Search Results for: Dancing

Salsa: From New York to the world!

North America – United States – New York

Last February we actively participated in different activities in New York, promoted by different instances and always supported from the Spanish Harlem Salsa Gallery Museum and The Johnny Cruz Show.

Johnny Cruz: We were part of the Somos Puerto Rico event, together with more than 25 artists and with the collaboration of La Boom, which allowed thousands of people to work for our island: Puerto Rico. There was a lot of music, and we were accompanied by artists such as Jova Rodríguez, Arlene, Roberto Vásquez, Anissa Gatners, Fernando Berniero, Alex Bautista, Jen Carrasco and Kevin Tapia, among others.

We also had typical food for sale and many initiatives aimed at saving so many lives in need. From this event we want to continue bringing families to the United States and they can be calm until they stop shaking in the south west of Puerto Rico. You are not alone!

In addition, we are working hard on a documentary about Frank Ferrer, always thinking of immortalizing figures that have consolidated Salsa in the world as a Latin genre of world projection.

Salsa, as you know, is a typically New York musical genre, the result of the influence of great Latin jazz musicians, and the existence of a youth of Latin origin born, or resident in New York, in slums where Salsa is the best expression, spiced up by the exile produced by the Cuban Revolution and the awareness of American racial minorities.

In 1964, Johnny Pacheco, a flutist of Dominican origin, and Jerry Masucci, a young businessman, founded the Fania label, which gave the old Latin labels, a more modern sense of Caribbean music. Musicians and singers of the previous generation were reinvented, but others were incorporated as a young Willie Colon, the Palmieri brothers, Eddy and Charlie; Papo Luca, Ray Barreto, Larry Harlow. And, there were also singers who put their voice to Salsa to tell stories of the street, daily or reflexive, that were the mirror of the life of the neighborhoods: Cheo Feliciano, Adalberto de Santiago, Andy Montáñez, the Ismaeles -Miranda and Ribera-, Justo Betancourt, Héctor Lavoe or Rubén Blades.

Johnny Cruz Salsa: From New York to the world!

The influence of the Cuban revolution had led composers and salsa musicians to become aware that it was necessary to compose songs that talked about what was happening in the streets from a critical perspective, giving way to a new salsa and foot reality for characters as Frank Ferrer started from folklore and protest to arrive at salsa mixing both concepts in an exemplary album: Yerbabuena. All this and much more can be enjoyed very soon.

For this month of March, Puerto Rico will organize the 1st World Salsa Collectors Meeting and of course we will be there representing New York with the Salsa Museum (SPAHA Salsa Gallery Museum). From March 7th, at least 15 organizations of this type of collector from seven countries will exhibit their collections of the Caribbean genre.

The collectors meeting will take place at the Sheraton Hotel, in Miramar, under the theme “La Salsa se baila así” and will be free admission. It will be attended by collectors from Puerto Rico, Colombia, Panama, Peru, Ecuador, Mexico and several cities in the United States.

That day will be the official release in LP format of the album “Mario Ortiz, 55 Aniversario”, nominated for the last edition of the Latin Grammys.

The event includes memorabilia exhibitors of legendary salsa artists such as Willie Rosario, Bobby Valentín, Roberto Roena o la Sonora Ponceña, as well as the Museo de la Salsa de Puerto Rico or the Fundación Nacional para la Cultura Popular.

Pieces from the Jairo Varela Museum, renowned deceased Colombian musician, whose orchestra Grupo Niche is still active and triumphing around the world will be presented. The writer Daniel Nina, will give a lecture about Salsa, and Puerto Rican dancer Tito Ortos will talk about the history of salsa dancing. We can enjoy live music with the group Cubaneo 54, and a great closing with the several times awarded Big Band of the Free School of Music of San Juan, directed by Professor Manuel García. See you there!

As always, remember that Spanish Harlem Salsa Gallery is in 1708 Lexington ave New York N.Y. 10029. Open free to the public all Thursdays & Fridays from 4 to 7 pm and Saturdays from 1 to 8 pm. Check the updates in our website: spahasalsagallery.com.

Johnny Cruz - Spaha Salsa Gallery — Johnny Cruz – Spaha Salsa Gallery

Also, The Johnny Cruz Show, the #1 Salsa Show on television on all 5 Boroughs of New York on CH67. Saturdays from 3:30 to 4:30 pm.

