Search Results for: El Gran Combo

Nelly Ramos, A Woman of Wood “Honorary Teacher”

Growing up with music, living from music, producing music, performing music, studying music, is not a cacophony, they are different states that a music lover can go through.

Either involved with one or several roles on the subject simultaneously. It is true that their development is transversed by music as a field that requires developing cognitive, motor, intellectual, and social skills, and even those required by the industry, such as those related to negotiation and marketing.

Nelly Ramos, A Woman of Wood “Honorary Teacher” — Nelly Ramos, A Woman of Wood

This means that music involves memory for the need to learn, remember and evoke; it involves dance as a pleasant form of non-verbal communication; it involves musical performance for the execution in various disciplines; it involves ingenuity and creation, to make arrangements and compositions; it involves social interaction, for the role of music in dances, concerts, programs, parties, festivals, competitions, orchestras and groups and finally it involves a field that very few are concerned with, such as research.

But even though for the music lover music occupies a transversal axis, his daily life demands him to fulfill the necessary requirements to live in society, in them, the need to work, study, and take care of the family without neglecting to cultivate himself as a person simultaneously with enriching his spiritual demands.

Linked to all this panorama is a basic principle based on birth as a source of explanation of what men and women will be and will do. We came into the world unprotected, it was our parents who at that stage facilitated our adaptation to life, and as we grew up they unconsciously drew up a script for us about what we would be in the future, often being disappointed by not seeing any of their projections fulfilled.

Growing up with music, living from music, producing music, performing music, studying music, is not a cacophony, they are different states that a music lover can go through. — Awarded as “Honorary Teacher” of the National University of the Arts.

During the first years of life, the school and the family took the reins of our formation, socialization and the transmission of values, but in this process, the influence of the environment played a preponderant role by carrying behind it a hidden curriculum whose function was to transmit information to us, different from what the school or the family could have covered. In my personal growth,

the influences received by the environment that offered me living in a neighborhood such as the Marín neighborhood in the parish of San Agustín del Sur in Caracas were decisive.

It was living my adolescence in the ’70s, wrapped in the confluence of uses, customs, traditions and a whole diversity of socio-cultural practices inherent to the daily life of the neighborhood all culminating in shaping my tastes, my preferences, my interests, my way of being, of saying and acting. How to escape, for example, from the practice of a neighbor located at the top of the neighborhood who habitually listened to salsa amplifying it for the whole community; to coexist with the Saturday rehearsals of Frank y su Tribu and Mon Carrillo and his sextet or the almost daily practices of Alfredo Padilla studying his timbal on the balcony of his house, or Pedro García “Guapachá teaching the youngsters his tumbadora techniques; or waiting every year end for the street descargas; dancing in the parties and temples enjoying the song “Rómpelo de los Dementes, “Guasancó” by Sexteto Juventud or “Pao Pao” by Federico y su Combo Latino; listening to the salsa hour with Phidias Danilo Escalona was a must at lunchtime, and at night “Quiebre de Quinto” with Cesar Miguel Rondón.

Obviously, what I have said in this account is nothing more than a brief synopsis of how much influence I may have received, but when added together they give as a result of the support of my expansion through a cultural world that was seasoned by pop music and the expressions of the hippie movement during the 70s.

I continued my formal education studying Psychology at the Central University of Venezuela, simultaneously I studied Theory and Solfeggio with Professor Eduardo Serrano and then at the José Lorenzo LLamozas School, another part of my time was dedicated to studying Traditional Dances at the National Institute of Folklore.

In 1977, a group of musicians and young people from the Marín neighborhood promoted the creation of the Madera Group, through which we were able to channel all those concerns experienced in everyday life.

Maintaining the activity with the group, I got involved with Choral Singing at the Vinicio Adames Foundation. At the Bigott Foundation, I studied percussion with Professor Alexander Livinalli and popular singing with Professor Francisco Salazar.

I was a member of the group “Afroamérica” formed by Jesus Chucho Garcia, Miguel Urbina, Benigno Medina, Orlando Poleo Johnny Rudas and Faride Mijares. Since 1988 I dedicated myself to the production of Didactic Encounters of percussionist musicians teaming up with Jesús “Totoño” Blanco (R.I.P) and José Agapito Hernández.

