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Search Results for: Grammy

The Tempo Latino Festival is Back

The major European festival of Latin and Afro-Cuban music will present Los Van Van, Pacific Mambo Orquestra, Interactivo, and Minyo Crusaders (H2)

The benchmark Festival of Latin and Afro-Cuban music in Europe, Tempo Latino, resumes its activities after the forced cessation of its activities for two years due to the Pandemic.

From Thursday, July 28th to Sunday, July 31st, on the main stage Les Arènes, the whole family, heterogeneous public, and inveterate traveler will enjoy the performances of Los Van Van, Pacific Mambo Orquestra, and Interactivo, as well as an exceptional set & exclusive presentation on Saturday, July 30th  at 11 PM of “Con Tumbao All Stars” with the winners of Best Traditional Tropical Album at the Latin Grammy 2021 for their album “Chachachá…Homenaje a lo Tradicional”, Issac Delgado and Alain Pérez, as well as Oscar Hernández, Robby Ameen, Tony Succar, and many more.

Minyo Crusaders rediscovered the songs associated with the working classes.

The festival to be held in Vic-Fezensac, the heart of the Gers de Gascony department (France), will open its doors on Thursday, July 28th, with Tempo Latino Social Club on the stage of its satellite “Geo-rhythmic” Conga with a special performance by the Tokyo band, Minyo Crusaders.

This Cumbia band with a Japanese identity aims to make reversals between the traditional and foreign rhythms. Guitarist Katsumi Tanaka was in charge of bringing together the twelve musicians to perform these magnificent melodies with a fusion of the Caribbean (Reggae, Cumbia, and Cuban Salsa), Africa (Afro-Blues, Afro-Funk, Ethiopian rhythm), and Asia (Thai Pop) after of the Fukushima accident in 2011. The ticket for this show costs €15.80, and the opening is at 6 PM.

Pacific Mambo Orchestra is the only active Latin Big Band on the West Coast of the United States.

Continue on Friday, July 29th with the concerts of the Pacific Mambo Orchestra and Los Van Van together with the Cuban trumpeter, composer, singer, and leader of the band Havana D’Primera, Alexander Abreu.

The first orchestra to perform at the festival in its twenty-eighth edition at 9 PM will be the Pacific Mambo Orchestra. This North American band, a winner of the Grammy Award in the category “Best Tropical Album” in 2014, is the revival of the Latin sound of the Big Bands of the 40s with the combination of Mambo, Pop, Cha Cha, Timba, and Bolero. Pacific Mambo Orchestra founded 12 years ago by the Mexican pianist Christian Tumalan and the German trumpeter Steffen Kuehn has collaborated with renowned artists such as Carlos Santana, Poncho Sánchez, Pete Escovedo, and Arturo Sandoval.

Currently, this Latin Big Band performs on the West Coast of the United States with elite musicians from the Bay Area, and their repertoire is in English and Spanish. Their third album “The III Side” (2020) fuses the traditions of the Mambo of the 50s with the musicality of the moment. This Latin Big Ban considered one of the best in the United States will also is at the prestigious San Francisco Annual Jazz Festival on Wednesday, June 8th from 7:30 PM to 9 PM. Address: Miner Auditorium, 201 Franklin Street, San Francisco (EEUU).

“Legado” is an album in homage to the legacy left by maestro Samuel Formell.

The second orchestra is to take the stage on Friday at 11 PM and will be Los Van Van with their special guest Alexander Abreu. The emblematic Cuban music orchestra will celebrate its more than 5 decades of history.

Los Van Van known by many as the “Rolling Stones of Salsa” was founded in 1969 by bassist and composer Juan Formell, a legend of Cuban music, who accompanied by José Luis Quintana, known as “Changuito” and César “Pupy ” Pedroso, invented the “Songo”, a Cuban rhythm predecessor of the “Timba” or “Salsa Cubana”, which generated the “Salsa – Son” with a Cuban sound that has made generations dance.

In 2018, they recorded their first record production “Legado” since the physical departure of Juan Formell in 2014. This tribute album has 14 songs with 3 new versions of the international singles Te extraño, Por qué lo haces y Amiga mía.