Contact: Johnny Cruz. 917-747-8505. [email protected].

By Johnny Cruz Correspondent, New York City, New York

Quinteto D’Amore

Latin America / Cuba / Havana

Quinteto D’Amore, cultivating traditional Cuban music throughout the world

Quinteto D'Amore - floridita — Quinteto D’Amore – floridita

Quinteto D’Amore was founded in 2000 with an acoustic format, cultivating traditional Cuban music, although its repertoire includes international themes, it has made various national and international presentations.

In all these years different musicians have integrated the group, currently two years ago the group has been renewed and is composed of Bass, Tres, Violin, bongo, minor percussion and soloist.

Quinteto D'Amore & integrants — Quinteto D’Amore & integrants

They are characterized by combining music, voices and choreography in some of their songs, filling those who can enjoy their show with joy and energy.

Yasney (violin): Graduated from the Higher Institute of Art in the specialty of Violin (ISA). Member of the UNEAC, he was a member of the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba, has participated in record recordings of outstanding groups and soundtracks, as well as in the CD “Mi Querido Pablo II” with Pablo Milanés and his guests: Milton Nacimiento, Lucecita Benítez,

Fito Páez, Joaquín Sabina, Alberto Cortes, and in the concert offered at the National Auditorium of Mexico.

He has made numerous artistic tours and concerts with the band “Mambo Así”, the group “Sol y Arena”, “Piel Morena” among others in various countries such as: Moscow, Spain, Thailand, Hong Kong, Isla San Martín and Guadalupe, Italy. , Angola. yasney joined D’Amore in May 2014.

Quinteto D'Amore & integrants - Photos — Quinteto D’Amore & integrants – Photos

Yonel (three/four Cuban guitar) I started in music at the age of 6 when I learned to play the guitar since then I sang some songs and accompanied others like my brother. At the age of 7 I started at the art school of Sgt.

From Cuba to study the violin for more or less three years, over time I got to know other instruments such as the piano, percussion until I got to the bass with which I spent several years with the group Son Chévere de Matanzas.

Then I came to Havana and started playing the tres until I transformed it into a CUATRO, adding a couple more strings and it is the instrument I currently work with in Quinteto D’Amore.

Evelyn (soloist), began studying music when she was little, receiving piano and music theory lessons at age 11, she received her first prize as a solo singer awarded by the pioneer organization, she also received dance classes at the National Ballet School of the Havana and contemporary dance workshops, integrating several dance companies and performing in the 2nd Tropicana Show. She is a mid-level micro operator graduate. I study at the school of art instructors.

As a singer, he began his professional career integrating several groups such as: Lady Salsa Mix, Cuban Salsa Orchestra, Las Canelas, Ketlman Ferrer and his orchestra, etc. She is currently the solo singer of the Quinteto D’Amore.

Photo of Quinteto D'Amore & integrants — Photo of Quinteto D’Amore & integrants

Orley (Bass): He studied Bass and Double Bass, he began his musical career in Ciego de Ávila as part of different groups of small and large format such as: Orquesta Eclipse, Conjunto Campesino “Campo Lindo”, among others, later he joined groups in Havana as the Tradition Septet, the group of the singer Leyanis López traveling to France (Paris) under the record label “Luz Africa”, from 2007 to 2011 in the Maykel Blanco Orchestra and its Salsa Mayor making several international tours by Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Belgium and Peru, thus participating in the recording of their 2 albums.

From 2011 to 2013 he was a member of the groups “Amor y el Son”, Pepitín y su CumBachá”, and Habana Midic, performing in Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia and Lebanon. Orey joined D’Amore in May 2014.

Daymé (Director, tres and bongó): Graduated in Telecommunications and Electronics Engineering at ISPJAE, and in intermediate level in music in the specialty of “Tres”, she belonged to the movement of amateur artists for 14 years, participating in international festivals, more Later as a professional, he joined several small-format groups performing in Cuba at the “Dos Gardenias” complex, La Bodeguita del Medio, at the Floridita Restaurant and in various hotels, abroad he has fulfilled various contracts in Jamaica, Qatar, United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Al Ain), Jordan, Egypt, Japan, Spain, Turkey and China, she is currently the bongo player and director of the DÁmore Quintet.