In 1993 I was chorister of Marianella y su Orquesta. I was part of the Editorial Board and at the same time an article writer of the magazine “Así Somos”, a publication of the Ministry of Culture.

Pending not to neglect my academic interests, I dedicated myself to pursuing a Doctorate in Education at the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello.

Moving on to another facet, I had participated as an actress in the film “Pelo malo” by Mariana Rondón (grandmother Carmen) obtaining the award for a best supporting actress at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York (2014), in the Venezuelan Film Festival-Cinelco (2014) and the Municipal Film Award (2015), then I participated in the video clip of “De tú a tú” of Lasso’s promotional album in 2014.

Awarded as “Honorary Teacher” of the National University of the Arts (Unearte), in recognition of the cultural work developed.

Facebook: Nelly Josefina Ramos Tovar

Article of Interest: Professor MSc. Carlos Colmenárez and his “WRITTEN SALSA”

Heyzer Cabrera, brilliant and virtuoso Venezuelan percussionist

International Salsa Magazine / www.SalsaGoogle.com and its correspondent, Professor Carlos Colmenarez from Barquisimeto, Venezuela have the privilege to present one of the most important bastions of our Latin music in the Caribbean.

In this opportunity we honor in our salsa column, the Venezuelan percussionist Heyzer Cabrera, born in the city of Caracas, on May 3, who already has more than 30 years of musical career, because at the age of 7 years old he was part of the Venezuelan Children’s Choir, directed by Professor Raul Cabrera, his uncle.

At the age of 15 he began his interest in percussion, with the help of his great friend and also percussionist Juan Pablo Barrios and at 17 he began his career as a professional musician with the “Orquesta Canela” in 1994 and since then he has been part of many groups of the salsa genre, such as: “El Combo de Venezuela”, “La Negramenta” and accompanying international artists such as Andy Montañez, Van Lester and Pedro Arroyo.

At the age of 15 he began his interest in percussion, hand in hand with his great friend and percussionist Juan Pablo Barrios and at 17 he began his career as a professional musician with the "Orquesta Canela" in 1994 and since then he has been part of many groups of the salsa genre, such as: "El Combo de Venezuela", "La Negramenta" and accompanying international artists such as Andy Montañez, Van Lester and Pedro Arroyo. — Heyzer Cabrera, brilliant and virtuoso Venezuelan percussionist

In 2013, he began his project to make a recording studio, which is called “A Tempo Récords” and in parallel he studied sound engineering at the academy (Audio Place), under the guidance of Jesus Sanchez and Jean Sanchez. In his career as a sound technician he has participated as a producer of several orchestras and in 2019, he gets his first recognition by being nominated in the production “Con Todo” by Coco y su “Sabor Matancero”, for Record of the Year, Salsa Genre, at the Pepsi Music Awards in Caracas.

Heyzer, at the international level you have had presentations? Indeed Professor Carlos, in 2018 I had the pleasure of being in Cali, Colombia, with the orchestra “La Negramenta”, in La Topa Tolondra and the reaction of the public was of great emotion, chanting all the songs of the orchestra; later in 2019, I returned to Cali, but with the orchestra “Noche Caliente” and soon we will return to the neogranadino country.

And with Juan Pablo Barrios, you were part of his wonderful jazz-salsa band? Hey, yes, I was part of that wonderful orchestra for 8 years.

Heyzer, with which of the percussion instruments do you feel better for its execution? My friend Carlos, with all the irons equally, that is: timbales, congas and bongos.

Also, Heyzer Cabrera has just become part of the musical project “Ritmo Caliente”, the group formed by the musicians: Cheo Navarro, Alfredo Naranjo, Jhoán Muñoz, José Soto, Miguel Urbina, Rodrigo Mendoza on vocals and of course, Heyzer on percussion and also the first personal single entitled “Mi social”, was recorded in Cabrera’s studios.

