Who is Carlos Navarro?
There have been many celebrities, orchestras, groups of all genres who have played their part in the salsa cultural movement in the United States, but we cannot deny that bandleader Carlos Navarro and his Son Y Clave Orchestra have played a very important role, since they have achieved many goals in the Latin music scene in the state of California, specifically in Los Angeles.
Carlos Navarro was a child of the couple formed by Rafael Navarro and Maria De Jesus Velasquez de Navarro, being at the same time the brother of Alexis Enrique (the famous singer Cherry Navarro), Manuel, Rene, Leslie and another older sister. The whole family decided to move to Caracas, specifically to the parish of El Valle, where all the children would continue their studies.
The first one to start an artistic career at a very young age would be his older brother Alexis, who would later be known as Cherry Navarro in the artistic field. Carlos would follow the same steps and would also dedicate himself to music, but would focus on salsa, mambo, merengue and Latin jazz.
Las Versalles
To principle of the 80’s, specifically in 1983, the artist served as co-founder and percussionist in one of the first and most important orchestras in Los Angeles, California, with styles of Salsa, Guaguancó, Merengue, cha cha chá Latin Jazz.
This group was called Las Versalles and had the participation of many musicians based in the same city. Here you can see some of the main members and their instruments, Güiro: Carlos Navarro and Jorge Luis Balmaseda, Vocalist, Piano, Arranger: Fito Foster, Vocalist, Guitar, Flute, and Arrangements: Niño Jesús, Bass: Geraldo Zuldo and Luis López, Trumpets: Carleton Smith and Robert Hernández, Trombo: Arturo Velazco, Violin: Gene Hugo, Congas: Humberto Hernández and José “Papo” Rodríguez, Timbales: Héctor Andrade and Edwin Rolland, Backing Vocals: Fitto Foster, Niño Jesús, Bobby Rivas, Jorge Luis Balmaseda and Bass in ‘’Cama Y Mesa’’: Cuco.
Son Y Clave
In 1999, the producer, percussionist and singer founded the Son Y Clave Orchestra and has become a very important group in the nightlife of Los Angeles and surrounding areas.
One of the most attractive things for spectators of the places where they perform is the ease with which they dance and execute choreography, which are highly contagious, fast and elegant at the same time.
This diversity of performance styles is another one of the many things that has led this orchestra to the summit. In the same way, they have participated in all kinds of festivals, congresses, concerts and much more.
God & Salsa and more
They have also been involved in large-scale film projects such as ”Almost A Woman”, but the film for which they have become known in recent years has been ”God & Salsa”.
Carlos Navarro himself has been primarily responsible for composing much of the original music that was part of the movie soundtrack. In addition, they were also present at the filming, displaying their great talent and dedication to the audience.
Currently, Navarro has a lot of contacts, friendships and dealings with other figures and producers of the stature of classical guitarist Yalil Guerra, with whom he has participated in multiple musical projects both with his orchestra and at the production level.
He has also shared the stage with important talents in Los Angeles such as Luis Barbarán, Guillermo Canales, Ernie Valenzuela, Melissa Campos, Roosevelt Córdova, among many others.
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- Multi-Percussionist Carlos Navarro and his Son Y Clave Orchestra - January 25, 2023
- Tribute to Eddie López for his career - January 25, 2023
- Two radio programs of the salsa movement in California - January 25, 2023