meaning “single bar xylophone”.

In America, historical records indicate that diatonic xylophones, precursors of the modern marimba, were introduced in Central America between the XVI and XVII centuries.

The first known marimba in America dates from 1545 in the Santa Lucia hacienda, in the municipality of Jiquipilas, Chiapas, Mexico. In Guatemala, historian Domingo Juarros documented in 1680 the use of marimbas with gourd resonators by Mayan musicians.

Musical Duo of a Guitarist and a Marimba player in Guanacaste in Costa Rica dates back to 1888

Throughout the 17th to 19th centuries, the marimba spread throughout most of the Americas and became a typical element of Mayan and Ladino ensembles.

Today, the marimba is considered a patriotic symbol of Guatemala and Costa Rica, and its music, along with the traditional songs and dances of Colombia’s South Pacific region and Ecuador’s Esmeraldas province, was inscribed in 2010 on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The modern marimba, like the one seen in the image provided, consists of a series of wooden slats of different sizes, arranged from largest to smallest, each with a different sound pitch.

They are struck with mallets to produce musical notes, and each key has its own soundboard.

The development of the modern chromatic marimba was established in Chiapas, Mexico, around 1890.

This instrument has been integrated into a variety of musical genres, from traditional Latin American music to academic concerts, jazz and martial bands.

The marimba remains a vital instrument that celebrates the cultural heritage and musical creativity of the regions where it is loved and played.

Image of a musical duet between a guitarist and a marimba player dated Guanacaste, 1888.

Learning about the materials and components of the marimba, being aware of the playing techniques and learning about the existing varieties helps to broaden cultural knowledge and to discover a wonderful universe of particular sounds.

It is enriching to know, among other things, that a series of woods of multiple sizes arranged from longest to shortest are essential to assemble the keyboard. For the soundboard, on the other hand, it is necessary to work on the tuning so that each wood of this structure is in tune with each key.

As for playing procedures, the four-stick technique and the art of glissando appear as alternatives to keep in mind. Of course, the most advisable thing to do is to attend a marimba workshop in order to master the techniques correctly.

Nor should we forget that, since ancient times, many types of marimbas have been made and used and have contributed their characteristic sounds to multiple musical genres and styles.

Thanks to those who dare to experiment with instruments and musical compositions without being conditioned by prejudices, for example, the folk marimba and the midi marimba can coexist in harmony, to cite two specific cases.

Saurce: Recuperando la historia en Guanacaste

Also Read: Son Cubano is one of the most popular musical styles in Cuba and Kiki Valera is one of its leading exponents

The Great Combo of Puerto Rico – The famous salsa orchestra

Latin America / Puerto Rico / Puerto Rico

The Great Combo of Puerto Rico will receive 2019 in Puerto Rico.

The famous salsa orchestra will offer a dance concert on the last day of this year at the Miramar Convention Center.

For the first time in more than two decades El Gran Combo will have the opportunity to say goodbye to the year on its island, a fact that for the legendary Rafael Ithier does not go unnoticed.

“For me it is a huge satisfaction and I think for the whole as well. Lately we have said goodbye to the year in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, in the (Dominican) Republic, where we are going quite frequently, but in Puerto Rico it has been more than 20 years since we said goodbye and for us it is an enormous satisfaction that we they invited him to fire him,” the musical director of the famous salsa orchestra said in an interview with Primera Hora about the dance concert they will offer at the Miramar Convention Center.

“We are going to be able to be with the family and many friends that we do not see during the year. Because remember that we are a traveling band, and we spend all the time traveling”, added Ithier, anticipating that the public will be able to enjoy the best of the repertoire of the group with more than 56 years of experience.

“And if they allow us, and they will always allow it, we will play three or four numbers that we have new, because people always expect something new from El Gran Combo,” Ithier assured, sitting on the balcony of his home in Bayamón.

The Great Combo of Puerto Rico - Photo — The Great Combo of Puerto Rico – Photo

Son Cubano is one of the most popular musical styles in Cuba and Kiki Valera is one of its leading exponents

Over the last century, this style of traditional Cuban music has contributed to many other musical genres, including jazz, cha cha cha, mambo, salsa, songo and timba.

Cuban Son is one of the most popular musical styles in Cuba and Kiki Valera is one of its greatest exponents.

Cuban son is the music that made the Buena Vista Social Club worldwide stars in the late 1990s, but Kiki Valera comes from a family of musicians whose involvement with Cuban son predates BVSC by decades.

Kiki Valera is the eldest son of the famous septet La Familia Valera Miranda, a multi-generational traditional music group from Santiago de Cuba.