Maria Carla (2nd violin) She began her music studies at the “Alejandro García Caturla Conservatory” where she reached the level of Junior High School and the 7th year of violin.

In 2006 he entered the “Amadeo Roldán Conservatory” to continue his studies up to the upper middle level of violin. During his student stage he was part of the orchestras of the respective schools participating in meetings, competitions and concerts both as an instrumentalist and as a vocalist in choirs.

Upon graduation, he taught in the province of Pinar del Río and for two years taught at the Vocational School of Art in the city of Pinar del Río.

Since 2010 he has been part of the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba, collaborating simultaneously with various groups of both classical music and popular music with groups such as “La Camerata del Son”, “Ensemble Alternativo”, “Quinteto D Amore”, “Orquesta Panorama”, “Quinteto Doble Sabor”.

María Carla also participated in several events and festivals: National Meeting of Symphony Orchestras, International Fair

Cubadisco, Encounter of Choirs, -Festival América Canta, Festival of Contemporary Music, Festival of Young Pianists,

Danzón Festival, International Book Fair of Havana as well as in various recordings of phonograms with artists such as José María and Sergio Vitier, Toni Pinelli, Rafael Guedes, Aldo López-Gavilán.

He has also accompanied renowned soloists such as pianists Lang Lang, Chucho Valdés, Frank Fernández, Aldo López Gavilán, singer Omara Portuondo, violinists Ryu Goto, Francesco Manara, clarinetist Keisuke Wakao, guitarist Joaquín Clerch.

I work under the baton of directors such as Yoshikazu Fukumura, Marin Alsop, Francesco Belli.

Quintet D’Amore Repertoire

Latin/English Recent Hits

Havana – Camila Cabello

Someone Like You ‐ Adele

Don’t You Remember ‐ Adele

Unbreak My Heart ‐ Tony Braxton

Rehab ‐ Amy Winehouse

Whenever Whatever ‐ Shakira

Dancing – Enrique Iglesias,

Lambada‐Kapma,

Macarena ‐ Those of the River,

Mambo No 5 ‐ Lou Bega,

Nossa Nossa ‐ Miechl Telo

I Have Your Love ‐ Si7e

I just want to give you a kiss – Prince Royce

Despacito – Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee

English Pop, Rock, Blues, Jazz, R&B

Stand By Me ‐ Ben E. King

Yesterday ‐ The Beatles

Only You (And You Alone) ‐ The Platters

New York New York ‐ Frank Sinatra, Liza Minelli

Misty ‐ Errol Garner & Johnny Burke / Johnny Mathis

Girl From Ipanema ‐ Pery Ribeiro, Frank Sinatra

Flying To The Moon ‐ Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, Tony Bennett, Diana Krall

Summertime ‐ Ella Fitzgerald, Janis Joplin, Billie Holiday …

Autumn Leaves ‐ Nat King Cole, Andrea Bocleli, Eric Clapton …

My Way – Jacques Revaux, Paul Anka / Claude Francois, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley

I Just Called To Say I Love You ‐ Stevie Wonder

Somewhere Over the Rainbown ‐ Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg / Judy Garland, Israel

For Ever And Ever ‐ Demis Roussos

Hotel California – Eagles …

Cuban/Latin Salsa, Son, Rumba, Cumbia, Bolero

The Modern Yerbero ‐ Celia Cruz,

Quimbara ‐ Celia Cruz

Life is a Carnival – Celia Cruz

Idyll ‐ Wilie Colon

El Cartero ‐ Buena Vista Social Club

Tula Room ‐ Buena Vista Social Club

Discreet Kisses ‐ Compay Segundo

Chan chan ‐ Compay Segundo

Goodbye, Commander ‐ Carlos Puebla

Husbands Majaderos ‐ Perdro Luis Ferrer

Yolanda ‐ Pablo Milanes

I’ll be back – Diego Verdaguer

Pile of Stars ‐ Polo Montañez

Cariñito ‐ The Children of the Sun

Hey How It Goes ‐ Tito Puente / Carlos Santana

Nel blu dipinto di blu (Volare) ‐ Dean Martin …

Cocoon of Aleli ‐ Catean Veloso

Dos Gardenias ‐ Daniel Santos, Buena Vista Social Club

The Pale Flower ‐ Polo Montanez / Marc Anthony

Perfidia ‐ Alberto Domínguez / Los Panchos, Perez Prado, Nat King Cole, Ben E. King,

