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The initial idea of bringing together the three great orchestras of the Palladium in this innovative “three-in-one” orchestra concept came to Mario Grillo more than two decades ago.

As early as March 3, 2022, the mambo heirs celebrated the coming of age of The Big Three Palladium Orchestra in New York. Twenty-one years after the establishment of this remarkable big band, the concert entitled Palladium in the New Millennium took place in a packed Lehman Center for the Performing Arts.

The first presentation of 2023 of the “three-in-one” big band and coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the birth of “El Inolvidable”, Tito Rodriguez, the South Beach Jazz Festival’s line-up opened its musical offerings on Saturday, January 7, 2023 with the concert entitled Mambo Night in Miami Beach. At around 8:00 p.m. The Big Three Palladium Orchestra took over the Miami Beach Band Shell when Mario Grillo, known in the music scene as Machito, Jr. kicked off the musical feast that awaited us, to the sound of Cuban Fantasy.

As you can see, each of the “big three of the Palladium” and owners of the mambo in its golden age inherited a timbalero son. These three bandleaders have made it their mission to keep the Palladium legacy alive and well.  Although the mambo heirs have transcended the label of being the sons of the mambo owners, they do not forget that the Patriarchs are still a topic of conversation in musical circles around the world.

For the concert at the Miami Beach Band Shell, The Big Three Palladium Orchestra was joined by the veteran musicians: Carmen Laboy on baritone saxophone and musical direction; Jose Heredia on tenor saxophone, Mark Friedman on alto saxophone and flute, Julio Andrade on alto saxophone; Larry Moses, Seneca Black, Dante Vargas and Julio Diaz on trumpets; William Rodriguez on piano, Jerry Madera on bass, Daniel Peña on bongo and Diego Camacho on tumbadoras.  On the vocal front, Sammy González, Jr. was backed by the coros of Starlyn Benítez and Tatan Betancurt.

The upscale repertoire vibrated and rumbled at the Miami Beach Band Shell, an elegant venue steps from the beach, which was filled to capacity.

Mario Grillo’s highlights were: Cuban Fantasy, Oye la rumba (La rumba), Ahora sí, Piñero tenía razón (Piñero was right), Babarabatiri (Babarabatiri) and Rumbantela (Rumbantela). On the other hand, Tito Rodríguez, Jr. performed the following songs: El que se fue, Cheveré, Yambú, Avísale a mi contrario, Agua de Belén and Fagot’s world. In the performance of Avísale a mi contrario, the conga of Diego Camacho and the bongo of Daniel Peña, who “quinteando a lo bravo” and adjusting to the tuning of the timbal in charge of Rodríguez, Jr. opened the way for the winds. And the winds entered through the wide door to increase the tempo of the night, which was already heating up to the sound of mambo.

When it was Tito Puente, Jr.’s turn to play the timbal, he affirmed that Tito Puente was the pioneer in having a woman in the vocal front of an orchestra.

Then, preparing to close the first segment of the concert, he introduced Puerto Rican businesswoman and singer Melina Almodóvar, whom he backed for the performance of Mi socio.

The grand finale of the event placed the three timbaleros heirs of mambo in front of the orchestra to delight us with a masterful performance in sync with the rhythmic base that Diego Camacho and Daniel Peña did not hesitate to maintain.

Last year such a show was promised in which the heirs of mambo honor the legacy of their fathers on Puerto Rican soil.  The show was to be entitled “Palladium in the new millennium” and was to be presented on Father’s Day at the Symphonic Hall of the Fine Arts Center in Santurce. However, it was cancelled.

I often say that the past is the past and the future is uncertain, so let’s hurry and wait for The Big Three Palladium Orchestra to perform in Puerto Rico.

I for one continue to live in salsa, which is still magic, fantasy and illusion.

Bella Martínez Writer, researcher of Afro-Caribbean music

You can read: Mike Arroyo the guitarist Using Jazz to praise God

Bella Martínez Writer, researcher of Afro-Caribbean music and author of Un conguero para la historia, Las memorias de Jimmie Morales.

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How were his beginnings?

On January 10, 2023, the death of Eddie Lopez has been made known, who has been one of the greatest pillars of the radio station KXLU since 1976 when he started his career as a DJ. His arrival came during the third anniversary of the famous program ”Alma Del Barrio”, being a fundamental piece in the huge success the show had during several decades and making it remain part of the programming of the already mentioned radio station.

A little bit of his life

Eddie Lopez was originally from Los Angeles and spent much of his childhood in his father’s photography studio, which may have been one of his greatest inspirations to dedicate his life to the arts in adulthood. After graduating from Cathedra High School, he was admitted to Pepperdine University, but switched to Loyola Marymount University, from where he finally graduated in 1978.

