Panama is a country located on the isthmus linking Central and South America. The Panama Canal, a famous landmark of human engineering, crosses its center and links the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to create an essential maritime route.

In the capital, Panama City, modern clubs, casinos and skyscrapers contrast with the colonial buildings of Casco Viejo and the jungle of the Metropolitan Natural Park.

As every country also has its native music, La Murga is a musical genre performed by street groups, used mainly in carnivals in different provinces of Panama. La Murga was created by local musician Manuel Consuegra Gómez.

Murgas generally include the interpretation of songs in chorus, with voices accompanied by percussion instruments. These groups also have dancers who perform steps characteristic of the genre, including jumps and other acrobatics.

“Hey, let’s dance the murga

The murga of Panama

This is an easy thing

And very good for dancing

Ay tu tienes un caminao

That has me upset

And when you dance La Murga

Hey mamita how good you are

Murga pa’quí, murga pa’llá

(This is the murga of Panama)” Composers: Willie Colon / Hector Lavoe.

Panamá, its music and performers and its best places for Salsa dancing

This country has produced important musicians, singers, composers and sportsmen linked to Latin music.

Camilo Azuquita, Gabinete Pampini, José Luis Gracia “Chino Garcia”, to name a few.

To name a few.

Composer Aceves Núñez, accordion player and singer of typical Panamanian music.

Ricardo Fábrega composer of “Taboga”, Carlos Almarán composer of the song “Historia de un Amor”, Erika Ender author of the song “Despacito”, renowned composer Omar Alfano, Franciasco Buckley, Busch y sus Magníficos, pioneer of salsa in Panama.

Raúl Gallimore, Rubén “Yindo” Rodríguez, Manny “Bolaños, Papi Arasomett.

Some years before Blades arrived in New York (the city where he became known), figures such as Miguel Barcasnegras better known as Meñique, Victor Paz, Emilio Reales, Mauricio Smith and many others were struggling among the greats of this type of music in the big city.

All of them, making their way and making a breakthrough to achieve, based on pure talent, a privileged place for Panamanians in the musical environment, where at that time the Cuban and Puerto Rican presence dominated.

Roberto Delgado, Salsaswing, who recently recorded with Rubén Blades, is also Panamanian.

Later on, already in the movement of what was officially baptized as salsa, the most outstanding names are Francisco Buckley, better known as Bush, Roberto y su Zafra and Toti Pino’s Los Excelentes; Orlando Barroso and Los Salvajes del Ritmo, the group where Rubén Blades’ career began, also have their distinction.

All of them, making their way and making a breakthrough to achieve, based on pure talent, a privileged place for Panamanians in the music scene, where at the time the Cuban and Puerto Rican presence dominated. The future of salsa in Panama is promising.

Cartographer Ernesto Jiménez points out that the combination of music, talent, promotion and public acceptance opened the door for maestro Omar Alfano to become, without a doubt, one of the most successful composers. La Kshamba, Sociedad Anónima, Orquesta Yaré, Roberto Delgado, Soundcheck, La 507, are just some of the good salsa orchestras in Panama.

Women are not left behind, singer Anita Barroso stands out with her talent and defends the place of women in the Panamanian salsa scene; while singers Luis Lugo, Tony Flores and Victor Jaramillo, are making their way in their careers choosing salsa as their source.

Musicians like Ricky Salas and maestro Danilo Pérez found in salsa and in their country, the ideal base to develop their successful careers. Others became allies of salsa; announcers such as El Capitán Luis Gooding, Erick de Icaza, El Gigante de la Salsa; Jimmy Dawson; Moisés Rodríguez; El Lobo Edy Molina; Johnny Salsa; Eddie Vázquez and Valentín Ortega, among others, have defended the genre through the radio waves and, in some cases, venturing out as entrepreneurs.

The initiative to talk about Panama and its people linked to salsa is great and I know that it is not easy to touch on several aspects in an article.

One of them is the Barrio El Chorrillo, for all that it represented for Ismael Rivera, practically to turn his life around.

Sorolo was a protagonist of this, famous for his fried fish and his friendship with Maelo.

Sorolo, Mery and Cuñón, people named by Maelo in his proclamation of El Nazareno, who accompanied him to carry the Negrón.

Another important character of El Chorrillo is Mano’e Piedra Duran, who thanks to fame and money, made an orchestra, “Alegria”. Where he has an active business where salsa is always present.

External references:

Sources consulted

WhatsApp group: SalsaGoogle

Lluís Enric Mayans

@lluísenricmayans

Dumas

Lo Mejor de Panamá