Luis Miguel

Guantanamera ‐ Celia Cruz, Compay Segundo, Tito Puente, Joan Baez

Black Tears ‐ Trio Matamorros, Omara Portuondo, Celia Cruz, Compay

Segundo/Cesaria Evora

Grinding Coffee ‐ Jose Manzo Perroni / Mario Suárez, Xiomara Alfaro, Ricardo

Montaner

El Manisero ‐ Rita Montaner, Antonio Machin, Mistinguett, Louis Armstrong

Story of a love ‐ Carlos Eleta Almaran, Guadalupe Pineda

Besame Mucho ‐ Consuelo Velasquez / Los Panchos, Pedro Infante, Louis Arnstrong,

Andrea Bocelli

Maybe Maybe Maybe ‐ Osvaldo Farres / Bobby Capo, Celia Cruz, Nat King Cole

The cumbanchero ‐ Rafael Hernandez / Tito Puente

Que Sera, Sera ‐ Jay Livingston and Ray Evans / Connie Francis, Natalie Cole

Pink Cherry ‐ Los Tecolines

www.quintetodamore.com

www.facebook.com/QuintetoDAmore

Youtube Quinteto D’Amore

Hindy & his Orchestra “The Sonera of the Moment”

Latin America / Buenos Aires / Argentina

Hindy Singer of the Latin genre, with a high and extensive artistic career in salsa.

Hindy born in San Félix – Edo. Bolívar, in the south east of Venezuela, in 27 years of artistic career, has enriched her musical career through her different participations as a soloist, chorister, singer-songwriter and producer.

Photo 1: Hindy dancing in a party festival

His beginnings in the Venezuelan salsa music elite are with a first place in the Record Report, at the hands of the international producer César Monges “Albóndiga” interpreting in his production “De Regreso a mi País” the version of the song A Flor de Piel del Venezuelan singer-songwriter Yordano Di Marzo, being in turn the leading voice of the Monges orchestra “Latín Girls” under the representation of Korta Records of the businessman “Negro Mendoza”.

Among some of the national and international celebrities with whom he has participated on different stages are: Cheo Feliciano, Viti Ruiz, Henry Fiol, Roberto Blades, Jr. Gonzáles, Paquito Guzmán, Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz, Gilberto S, Wladimir Lozano, Erick Franchesqui , Paquito Barón, Gustavo Rodríguez, Armando Manzanero, Pancho Céspedes, Gran Combo, S. Ponceña, Hildemaro, etc.

There is a long way to go, if it can be said, in the “short” artistic career of Hindy Castillo. His jump to internationalism was in 2007-08 to Europe, where he participated for two consecutive summers in different popular music orchestras touring more than 30 cities in Spain, and in France.

Photo 2: Hindy dancing in a party festival

His next artistic stop was in the state of Mexico.

Hindy was selected to assemble an international orchestra and travel from Venezuela to do a 3-month tour, which lasted another 13 months, the immediate rapport of all its members was a total success, profiling a true blunderbuss in the salsa environment. Veracruz.

She was also chosen to participate in the 1st Boca del Río salsa festival and, among other presentations, shared the stage with the great composer Armando Manzanero and Pancho Céspedes, extending her presentations to Guatemala City. Later, she travels to the capital, DF, invited by a local producer, who, seduced by her talent, encourages her with her orchestra to perform on different stages of the Aztec capital, capturing the taste of the Mexican music lover and salsa dancer, who turn to her presentations. to appreciate and enjoy his voice and the special talent of the soneo Salsoso.

Hindy musicalizes, produces her first songs and debuts as a singer-songwriter, under the executive production of her representative Carlos Zapata.

They record four songs sprinkled with romanticism, maintaining the bases of “hard” salsa and with novel musical variants.

Flamenco was one of these variants that played an important role in this product since its mixture with salsa resulted in a very genuine and fresh sound, from the pen of select Venezuelan arrangers. Graduated instructor of Popular Singing.