Although much of his professional career was spent at KVEA Channel 52 Telemundo, he spent 46 years working at ”Alma Del Barrio” and streaming the best Afro-Cuban music through the waves of KXLU from 2pm to 6pm. During all these years, Eddie always said that he wanted ”Alma Del Barrio” to be as professional as possible and encouraged all his colleagues to always be better every day to give their best to the audience. He also said that this show was not only a work team with common interests, but a family in which everyone supported each other to achieve their goals.

All those involved in his life who came to know him say that he was a man completely dedicated to his family who deeply loved his wife Vanessa and his daughter Nina, who were always his greatest motivation to get ahead day by day. He was loved by all his family and friends, who are very sorry for this sad loss in the Latino cultural world of Los Angeles and the United States in general.

Reactions to his passing

In the social networks of ”Alma Del Barrio”, the sorrow of the team over the physical disappearance of the host can be clearly seen. On the Facebook account of the show, there are several messages referring to all that Eddie achieved during his professional life and all that he contributed to the show ”Alma Del Barrio” and to the radio station KXLU. These comments are accompanied by photographs in which Lopez can be seen carrying out his work with the enthusiasm that characterized him in those periods when he practiced the profession he so loved, which was communication.

One of those who mourned the loss of the broadcaster was the host of the program ADB, Alan Geik, who had been his personal friend for decades thanks to the passion for the media they both shared. It all started when Eddie hired Alan to host a evening show called ”Latin Dimensions” at a station that works in a small classroom.

Geik did not have any plans to become a broadcaster at the time, but Lopez convinced him by telling him it could be a great adventure and a learning experience for himself. When he accepted, he never thought that the programme presented by him would multiply the number of audience several times over thanks to the popularity he was gradually acquiring. Not to mention that the station where the program was aired moved to better facilities and became a radio power.

The host ends his note of mourning by expressing that he is proud to have been such a good friend of Eddie and all that they achieved together thanks to the professional team they formed during such a long time.

Read also: ”Salsa Con Sabor’’ and its contribution to salsa music

Introduction

After the entire journey, the cultural salsa movement in the state of California is well established, which includes a good number of media outlets that focus on this and other Latin music genres. In this article, we are going to talk a little about two very important radio shows in Los Angeles, which play a very important role in the spread of salsa and its greatest exponents today.

They are the radio shows ”Alma Del Barrio” and ”Canto Tropical”, whose work has provided an immense contribution to the world of music and gained a huge audience both in Los Angeles and in the rest of the world.

Alma Del Barrio

In the autumn of 1973, what would become one of the most important Latin radio shows in Los Angeles started to go on the air, which is known as ”Alma Del Barrio” to this day and its main founders were Enrique Soto and Raul Villa, who were still university students at the time. What Raul and Enrique were looking for with this show was to educate the audience musically speaking and ensure that listeners to learn much more about their favorite artists.

A key part of this show is to interview the greatest exponents of the salsa genre and some of these have been Celia Cruz, Chucho Valdes, Manny Oquendo, Tito Puente, Roberto Roena and many more. Thanks to these conversations, fans of these artists have managed to learn more about their favorite artists and their future projects.

From the day of its founding, the show has been broadcast through the radio waves of KXLU, which is one of the largest radio stations in Los Angeles and offers all kinds of variety and musical genres in its programming.

Canto Tropical

”Canto Tropical” is a radio show created with the firm intention of serving as a bridge to unite generations, cultures and countries that appear to not have anything to do with each other. The main musical genres on which the programming is based are salsa, Latin jazz, merengue, Afro-Cuban rhythms, among others. The music comes from all over the world, but most of the material comes from South and Central America and the Caribbean.

In addition to being always aware of the latest Latin music, hosts Kathy Diaz and Hector Resendez always make sure to get the best interviews with the most famous local and foreign artists so that their fans can get to know them better both personally and professionally. Likewise, listeners have the possibility to participate in contests and sweeptakes to win free tickets to concerts and events that are of their interest.

One of the requirements to be met by the show is to always invite local artists and singers to help them promote their music, new albums and concerts. In this way, the audience is aware of what local talent is currently doing. In fact, there are many figures who are still thankful for the exposure given the program, thanks to which they have achieved the popularity they were seeking.

Another detail that cannot be overlooked is that several social and community organizations have publicly thanked the show for its voluntary work and its hosts Kathy and Hector, who have even written for major publications such as Hispanic, Bilboard Magazine CASHBOX, among others.

Read also: Son Del Monte’s musical director and timbalero Manuel Rivera