For those who wish to contact and hire the excellent percussionist Heyzer Cabrera, you can do so at 0412-9782696, through Instagram: heyzer_drums, atemporecords. Facebook: Heyzer Cabrera and A Tempo Récords.

with all irons equally, i.e.: timbales, congas and bongos. — Heyzer Cabrera has just become part of the musical project “Ritmo Caliente”.

From Salsa Escrita, International Salsa Magazine / www.SalsaGoogle.com and all its staff, we wish the greatest success to this bastion of Venezuelan percussion.

Facebook: Heyzer Cabrera, brilliant and virtuoso Venezuelan percussionist

Everything prior to the 20th century is in the History of Salsa, since what happened in the Caribbean is common to mankind.

As in the rest of the world, salsa in Venezuela entered in the 60s from the new sounds created in New York, and driven by musicians like Federico Betancourt (Federico y su combo latino), or radio programs like La hora de la salsa, although rumba and Cuban son were already rooted since the 40s and 50s.

Article of Interest: Johnny “Dandy” Rodríguez Jr.

See you next time and let’s keep on salsaing!

By: Professor Carlos Colmenarez from Barquisimeto, Venezuela

Great conversación with conductor and timbalero Sammy Deleon

How Sammy Deleon’s career began to flourish

There have been uncountable artists who have lifted Latin music around the world, and one of them has been conductor Sammy Deleon. This American of Puerto Rican parents was born in Lorain, Ohio, on August 18, 1961, and grew up in the same county with his 14 brothers. He started his professional career with the Trio Puerto Rico when he was just 13 years old, after which he was already beginning to demonstrate his incredible musical skills.

While it is true that neither of his parents were musicians, Sammy recalls with affection his mother while she used to sing at home and his father used to play the Puerto Rican cuatro during the Christmas season to celebrate the occasion to the sound of parrandas typical of the Island of Enchantment that were created for the occasion.

This musician greatly enjoyed the work of Tito Puente, with whom he later developed a great friendship and an excellent working relationship. That happened on one night when the King of Timbales was playing a concert in Lakeview Beach. Deleon made his way to the stage, greeted the timbalero, wanted to talk to him and asked to play with him. After doing some soundtracks and a unique display of talent, Puente accepted to let him play and together they shone on stage by making one of the biggest dreams of Sammy a reality.

After that, he ended up playing with Puente in his hometown, Orlando, New York and Puerto Rico. After many years, the same would happen with Tito Puente Jr. who would also take into account this musician’s talent for his shows.

Sammy Deleon with his timbales — Sammy Deleon playing the timbales in one of his concerts

Deleon has shown diverse musical abilities throughout his career, but without a doubt, he has been successful in percussion, more than in any other. Likewise, he has dedicated much of his time and effort to exploring Latin and Afro-Cuban rhythms, resulting in a style that is unlike many other artists of his kind.

For the last 10 years, he has managed to conduct his own group Sammy Deleon Y Su Orquesta, with which he has had many of his successes in his career so far, one of them the respect and admiration of a vast multicultural audience that is always seeking innovation in the music which they hear.

During these years, he has managed to capture the attention of many DJs, dancers, and Latin music lovers thanks to his hard work and the enormous energy invested in each of his musical productions. Contigo Y Sin Ti and Baila Que Baila have been a gift to the ear on dance floors crowded with people of all musical tastes and different levels of skills in relation to dance and choreography.

Everything he learned during his career has also been benefitial to other musicians, as Sammy uses his knowledge to mentor would-be percussionists who want to follow in his footsteps and those of the most acclaimed musicians in history. Unquestionably, a noble task for those who, at a certain point, had the same dreams.

Sammy Deleon and his people — Sammy Deleon Y Su Orquesta

Interesting and emotional conversation with Sammy Deleon

A very good morning to all of you. This is Karina Garcia, North American director for International Salsa Magazine. I am very happy today because we have a very special guest. This is none other than Sammy Deleon who is a composer, timbalero, and musician with a long-standing career. How are you, Sammy? How are you feeling today?

I’m very well, thank you. I’m very well, thank goodness. From here in Cleveland, Ohio.

All right, Sammy, could you tell me what pushed you to go into music? What inspired you? What did you decide to take this path and why did you chose percussion?