Since the 19th century, La Familia Valera Miranda has played an important role in Cuban culture by collecting and preserving the deep-rooted traditions of the legendary Sierra Maestra mountain region.

Their debut album, “Antología Integral Del Son”, released in 1982, helped initiate the explosion of interest in traditional Cuban music.

Kiki, like most of her family, is a virtuoso. A multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, sound engineer and producer, he is best known as one of the world’s best players of the Cuban cuatro, a medium-sized guitar with 8 strings grouped in sets of 2.

Kiki Valera is the eldest son of the famous septet La Familia Valera Miranda, a multigenerational group of traditional music from Santiago de Cuba.

Kiki learned the Cuban tres under the guidance of his father Felix as a child.

He later attended one of Cuba’s most prestigious music schools, the Esteban Salas Conservatory, in Santiago de Cuba and by the age of 15 was touring internationally.

Kiki continues to conduct, compose, arrange and perform internationally. She also performs and teaches in Seattle, Washington, where she contributes to the vibrant Pacific Northwest music scene.

His current project features several other internationally renowned artists, including Coco Freeman (former singer for Adalberto Alvarez y su Son and NG La Banda), vocalist Carlos Cascante (three-time Grammy Award winning vocalist for the Spanish Harlem Orchestra), trumpeter Alexis Baró (Cubanismo and Omara Portuondo) and bongocero Pedro Vargas (Barbarito Torres’ band). (Kiki Valera)

“Vacilón Santiaguero” is Kiki Valera’s second solo release in the United States after many distinguished years as the director of La Familia Valera Miranda in Santiago de Cuba.

He goes beyond his core group to present collaborations with some Grammy® award winning musicians and features his favorite trumpet players, some born in Cuba, some born in the U.S., but all with reputations jus????ficadas for playing Cuban music for love, if not DNA.

Son Cubano is one of the most popular musical styles in the world.

“Vacilón” is one of those words that doesn’t have a perfect English equivalent to Cuban Spanish, but something that’s a really good time (a little rum or aguardiente always helps).

So what sets this project apart from the vast mountain of excellent traditional albums already out there? Not only is there Kiki’s custom-made Cuban cuatro, which brings a unique texture to the sound, rather than a tres, but, in his jazz-influenced hands, you’ll occasionally hear twists and turns in his improvisations that you probably weren’t expecting when you first glanced at the song titles, which are mostly Cuban evergreens.

Thanks to Kiki’s creative arrangements, this is no mere recycling of covers of these classic songs.

Kiki is as exacting with the recording, mixing and mastering work as he is with the arrangements.

Much of the recording and mixing was done in Kiki’s custom home studio, and Grammy® winner Michael Lazarus mastered the project.

The result will be an audiophile’s delight, a reason, I might add, to want the physical product for your collection (Kiki Valera).

Kiki Valera – Vacilón Santiaguero (2024).

Tracks:

Este Vacilón (Felix Valera Miranda)
El Ají de Cocina (Felix Valera Miranda)
Sobre una Tumba una Rumba (Ignacio Piñeiro)
El Penquito e’ Coleto (Francisco Repilado “Compay Segundo”)
Funfuñando (Arsenio Rodriguez)
La Guajira (Olga de Blanck)
Mari-Juana (Juana María Casas)
Muñequita Feliz (DR)
El Empanadillero (Teodoro Benemelis)
Pájaro Lindo (Felipe Neri Cabrera)
Dos Gardenias (Isolina Carrillo)
El Cuarto de Tula (Sergio Gonzales Siaba)

Musicians:

Kiki Valera (Cuban cuatro, guitar, bass, harpsichord, maracas and backing vocals).

Pedro Vargas (congas, bongos and backing vocals)

Steve Guasch (Backing vocals)

Carlos Cascante (Lead vocals on tracks #1,#4,#5,#7,#9,#10,#12)

Francisco “Coco” Freeman (Lead vocals on tracks #2,#11)

Joshuah de Jesus (Lead vocal on tracks #3,#8)

Raquel Zozaya (Lead vocals on track #6).

Special guests:

Alexis Baró (Trumpet on tracks #1, #3, #4, #6, #9, #11).

Steve Mostovoy (Trumpet on tracks #1, #3, #3, #6, #11)

Michael Rodríguez & Jonathan Powell (Trumpet on track #8)

Pete Nater & Dennis Hernández (Trumpet on tracks #2, #5, #7, #12)

Brian Lynch & Thomas Marriott (Trumpet on tracks #1#0)

Leon Q Allen (Trumpet on track #4)

https://www.kikivalera.com/

Also Read: Yilian Cañizares, an excellent Cuban musician, studied in her hometown in the strictest tradition of the Russian school of violin