On the third day of the Festival, Saturday, July 30th, the Latin sound will be awakened by the performances of the Interactivo group and the exclusive presentation of “Con Tumbao All Stars”. On Sunday, July 31st, Tempo Latino will close its doors on the Les Arènes stage with London Afrobeat Collective and Alain Pérez & La Orquesta Bassiste.

Most of the members of Interactive are representatives of currents such as Nueva Trova, son, and Cuban jazz.

The avant-garde collective, Interactivo, is one of the most representative bands of the current Cuban generation and will take to the Tempo Latino stage at 9 PM.

This emerging orchestra of international stages brings together the most brilliant and eclectic composers and producers in Havana. Each member contributes their specialty: Timba, Funk, Jazz, Hip Hop, Rock, Rumba, traditional Cuban music, and Soul for a result of great richness, where individual originality, musical creativity, and avant-garde ideas enrich the group.

London Afrobeat Collective has hypnotic flashes and powerful percussive beats.

Similarly, the addictive London Afrobeat Collective has been offering festive music based on Jazz, Funk, Rock, Dumb, and African Vibes for ten years. Its international DNA made up of nine members from England, Italy, France, Congo, Argentina, and New Zealand with the powerful voice of the Congolese singer Juanita Euka has made its rhythm addictive music with powerful and committed messages. The London-based band will open the night of concerts on Sunday, July 31st at 9 PM.

Alain Perez and the Bassiste Orchestra will offer a mixed show of Salsa, Son, Timba, and Latin Jazz

This musical evening ends with Alain Perez, bassist, singer, arranger, and who composes his orchestra of 13 young musicians on stage to offer a mixed show of contemporary Cuban Salsa, Timba, and Latin Jazz. His talent has given him wonderful experiences with internationally famous orchestras and musicians such as Los Van Van, Irakere, Issac Delgado, Paquito D’Rivera, and Celia Cruz. Always accompanied by his elephant-headed cane, in homage to Cuban musician Benny Moré, Alain has been influenced by flamenco through his work with Cuban artist Paco de Lucía.

The versatile artist born in Havana was twice-nominated for the Latin Grammy Awards in the category of Best Traditional Tropical Music Album with “El alma del Son, tribute to Matamoros” (2015) and “ADN” as Best Salsa Album. (2017).

El Cuento de la Buena Pipa (2020) is his most recent record production, and you can enjoy it on the main stage of the festival at 11 PM.

You can get the tickets for Tempo Latino 2022 on their official site http://www.tempo-latino.com/ for a four-beat tempo. The Tickets for the four nights of concerts are €86.70.

And while you wait for the Tempo Latino Festival (28th edition) you can enjoy its free predecessor event Clutcho at La Grainerie this May 4th. This place is emblematic of the circus and itinerant disciplines that take place with a large space that involves a large open-air square, and a performance hall with a capacity for 230 people through an “interior street” that serves for creative studios and workshops.

Tromboranga Will Visit America And Europe With Their World Tour 2022

France, Norway, the Netherlands, and the United States will be some countries that will dance to the rhythm of Salsa Dura

Músicos: Joaquín Arteaga, Diego Coppinger, Freddy Ramos, Rafael “Madagascar” Arciniegas, Lorenzo “El diablo” Barriendos, Vladimir Peña, Albert Costa, Miguel Moises, Oriol Martínez, Climent Campa.

With the solid and unmistakable sound of the trombone & percussion sections and the strong influence on Salsa from the 60s and 70s, Tromboranga with their Hot Salsa will visit France (Festival Corazón Latino 2022 – Bordeaux), Norway (featuring the trombonist, Jimmy Bosch at Kafe Sync – Oslo), the Netherlands (Summer Breeze Latin Night 2022 – Amsterdam), Spain (Pamplona and Barcelona), the United States (The Great Colombian Festival Miramar – Florida), and Ecuador (Guayaquil ) with its World Tour 2022 from May to September.

The friendly musicians residing in Barcelona (Spain) will offer a series of performances to captivate Latin audiences in Europe and America to celebrate their tenth anniversary on the music scene.