He has developed musical studies of: vocal technique, German singing method in Spain, Latin piano and modern harmony. He is currently doing his Bachelor of Music and Popular Singing at the José Ángel Lamas High School of Music. And preparatory studies of trombone. Caracas.

Photo 3: Hindy dancing in a party festival

As a musical producer, she manages the concepts “MujereSon & Boleros”, a musical of Boleros and sones, the social project Mujeres de la Escena, and her main project “Hindy & su Orquesta”, with a dynamic scene, full of salsa for all tastes, with the majestic quality that characterizes her performances.

Hindy is a talent full of energy, charisma, quality, with a Venezuelan flavor to export.

Origins of Kizomba

Kizomba is a very catchy musical genre that has its origin in Angola, Africa. It can be said that its birth was in the 1980s; but if we want to understand its history, we must look further back to the 50s and 60s.

It was then that certain traditional dances of the African country and one of them was semba, began mixing with other rhythms both from its country of origin and other cultures after Africa was colonized by Europe in the 14th century. It is from there that a fusion of rhythms begins in which partner dancing takes center stage.

However, the old continent did not do all the work. Argentina and Cuba also played an essential role in the form in which semba must be danced.

In Portugal, the word Kizomba has its origin in all musical rhythms that derive from zouk, with which it is often constantly confused. It is a type of dancing laden with great sensuality and highly contagious that has become very popular with the passage of time, particularly in countries such as the United States, Canada, France, Spain, Poland, Belgium, Denmark, among others. Many Latin Americans consider that this is a breath of fresh air because it does not seem like anything they previously knew in terms of dance.

One of the reasons that it became so famous around the world is that this dance is very easy to learn due to its softness and simple dance steps. If you want to learn to dance, kizomba is a very good option to begin with.

Kizomba lets the couple play the music they dance. The more intimate the members of the couple, the more likely that the dance will be much more sensual and there will be much more complicity between men and women who enjoy this pleasure.

How kizomba originated

As we have said previously, kizomba has its origin in Angola, which was a colony of Portugal in the mid-1970s. With the arrival of Cuban military personnel, certain rhythms came from the Caribbean island that started to be used by various Angolan artists for their musical projects. The result was a fabulous mix of fast local rhythms with much slower, romantic and partially synthetic sounds.

The resulting genre was danced with semba and merenque, which made it known as kizombadas and, subsequently, kizomba.

By the 90’s, the word kizomba started to be used in Portugal to refer to all African rhythms danced in the nightspots of the most important cities in the European country. With the passage of time, the term would be used to refer to the musical genre and many other sub-genres with which it shares history.

Once this type of dance began to take hold in the rest of Europe, it was in France where all these rhythms that resemble one another started to be called kizomba, leading to the controversy over whether it and soft zouk are the same. Given that on certain islands belonging to France they were the cradle of zouk, it can be assumed that this has kindled heated debate even further still.

At the beginning, kizomba was only able to spread throughout the African continent, but migration allowed it to reach Europe and America respectively where a lot of passionate dance groups of this genre began to appear. The number of followers accumulated by this genre in countries such as Portugal, France or Spain was very huge.

Currently, there are a number of exponents of this kind of music that became famous worldwide such as Nelson Freitas, Djodje, Anselmo Ralph, Matias Damasio, among many others.

Kizomba in Europe

It is incredible the number of places where you can enjoy this spectacular dance. One of them is the world famous Eiffel Tower, where there are many options to learn or improve the dance steps. In France, the genre has been very popular, so much so that many places for dancing celebrate exclusive kizomba nights known as kizomba soirées by the locals. Considering the major African influence on this dance, those wishing to find out more will be able to enjoy a wonderful mix of dance styles and cultures that will leave no one indifferent.

In these places, you can share with a very impressive amount of tourists and foreigners from around the world. This contributes enormously to linkages and friendships between people of other cultures and other ways of seeing the world, which may be very rewarding from all points of view.

In the case of Lisbon, Portugal, it can be said that this is another place that every lover of kizomba in Europe should visit. Besides being a city that receives all its visitors with genuine hospitality, the dancing and music are ever-present. Among the many places you can go to enjoy the dance, it is important to mention the Estudio Sabor & Dança dance studio, the Academy World Dance and the Kizomba Power Dance School.

