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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”.

Exclusive with tres player Iván Camblor from the group Pellejo Seco

Cuban musicians have always found the way to stand out in the entertainment world thanks to their talent and commitment and one of those examples is Ivan Camblor, tres player and vocalist with whom we have had the privilege to talk about his career and what was achieved with the group led by him right now, which is Pellejo Seco.

During the conversation, the artist elaborated on a few topics we found relevant to discuss and we were pleased to hear some of the most important data of one of the most important Cuban son groups in the Bay Area today.

Ivan playing the tres — Cuban musician Iván Camblor playing the Cuban tres live

Iván Camblor’s beginnings in music

As is the case of many other artists of his kind, Ivan showed a very early interest in music, specifically since he was at school in his hometown, Havana, Cuba. He defines himself as a self-taught composer who began his musical learning on the street, while he attended classes like any child his age.

From a very young age, many veteran musicians saw in him the enormous potential he had for music, so they began teaching him all they knew, leading him to the path of Cuban son and traditional Cuban music. Today, these genres is still his north after so many decades.

The Felix Varela School of Music

When he was old enough, Iván attended the Félix Varela School of Music, where he studied music appreciation theory, but unfortunately the island’s economic situation affected that part of his learning. Over time, the conditions of the institute started to worsen, making many teachers resign and leave students without chances to continue their studies, including Ivan, who could not see the classes he wanted because of the lack of staff.

Being unable to study what he wanted, Ivan decided to continue learning on his own with the musical groups he had contact with and that is how it continued until today.

His singing, composition and ability to play the Cuban tres came with the experience he acquired on the street and with friends who knew more about music than he did. He refers to guitarist and tres player Octavio Sánchez ”Cotán” and El Niño Rivera as his greatest teachers and influences.

With the experience gained, he had the opportunity to go through all the Cuban music companies, since there were not many tres players at that time and tres teaching was very new.

Ivan with Chucho Valdez — Pellejo Seco vocalist Sulkary Valverde, Cuban pianist Chucho Valdez, and Iván Camblor

Music composed by Iván for films

Just as Iván was in several groups, he also had the opportunity to compose original music for films and such was the case of the film ”Hacerse El Sueco” directed by his great friend Edesio Alejandro, who contacted him to support him in the musical part of the production.

It is then when he proposed him to write four or five original tracks to be used for the film, but Ivan did not mind getting credit, but helping his great friend with his project, so all the material is under his label Orula Music.

However, he is grateful for the experience and the opportunity to help a good friend who needed his talent at that moment.

Ivan’s coming to the United States

Ivan remembers his coming to the United States as one of the most difficult things he had to do, since it is not easy to leave his roots and everything he knows to seek a different kind of future in other lands.

At first, Ivan was not at all convinced of this decision, but his then partner and mother of his only son made him see that it was the best for them to leave Cuba and go to the United States to try their luck, to which the artist finally agreed.

For many years, the tres player thought the worst of his host country because of the ideas the he grew up with in Cuba, but upon arrival, he found that the reality was very different from the propaganda he was bombarded with in his childhood and youth.

Once he was there, he started working on the area of music that he liked most since he was in Cuba, composition. It was then that the idea of forming his own musical group started going round his head.

Iván creó el Pellejo Seco — Iván Camblor conceived Pellejo Seco as a Cuban son and traditional Cuban music group

How the group Pellejo Seco was created

Ivan conceived Pellejo Seco as a project in which he would pay homage to the Cuban community, so he tried to find the best musicians for the task. One of them was Cuban trumpeter Marcos Diaz, Puerto Rican Hector Lugo, trumpeter Mario Silva, Liban Montoya, Mexican singer Rogelio Maya and singer German Donatien. This is the original group with which the artist started his band, but others have already joined other orchestras or have started something on their own.

That was more than 20 years ago and, today, Pellejo Seco has managed to consolidate itself as one of the main Cuban music groups in the Bay Area. Now, it is the most required traditional Cuban music sextet in the area.

As for the name of the band, Ivan chose the name ”Pellejo Seco” as a tribute to the Cuban peasants whose skin is hard and dry as leather due to the sun and the working conditions that they are exposed to.

Latin America / July 2024

DIRECTORY OF NIGHTCLUBS
ARGENTINA	ARUBA	BELIZE
BOLIVIA	BRAZIL	CHILE
COLOMBIA	COSTA RICA	CUBA
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC	ECUADOR	GUATEMALA
MEXICO	PANAMA	PERU
PUERTO RICO	VENEZUELA

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

Ismaray Chacón Tejeda

Latin America / Cuba

Ismaray Chacón Tejeda, a cuban who carries the betrayal of her land and her family throughout the world

When it comes to dances, rhythms and sounds, it is impossible not to take as a reference the island with the most impact in the world of dance in the entire world, the beautiful island of Cuba, how many countries are not nourished by all the culture that this pearl of the Caribbean It allows us to see with its cultural roots, it seems that on the day of creation they left in Cuba all the musical dance creativity that they had.

Today we will be talking with one of the distinguished artists of the Cuban cultural movement in Europe, a member of a family legacy in Cuba, the so-called aspirins, we are talking about Ismaray Chacón Tejeda, a Piscean eradicated in Switzerland.