The orchestra will play all their hits including Agua que va caer, Alabanciosa, Humildad, Mi china Colombiana, Ah Caraj, Palo pa’ la campana, Charrupi, Como la marea, Sangre sudor y Salsa, Esclavo de tu apariencia, Que linda que estás, likewise the nine unreleased songs from their album Te voy a contar, released to the Salsa scene in 2019.

Te voy a contar has the participation of the Jazz and Salsa master, the trombonist Jimmy Bosch in the song Te perdono. Oscar Hernández (the Spanish Harlem Orchestra leader and winner of several Grammy awards) arranged the Latin Jazz theme, Sal de la Cueva. In addition to this, Huracán no me tumbas (dedicated to the Island) was recorded in Puerto Rico, and they shared voices with one of their idols from the Fania All-Stars, Ismael Miranda.

The followers of Tromboranga call themselves “Salseros Tromborangueros”.

During the pandemic in 2020, Tromboranga http://www.tromboranga.com/en continued with their new record production Salsa Terapia. Melodies such as El cuero del tambor, Devuélveme mis discos, Pachanguera y El mundo al revés are part of this album that has gone viral in choreographies on social networks in addition to being reproduced as multimedia content by Latin radio stations around the world.

 “Our success is the dedication and love in selecting the songs, most of them are my authorship, I carry out the general production and the concept of each album”, said the Venezuelan musician Joaquín Arteaga (Director of the orchestra and known for his extensive career as a percussionist and Timbales expert).

In 2021, this Salsa Dura orchestra released the single “Baila Africa” ​​sharing with African artists such as Msaki (voice of the promotional theme) while they toured South Africa (2020). The authorship of this salsa melody was in charge of the leader of Tromboranga, Joaquín Arteaga.

Telling a little about their history, the orchestra made up of ten Latin and European musicians released their first studio album in April 2012 titled Salsa Dura, rated among the top ten of that year by DJs, dancers, and specialized bloggers of the genre.

The stellar and Sabrosa Salsa reunion will be from May to September.

In 2013, Tromboranga recorded Al Mal Tiempo Buena Salsa, rewarding them with their first international tour in Europe and Latin America. During that same year (November 2013), they released the Special Edition Vinyl “Solo para Coleccionistas Vol. 1” exclusive for 300 people.

The sum of the rest of their recordings reaches a total of five albums published in successive years: Como La Marea (2014), Sangre, Sudor Y Salsa (2015), Golpe Con Melodía (2015), Tumbando Fronteras (2017), Una Noche En Bangkok (2018).

La Sonora Ponceña Returns To Salsa County

The only performance with Yolanda Rivera & Mario “Mayito” Rivera will be at the Lehman Center

The name “La Sonora Ponceña” is in honor of the Cuban band La Sonora Matancera and its hometown (Ponce – Puerto Rico)

La Sonora Ponceña “National Treasure of Puerto Rico” together with its leader Enrique Arsenio “Papo” Lucca returns to Salsa County (The Bronx) with the special guests Yolanda Rivera and the Cuban singer Mario “Mayito” Rivera (former member of Los Van Van) onstage at one of New York’s leading non-profit performing arts centers, Lehman Center.

This unique presentation, long-awaited by its fans, will be on Saturday, May 14th at 8 PM at the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts located at 250 Bedford Park Blvd West, Bronx, New York 10468 and the online price per ticket ranges from between $45 – $100. https://www.lehmancenter.org/sonora-poncena

La Sonora Ponceña gained popularity in 1960 during its trip to New York City to give a series of presentations and established itself as one of the most demanded orchestras among Hispanics.

The legendary band, for more than 65 years, has made uninterrupted performances and has been recognized as one of the best Salsa orchestras for its fusion of traditional Cuban sounds with the modern style of Latin Jazz.

In 1967, under the direction of Papo Lucca, they released the first LP Hachero Pa’ Un Palo with the Inca label (a subsidiary of Fania). This album was an overwhelming success in New York as well as its second record production Fuego en el 23 (1969). The famous band from Puerto Rico recorded 29 more albums for this record label, including eight with the singer Yolanda Rivera, La Ceiba with Cuban singer Celia Cruz (1979), and in 1980 New Heights from which they began to establish the internationalization of the orchestra.