Regarding Barcelona, Spain, what can be said is that this is one of the best European cities for dancing as there is a gigantic variety of musical styles that can be found there. There are always parties and events worth attending. One of those dances that can be found in the city’s nightlife is kizomba that has gained popularity in recent years.

Latin music events and festivals were based on salsa and bachata, but kizomba has completely changed that reality. Today, it is very common to find festivals and congresses dedicated exclusively to this dance and its most loyal lovers. If you want to learn to dance this genre, there are a number of schools and workshops that could be very useful such as Así se Baila, Seven Dance and Baila Barcelona.

Kizomba in Latin America

Many people who do not know the origin of the kizomba think that it originated in Latin America due to its type of dancing, but the fact is that this dance was not even known in most countries of the continent. In fact, its main boom started relatively recently in some places such as Colombia, where it began to be known not long ago. In that country, there are currently academies and teachers who are dedicated exclusively to this musical style, which has started to happen in other Latin nations.

In Venezuela, it is said that it has been danced for more than 10 years, but it began to be known a short while ago thanks to some videos on the major social networks after it became famous in Europe. The pioneers of this practice were a certain number of instructors born in the Caribbean country after being trained in Brazil. Following this, kizomba was the subject of a great deal of interest in many young Venezuelans who want to learn to dance it. There are not many records on places to dance where this genre may be found, but there is no doubt that soon it will be like this.

Kizomba in Asia

There are many events and congresses linked to kizomba in Asia, which have a great influx of visitors, even when it is commonly believed that Asians are not fans of this type of rhythm. Experience with congresses of the last years has given the impression that this is not true. In fact, there are many fans of this rhythm from the continent who want to know all events and competitions details that are carried out in their countries for the coming months.

Japan is one of the nations where this type of event can be found the most. Such is the case of the Japan Kizomba Festival that has been going on in the country for many years due to the high level of attendance of visitors.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WOVBNULkYc

“Tito Puente: When the drums are dreaming” A biography of the King of Latin Percussion by Josephine Powell

North America – USA –CaliTifornia

This month we are sure that you will have time to enjoy an excellent reading at home. So we recommend this book by Josephine Powell. An interesting biography about the legendary Tito Puente, that takes us on a journey through the more than 60 years in which he performed.

Further the life of Tito Puente, you can know his insight into the Latin music industry. With many anecdotes of his encounters, racial discrimination while touring and how that impacted his relationship with other band members. There are also numerous insights into his personality, his temperament, and the many obstacles he had to overcome to achieve legendary status.

Josephine Powell’s book on Tito Puente and his contributions to Latin music and dance is a treasure trove of people, places, facts and history. Because of the author’s place in the history of Latin dance, she takes the reader with her through that fascinating maze of how artists like Puente changed the exposure and tastes of the American public and the world.

The Latin Ballroom world today reflects how we adore – and then neglect and forgets – the people who made us who we are. She mentioned many fascinating dance-related characters in this story that takes place in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, the Catskills and Havana.

It is also a much-needed history of great nightclubs and ballrooms, which are only dim memories for the young – but in their time, were the breeding grounds of Latin music and dance. Tito Puente’s percussion and passion are finally brought to life in a fascinating book.

To remember Tito Puente’s career as accurately as Josephine Powell has done makes this biography a worthwhile read. Tito Puente the man and Tito Puente the musician are blended into the tempo of the times during which the musical man lived. For young musicians seeking success Josephine Powell’s well-written commentary provides a glimpse of what can lie ahead in one’s career; so do read Powell’s take on Tito Puente’s life and perhaps capture a taste of how you too can climb the charts with a dash of spice in your style.

With over 100 albums, several Grammy nominations, 7 Grammys and posthumously awarded The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003, his footprint in the world of music will forever be the standard of excellence that others will look to emulate.

Josephine Powell took on the monumental task of writing about his life, the forward was written by Tito Puente 2 months before he died.

Because of their lifelong friendship of many decades, Josephine was the one person who could create this book. Her talent and passion will pulled this off to perfection. He was a man who brought his music to the world, and put the Mambo on the map.

This book never could have been written without her dedication and perseverance and the personal moments she shares. From the very first chapter, the quality of her writing can be seen as she starts with the moments leading up to his death and continues for 16 more, giving you the history of Latin music from its inception to the music of today. Throughout her many archives of pictures from her private collection, your eyes will wide with wonder.