Welcome and always grateful for opening the doors of your life to make it known to our readers and your followers, we are going to get to know you a little.

Thank you for this great opportunity sir.

Ismaray let’s start by talking about the roots of your country. Do you live for folklore or do you enjoy it?

I enjoy it and at the same time I live it, it satisfies me is transmitting it and having the greatest result that a teacher can have, seeing the progress of the students, knowing that they deepen and feel identified with my culture, with my dance.

What does folklore mean in your life?

My identity as Cuban. It is life, feeling, experience… Everything!!

How was the idea of being part of the dance world born in you?

I was born and raised in that environment for my family. My grandfather rehearsed every week at home with his group and I didn’t miss a concert. I am the result of that environment.

How long study and career?

Professionally I started at the age of 17, after I left the School of Art Instructors (EIA), which I could not finish, I auditioned in a group called Obini Bata (Bata Woman). This group and my family were my true school. Look, we rehearsed twice a week all day where we learned the different taps, songs and dances plus the rehearsal of the group for the weekly function, the other days I practiced with my family, or I attended a drum, güiro or cajon (religious festivals) . All that mix was very important to me as it gave me the foundation for my career.

How many countries have you traveled making known the culture of your Island?

Uff!… (Between laughter and emotion) I have really been very lucky to visit many and repeatedly. Singapore, Russia, Morocco, Israel, France, Italy, Spain, England, Sweden, Finland, Peru, Denmark, Poland, Serbia, Germany, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Ukraine, Switzerland, among others. I would like to go to the brother countries of Latin America and be able to exchange cultures. I went to Mexico but only on vacation.

What countries have you not visited that you would like to know?

Colombia, Argentina, USA, Africa (Nigeria, Congo), Dubai, China, Japan, India, Venezuela and other Latin countries, hopefully I can. Hey, let the promoters know (between laughs)

The Casino (Cuban Salsa), the rumba or the Afro-Cuban?

What comes to mind when you hear the name Luis Chacón Mendive?

Phew!… my map, my friend, the example to follow, my teacher, my idol, my little green old man, my adoration.

You have a traditional surname and a lot of renown in Cuba. At some point in your training was it a requirement or a motivation?

Yes, it was both. A motivation because it is a great pride for me to belong to this important family and to have that experience, which made me lean towards this side of dance, but at the same time, a challenge because I grew up with my grandfather and my father and every time I had to work, the other artists always said…

that’s Aspirin’s granddaughter… Koky’s daughter… There were those who trusted that I would do a good job, but there were also those who wanted to see if I was up to the job. that last name. Sometimes even though I don’t like to be the center of attention, I had to show it and be a fool as we say in Cuba.

congress and competition with Ismaray Chacón Tejeda

Why Aspirin?

Many say that when they see us play, dance or sing, their headaches go away hahahaha. In truth, it was from the great Aspirin who worked at that time and the boss always had pain in his teeth and sent him to the pharmacy to buy Aspirin. As it was very often, from there he got the nickname.

Do your dream and your reality go hand in hand? Did you dream of having another profession?

Today I can say yes. Being an artist was one of my dreams of the many I have. I remember when I was a child I wanted to be a flight attendant to travel the world and learn about other cultures, today I am lucky to travel carrying my culture and exchanging, I managed to be a flight attendant but in my own style. I’m very lucky.

What has the dance world given you and what has it taken from you?

It has not taken anything away from me, on the contrary, in addition to meeting so many beautiful people, it has given me life, emotions, sacrifices that today help me to value things more, it keeps me healthy and when I execute it, from that moment on all my problems they leave…it’s my therapy.

If you were born again, would you go back to dancing? Why?

Yes, a thousand times. Because art in general is a way of expressing what we feel, in the case of dance, we express it and transmit it with our body….it is life!

Photo of Ismaray Chacón Tejeda in a social

How is Cuban folklore currently spread in the world? Are lines of the original traditions maintained?

Well… this topic is very open and with different points of view, and the word Folklore says it all… In Cuba we have the Afro-Cuban and the Cuban, my point of view to summarize it in a few words, is an oral culture that was always transmitted through generations and family traditions, there is no book like in classical music where everything is written, rather what was seen that older people were doing was repeated, of course everything evolves and transforms over time of the generations even what is sung, the touches or their dances.

But in a certain way patterns are created to follow. I think that in order to spread it and teach it, it is important to know the basics and from there I totally agree with the evolutions, mixtures and others. We just have to be careful not to mistreat it.

What new projects could you share with us?

I currently live in Switzerland although I feel that I must start a new stage of my life in another European country. I also hope one day to be able to return to my country, be with my family and from there continue in the art that is what I love. For now I continue teaching and transmitting my culture throughout the world, already happily married I would like to have the blessing of one day having my family. Together with my husband Serguei Yera Madera, singer of La Reve, we want to continue developing our careers. We keep making history 😉

Grateful for letting us enter a very small corner of your life, we see that you are a true lover of your culture, we hope to continue seeing you succeed in the whole world. For our readers, you already know that this beautiful artist can be followed on her social networks.

Photo of Ismaray Chacón Tejeda and his family