Musical Hegemony consists of 8 tracks including Caminando Con Mi Padre, Nadie Toca Como Yo, and Borrachera

This last year (2021), during the pandemic period, La Sonora Ponceña launched two new record productions: Hegemonía Musical (June 2021) and Christmas Star (November 2021).

The last one is the fourth Christmas-themed album in his career. “Thirteen years after our last Christmas production, we seek to present a record work that is a true reflection of the sound and musical quality that we always want to offer our audience”, Papo Lucca told digital media.

While “Salsa Que Cura To” is the first single taken from their most recent album Hegemonía Musical and whose authorship and interpretation is by Jorge Nicolai Avilés (vocalist of the band) with musical arrangements by Papo. Musical Hegemony, nominated in the Tropical Album of the Year category at the Billboard 2021 awards, was made with great dedication and professionalism as indicated on its official social media. “…We thank the public for the support they have been giving to this latest album that was worked with much love and dedication to the memory of our always remembered Enrique “Quique” Lucca Caraballo (RIP) and all our dear followers… And we will continue working as we have been doing for 67 years to place in your consideration what best of our music, soul, perseverance, and professionalism that seek to bring joy and enjoyment to all our dancers… Thank you very much!”

The song “Borinquen” (1980) with Sonora Ponceña becomes her a famous Salsa star

Yolanda Rivera will also perform at this event. She was born in Ponce (Puerto Rico) and moved to New York City with her family during her childhood. Her first opportunity as a singer was in 1969 in Willie Rosario’s band. In 1975 she returned to Puerto Rico and performed in several orchestras, including Joe Rodríguez’s La Terrifica. Her career reached its peak when she joined La Sonora Ponceña in 1977. The song “Borinquen” from the album Unchained Forcede (1980), a musical tribute to her native country (Puerto Rico), made her a Salsa star. Yolanda Rivera is considered one of the main and most famous singers of La Sonora Ponceña with songs like “Rumba en el Patio” and “Madrugador”. Her repertoire includes Salsa, Plena, Bolero, Guaguancó, Son Montuno, and Guaracha.

Mario “Mayito” Rivera (El Poeta de La Rumba)

The second special guest tonight will be Mario “Mayito” Rivera. His vocal skill and masterful interpretation of Cuban music in modern and traditional styles earned him the nickname “El Poeta de La Rumba”. Mayito was born in Pinar del Río (Cuba) and has training degrees from the National School of Art and the Higher Institute of Art. After his educational training in Cuba, he joined the band of the Cuban singer Albita Rodríguez and played bass in the Moncada group. From 1992 to 2011, Mayito was the lead voice and face of the successful Cuban band, Los Van Van, earning a Latin GRAMMY® and two nominations with them.

Current news in the San Francisco Bay Area

What is happening now?

Tito Garcia-The Doctor of Salsa, the renowned colorful bandleader and timbalero of Tito Garcia y Orquesta Internacional passed away on Saturday, April 23rd after a long battle with cancer.  Tito has performed Salsa and Charanga in the 1970’s with the seminal SF based bands Ritmo 74 and later Charanga Rene Del Mar. He later spearheaded the band “Orquesta Salsa Dulce” in the late 1980’s which morphed into the first edition of his band La International featuring a young Julio Bravo on coro in the early 1990’s.  La Internacional were remembered for their explosive performances by dancers and aficionados.

Tito was a staple at the late, famed salsa palace Cafe Cocomo with his monthly “Mambo Saturdays” during the early 2000’s. I often was the DJ during those hot nights. His band featured fine musicians and vocalists such as former Batachanga vocalist Ricky Rangel, congueros Eddie Borrero and Sandy Perez of Los Muñequitos De Matanzas and keyboardist Coto Pincheira who relocated to New York.

Tito García had been fitghing against, cancer, which took his life at the end

Tito resurfaced after his bout with Cancer in 2020 to relaunch La Internacional but the comeback was short lived due to his health issues. He later hosted some outdoor rumba sessions near his new home of Vallejo but those dates were limited due to COVID restrictions. He relapsed during his recent trip to Costa Rica and died due to complications with his recovery.  He will be sorely missed.