Well, the one who put the music on was my father. Gumersindo Deleon was the one who started all this. I say he was a frustrated musician because his time was not very good, but slowly, he taught me and my two brothers Puerto Rican jibaro music when I was a little boy. Two years went by and one of my brothers was 15 years old, the other one was 14 and I was 13 when my brother taught us salsa when it was a boom in New York. That is how we started playing percussion on our own, since no one taught us.

We listened to music every day and from there started singing in church choirs with trios, ensembles, jibaro music and, little by little, we kept going up, up, up. That is when my older brother Roberto, who was a timbalero before I do, saw that I were interested in the timpani than him while he was dedicated to the conga and my other brother Micky was dedicated to the bongo. Then the three of us were rehearsing almost every day and my dad said that we were too loud when playing percussion. Years passed and my brother Roberto moved to Florida, my brother Micky moved to Kansas City and I were alone here.

I have been playing since I was 13, starting with the Trio Puerto Rico and, later, I started playing with a group called Conjunto Nabori with music by Cheo Feliciano and we were doing it with vibraphones, congas, timbales and so on. From there, we joined an orchestra called Charambo (meaning charanga and mambo) where I stayed for 10 years. Next thing after that, the orchestra was going to break up, another merengue group called Orquesta Marquis was being created when merengue was in full swing in the 90s. After being part of that orchestra for five years, we had a problem with the director, so we fired him and changed the name to Orquesta Impacto Nuevo where I stayed for 10 years. After burning the CD, we went to Florida to promote it and, after that, a few things did happen and I decided to go back to Ohio.

We created a group under my own name, so it was called Sammy Deleon Y Su Orquesta with which we have worked for almost 25 years now. We have joined many different singers. When we were in the Charambo Orchestra, we performed with Tito Puente, Adalberto Santiago, Chivirico Dávila, Vitín Aviléz, Conde Rodríguez, Luisito Carrión, Tito Rojas, Tony Vegas and many more. We played with Ismael Mirando for over a year and I won several awards in the city as Legend of the year and it was a big thing. I use an orchestra composed of 18 musicians and played mambo created by Tito Puente and Los Mambo Kings.

Remember that I come from a big family in which we were 14 siblings, 8 sisters and 5 brothers. The oldest was a DJ for many years and the one who brought salsa here in the 70s and 80s. I also had the joy of playing with the Gran Combo de Puerto Rico two years ago because their timbalero got sick, which is why I had the opportunity to play with them a couple of times while he was getting better. We have played in Buffalo, Cincinnati, New York, Los Angeles and many other places.

Sammy Deleon at the Jazz Fest Cleveland — Sammy Deleon performing at the Jazz Fest Cleveland

All right, Sammy. Everybody knows very well your admiration for Tito Puente before you even became a famous musician. In fact, I remember seeing an interview with you in which you recount an anecdote of how you met and played with him.

Thank you. You brought up a very cool issue. One time, Tito Puente came here to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1979. There was a big concert in Lorain, where I was born and raised. He played during the day, and at night, we went to watch him at a well-known jazz club. There, a friend of mine offered to give me 20 pesos if I was going to play with him, to which I replied yes. So I went to the stage, made a hand gesture, said give me a break and I do not think he heard me. However, he looked at me and told me to get close to him. When I was up on the stage, he said look at me, listen and don’t touch anything yet. That is when he did something, I did the same and we are continuing to do so. That was the last song on his set. He took me into his dressing room, asked me where I was from. I told him I was from Loraine, Ohio.

He asked me who taught me to play and I told him I was just self-taught. He said no way!, and can you read music?, to which I answered no, but that I was learning to do it. Then, he told me that I had a great future in front of me and to keep playing the timbales because that is an instrument that requires a lot of strength to be played because it is not like a 4-drum battery. So basically, he told me to move on because I was going to have a good future in front of me. He died several years later, but I played with him a couple of times here in Cleveland, New York, Orlando, and Detroit, Michigan.

After his death, I met his son, Tito Puente Jr. who came to Cleveland. I conducted an orchestra composed by 17 musicians, he played all of his father’s songs and we had a good time. When he comes in October, I have to provide him with the group again. Playing with Tito Puente was one of the best moments I have ever had.