Josie Powell traces the evolution of Afro-Cuban, Puerto Rican and jazz forms from their generally recognized origins through the end of the twentieth century, focusing on Puente’s interactions with professional allies and constant rivals.

Powell documents musical events as an aficionado of the Latin genres, almost religiously avoiding disclosure of Puente’s family life. Those not yet born during the Big Band decades or Mambo mania can imagine the atmosphere from descriptive passages of Manhattan ballrooms, Havana dance halls, LA nightclubs.

About Tito Puente

Ernesto “Tito” Puente was born in 1923 in Spanish Harlem and grew up with the advent of radio and American swing bands. At 10 years old he aspired to be a dancer, like Fred Astaire. An ankle injury gave him the opportunity to explore his talent as a musician. At fourteen he won the coveted Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa drum contest. Tito became a master percussionist. His instrument was the timbales, a pair of cylindrical drums beat upon with sticks. When he joined the dynamic Machito Orchestra at seventeen he saw a promising future, but the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 took him off to war.

He led a makeshift orchestra delivering lovable American wartime tunes when he was not fighting. He returned home wounded, weary and jobless. Puente’s tale should have been the story of every returning American GI, who went off to war, came home to his sweetheart, attended college, raised a family and settled down in an adorable house. Things were not that way.

After the war his obsession for Cuban music drove him to Havana. He attended secret meetings of Santería, an Afro-Cuban religious cult with its roots steeped in mysticism often referred to as black magic. With the lure of the sacred batá drum he discovered a world of rhythms never heard by a white man’s ear. He found himself inside the beat, and thoroughly possessed. Soon Tito became a devotee of Santería and used those drum patterns and calls, which were the mainstay and backbone of his music. Today this hot hypnotic music is known worldwide as Salsa.

About Josephine Powell

Author Josephine Powell – a music historian, lecturer, and consultant on ballroom music and dancing and Latin American music – was a consultant (music, history, and dance) on the motion pictures Salsa, Havana, and The Mambo Kings, and their soundtracks; The Mambo Kings track received a Grammy Nomination. She also consulted on two Golden Eagle television shows; two television documentaries, one Presidential Inaugural Ball, and two Grammy-winning record albums by her mentor Tito Puente.

In 1990, she obtained a star for her mentor on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, orchestrated his associated live concert on the Boulevard, and organized a gala event at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, with music industry executives, film producers, and celebrities.

Powell’s dance career took her to the South Pacific, the Philippines, Guam, Hong Kong, Thailand – where she performed for the Royal Family – and Vietnam, where she introduced mambo to the troops in a revue she wrote herself. A Gold Medal ballroom dancer, Powell was Tito Puente’s West coast mambo dance partner, and a cast member of the Broadway show Sketchbook in Las Vegas.

Through touring the country for over a decade with stage and lounge shows, along with work in the recording, television, and movie industries, Powell learned wardrobe design, writing, comedy, and choreography. Appeared at the Tropicana, El Rancho Vegas, Flamingo, and Nevada Club in Las Vegas; The Golden Hotel and Mapes Hotel in Reno; The Wagon Wheel in Lake Tahoe, and The President Hotel in Atlantic City, among others.

After an injury forced her to retire from dance, Powell became a real estate agent in Beverly Hills, where she became actively involved in political work with celebrities and later joined Connie Stevens’s organization Les Girls. Powell’s work and charitable activities afforded many opportunities to work with Hollywood producers, directors, writers, and luminaries.

Powell studied the history of ballroom music and dance, ethnomusicology, journalism, and Spanish at UCLA. A regularly featured musicologist on radio stations KXLU and KPFK, Powell receives many requests for lectures and consultations. She has been a presenter and judge at numerous dance competitions, including the Feather Awards and the U.S. Open National Swing Dance Competition. The Mormon Temple Genealogical Library in Los Angeles has made her its expert lecturer on French Colonial Maritime records. Since 1986, she has conducted ten research and study trips to Havana, where she is a curatorial consultant for El Museo Nacional de la Música Cubana.

With information from: https://josephinepowell.com
You can buy this wonderful book in Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Tito-Puente-When-Drums-Dreaming/dp/1425981585