You commented in that interview and now that it was memorable for you to play with Tito Puente. Apart from that, what other memorable experience could you mention?

There is an experience I had in 2016 when I won the jazz salsa and legend award. I was labeled a legend – imagine that, me a legend! Since when am I a legend? That took me by surprise when I got the prize. I am still shocked (crying). I didn’t expect that award because other musicians have had more years of trajectory than me.

When the lady called me and said me what’s going on, I asked her if she was sure of what she was saying and she answered yes. After hanging up the phone, I sat down and cried because I did not expect this. I had to call my family and explain to them what was going on. The day I got the prize, my whole family was there with me. To this date, it still shocks me because it was a very special day for me. I pray to Him not to cry again because these things enter my heart.

How does it feel to be on a par with your idols? How does it feel to play with them and to see the road you have taken?

It has been amazing to accompany artists such as Tito Puente or Tony Vega, who are on another level and I am trying to get there. I’m already old man and coming up on 60 years old, but I still have a way to go and try to pull ahead step by step. I’m going to make it, but it was an honor to play with all those legends. We have opened up for many groups such as La Sonora Ponceña, La Mulencia, Luis Henrique and so on. I will never forget those days and times.

Sammy Deleon and Bobby Valentin — Sammy Deleon next to Bobby Valentin

I understand that you have been responsible for training young people who wish to become percussionists, is that right?

Yes, we are working with guys from Ohio to teach them about salsa, percussion, instruments and many other things. There are many who leave, but there are always two or three who stay on. Right now, we’re teaching kids all about salsa, which I love to do because I will not last long around here.

In what way has teaching contributed to your career? What is the most valuable thing you have learned from your students?

I learn that you have to be humble in life. When those boys go home and tell their parents that I’m teaching them, many of the family members want to come see what their kids are doing here. So I am working hard to see that they are learning only positive things and using their time well. What if they will be able to make good money and even become professionals about this in the future?

How do you think these young people perceive your music?

Many young people opt for Reggaeton, which is what is fashionable, but I give thanks that I have achieved that two or three young people stay with me to learn. They want to learn to play the bongo, the conga, the timbales, and other things. I always look for more of them to get them interested in salsa.

Sammy Deleon playing the timbales and posing before the camera — Sammy Deleon posing before the Camera while playing the timbales

What do you do outside the recording studios and off the stage?

I love sports. When there is a basketball or football game (my favorite) that I want to see, there is no one to stop me from watching it.

Do you practice any of them?

Basketball, but I am too old for that. I used to play a lot, but I don’t do it anymore.

What advice do you have for young people who want to devote themselves to music in the context of this pandemic?

The only advice that I can give to someone who wants to learn to play music is to study, learn to read music, and choose an instrument before learning to play others. Many young people want to play many instruments at the same time, but they don’t master one. You have to master an instrument before trying to learn to play others.

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: Sammy Deleon

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Mel Martinez I come from Puerto Rico and Puerto Rico is Salsero

Totally agree with the premise that Mel Martínez establishes in this song of his authorship. Yes, Puerto Rico is the same as saying: “Yo soy salsero”.

Long live the music! Know that this implies shouting:

“Long live the musicians, so they can keep making it”.

The song starts off timidly and it seems that the arrangement asks the listener for his opinion on what he thinks of what is the first single of what will be his next musical production in a segment that presents a transcript of that “what do you think of Cholito”.

From there it pivots into a melodic design that reminds me of a segment of “I like Christmas that tastes like Puerto Rico” The shyness of the theme lasts approximately ten seconds.

Then the arrangement takes a turn that suggests that in Puerto Rico it’s Christmas all year round.

The lyrics of the song assures that all salsa-loving countries have their flavor and their flag; defined by other rhythms, highlighting the native rhythms of Colombia, Dominican Republic, Argentina and Peru. But Mel comes from Puerto Rico and asserts on behalf of all Puerto Rican salseros that: “In Puerto Rico the sun is boiling and that’s where Caliente salsa comes from”.

The song starts off timidly and it seems that the arrangement asks the listener for his opinion on what he thinks of what is the first single of what will be his next musical production in a segment that presents a transposition of that "what do you think of Cholito". — Mel Martinez The essence of family and Music

Evidently salsa is our pride. We are all Mel in terms of his love for salsa, the shout of pride, the flavor and the flag”.

And speaking of flavor and flag, it is clear that still “Aníbal Vázquez as a dancer, Giovanni Hidalgo hitting a leather, Tite Curet’s songs and Sammy Marrero’s feeling” are as valid as their first day in salsa performances.

New York’s emblematic nightclubs, all of them already disappeared, stand out in the lyric.

The mention of El Corso, Latin Quarter and the unforgettable Copacabana filled me with nostalgia and joy for having been lucky enough to have been part of that history. In Puerto Rico we have also been part of the history of salsa as it was spun in Lomas del Sol, El Coabey -which has been sustained against all odds- and El Tropicana.

The groups of Luis “Perico” Ortiz, El Gran Combo, Willie Rosario, Bobby Valentín, Tommy Olivencia, La Ponceña, Roena, Mulenze and Chaney star in the list of orchestras born in our soil and that Mel includes in the lyrics of the theme. Costa Brava, Puerto Rican Power, Canayón, Mario Ortiz, Don Perignon and La Solución complete the list of outstanding orchestras in sound and category.

The patron saint festivities and the dancers arrive at the theme at the climax of the mambo, through the pregones in the voice of our favorite for several decades.

From Fajardo to Mayaguez, passing through Bayamón and Carolina, Cataño and Dorado Mel assures that our 100 x 35 and its inhabitants are salseros by birth.

The lyrics of Mel’s song are so great that it secured mention of the dancers who every year try out for National Salsa Day, which until 2020 was exclusive to Puerto Rico.

If you haven’t heard this song, I dare you to listen to it without getting stuck to it:

I don’t know where you’re from

But I love my land

I come from Puerto Rico

and Puerto Rico is salsa.

I can tell you that the choruses are deluxe. The coros feature Luisito Carrión, Lalo Rodríguez and Carlos García; the same Carlos García who composes, arranges, sings and dances, all while masterfully dominating behind his piano.

As Mel states in this beautiful composition, which is also patriotically historical: we were born salseros.

I add by way of an intimately personal opinion that no human being is prepared to face the battle of life without the encouragement that music gives us.

I conclude by recommending you not to miss the correspondence between Pedro Perez’s bass and Emanuel Navarro’s timbal at the end of the song.

For those who doubt that musicians give us music even when it seems that the musical theme has already closed.

What is left for me to say? Long live the music! Know that this implies shouting: “Long live the musicians, so that they keep on making it”. Ah! And that we are still salseros.

Facebook: Mel Martinez

By: Bella Martinez “The Irreverent Salsa Writer”

Puerto Rico

Website: Bella Martinez Escribe

DIEGO “EL CIGALA”

The “Cantaor” Of The XXI Century

Flamenco has been his principal victory. Tango his maximum exploration. Salsa his greatest ambition, and Bolero his deepest romanticism. The world has witnessed his talent, Diego Ramón Jiménez Salazar or better known as Diego “El Cigala” has immersed us in these torrential musical genres with his masterful voice for 24 years. Each album shows us intoxicating rhythms that introduce you to joy on many occasions, and many others evoke stories of deep melancholy in their unequivocal lyrics.

Diego, a good, upright, and friendly man has lived very hard moments like the loss of the two most important women in his life. Her wife, Amparo Fernandez, a victim of cancer that took her life in 2015 in her home (Punta Cana, Dominican Republic), and a year after lost her mother, Aurora Salazar Motos.

Diego "El Cigala" with his Wife Amparo — Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) “… It is a place where you can live, not just work. There is more space for life. “Amparo Fernandez

For 26 years, Amparo was his manager, friend, confidant, wife, and mother of his two oldest children (Diego and Rafael). She was always his stick of support even during the worst stage of his career.

Diego El Cigala has always been very familiar, sentimental, and a believer in God. “… My children make me and they will always keep me going, music heals me from the inside, and God accompanies me making everything possible”, explains the nationalized Dominican artist.

A year and a half after these fateful circumstances, the XXI century cantaor resurfaces and rebuilds his life with his current couple Dolores “Quina” and his third son Manuel, who was the product of this relationship.

Quina loves me, I love her, and she understands me like nobody. I have grief and joy every day of my life. I see my children, my wife, my granddaughters and shot forward.”

The Meeting

At the beginning of 2000, there was a meeting. Diego “El Cigala” and Bebo Valdés got together for the first time, and very much in the style of a bridal link, Diego and Bebo created a strong bond of friendship, mutual respect, and professional admiration.

Diego "El Cigala" with Bebo Valdés — His popularity arrived with Bebo Valdes and his album Lágrimas Negras

It was an afternoon at the house of musical director Fernando Trueba where they met and did not stop exchanging opinions about flamenco and Cuban music. From there their first collaboration together, three songs from the CD “Corren tiempos de alegría” released in 2001.

Bebo ever transmitted serenity and tranquility to Diego, which allowed them to record two years later Lágrimas Negras, an album with which they won a Latin Grammy Award for Traditional Tropical Album in 2004.

Both artists lived moments of unique and spiritual teachings. Each day Diego regrets Bebo’s physical departure and misses him so much that every day he looks up and sees Bebo saying to him: What’s wrong?

Bebo helped him get to know the Caribbean where he ended up living, helped him transcend flamenco, and learn about other genres. For that, the only way to pay tribute to him was with the sixth track belonging to the Indestructible record production, Fiesta para Bebo, with the special guest, Los Muñequitos de Matanza.

Since Lágrimas Negras, the cantaor of the XXI century has been able to venture into new genres and collaborations, such as the material Cigala & Tango (2010), Indestructible (2016), and his most recent record production “Cigala canta a México” presented in 2020.

El Cigala Indestructible

Since 2016 Indestructible presented the greatest musical fusion of the American and European continent. It was a Salsa and flamenco production that brought together the founders of the Fania All-Stars after 25 years and recalled emblematic songs such as El ratón, Periódico de ayer, Moreno soy, and Juanito alimaña popularized by Willie Colón and Hector Lavoe, among many others.

Diego "El Cigala" cantando — Indestructible released in 2016 is the tenth studio album of Diego “El Cigala”

Diego El Cigala from the gypsy ethnic group grew up in love with this Latin music since his childhood thanks to his father and the great stars of hard Salsa such as Héctor Lavoe, Celia Cruz, Cheo Feliciano, La Fania All-Stars, and El Gran Combo.

Diego "El Cigala" black and white — Diego “El Cigala” has always been very familiar, sentimental, and a believer in God

This tenth studio album in tribute to his wife Amparo Fernandez, and his great teacher and friend, Bebo Valdés, was recorded in different territories of the American continent, bringing the color and sound of Salsa from each area to this CD. The cities that he visited and captured part of the recording were: Cali (Colombia), San Juan (Puerto Rico), Havana (Cuba), Punta Cana (Dominican Republic), New York (United States), Miami (United States), and Jerez de la Frontera (Spain) where the production ended with the addition of guitar, choirs, cajón, and flamenco clapping.

As part of this fusion of genres, El Cigala had the opportunity to count on the talent of Oscar D’Leon, Bobby Valentin, Larry Harlow, Roberto Roena, Eddie Montalvo, Nicky Marrero, Jorge Santana, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Luis Perico Ortiz, Horacio el Negro, José Aguirre, Diego del Morao, and the percussion group Los Muñequitos de Matanza with whom he created a very special connection because they have a lot of similarity with the culture of his gypsy people, “I love them, no I’ve seen better people with so much heart “, that’s how El Cigala described them.

Indestructible, nominated for the Latin Grammy for Best Tropical Album in 2018, represents the immortality of Salsa, the essence of the Afro-Caribbean rhythm that endures in the Latin roots of the new generations although it no longer has the same boom that is enjoyed between the period from 1970 to 2000.

Salsa was in the 70s a way to confront racism and xenophobia that Latin Americans were experiencing in the United States. That unites Salsa with gypsy music and the gypsy people, who have also experienced these prejudices”. Diego “El Cigala”