Don’t forget coming up on Friday, May 6th at 8 pm with be the tremendous Cuban music double bill of “El Tren De Cuba”…Los Van Van and Alexander Abreu y Havana d’Primera at the UC Theatre, 2036 University Avenue in Berkeley. Two of the powerhouses of Cuban Popular music are appearing together for the first time in the US and on only certain dates of the tour…SF Bay Area residents are blessed to have this double bill play here!  DJ Antonio will spin in-between sets.  I will be your MC for the evening. Run to get your tickets because they’re going fast!  For more information, go to jaffeevents.com

Salsa superstar Oscar D’Leon and his orchestra will visit the SF Bay on Saturday, May 21 at Roccapulco, 3140 Mission St. in San Francisco. Oscar is still one of the dynamos to watch perform live…a tremendous show!  Guayacan Orquesta from Colombia will also play on Friday, May 13 at the Mission Street hot spot.  Also coming to Roccapulco Sat. June 11th…the Homenaje A La Musica Cubana featuring Mayito Rivera, Alain Perez, Yeny Valdes, Lily Hernandez “La Amaona” and Julio Cesar “JC Five” plus DJ Walt Digz (SF) and DJ Jimmy Rumba (LA) and on Thursday, July 7th…the explosive sounds of Pupy Y Los Que Son Son direct from Cuba.

Oscar D’ León will be in the San Frrancisco Bay Area on 21 May

SF JAZZ and the San Francisco Jazz Festival are featuring an impressive array of Salsa, Cuban and Latin Jazz starting Wednesday June 8 with Pacific Mambo Orchestra.  Followed by Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Grammy nominee Aymee Nuviola 6/9; Chucho Valdes with Dianne Reeves and Joe Lovano 6/12; Changui Majadero 6/13, Danilo Perez Global Messengers 6/14; Issac Delgado’s Con Tumbao Project w/Miguel Zenon, Oscar Hernandez, Pedrito Martinez, Alain Perez, Tony Succar and more 6/18.  SF JAZZ and Stanford University co-presents Eddie Palmieri and Arturo Sandoval at Stanford’s Frost Amphiteater on July 23.  Info: www.sfjazz.org.

The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival will begin Saturday, May 7th from 1 to 2:30 pm with a free concert featuring local treasure Jesus Diaz y Su Habana Afro-Cuban Ensemble featuring a lineup of heavyweights from Cuba and the SF Bay including Ariacne Trujillo Duran, Leider Chappotin, Raul Pineda, Roberto Junior Vizcaino, Karl Perazzo, Jeff Cressman, Melecio Magdaluyo and Julio De La Cruz.  The Yerba Buena Gardens is located on Mission Street between 3rd and 4th Streets in San Francisco.  Visit ybgfestival.org for more information.  There will also be an after party featuring Jesus Diaz and the Habana Afro-Cuban Ensemble and DJ Carlitos Way at the Elbo Room, 311 Broadway in Oakland.

The San Francisco Carnaval and much more

The annual Carnaval San Francisco is back on the streets of San Francisco on Sat, May 28 and Sun. May 29th with the theme Colores De Amor.  The two day festival will take place on Harrison between 17th and 22nd Streets from 11 am to 6 pm.  The grand parade will take place on Sunday, May 29th starting at 9:30 am on 24th and Byrant Streets.  Scheduled to perform will be Jesus Diaz y Su QBA, Momotombo, Sambada, Javier Navarette & His Socially Distant Friends, Dos Four, Puro Bandido, Namorados da Lua, Annette Aguilar & West Coast Stringbeans, Susanna y Orquesta Adelante, Magna Fresq, Los Allegres Callejeros, Aqua Pura, Mariachi Juvenil, Azul Latino and more.  Headliners TBA.  Food, Beer, Crafts, DJ areas and Cannabis gardens on the grounds.  Free!   For more information: carnavalsanfrancisco.org.

There is a new Salsa scene happening on Thursdays starting May 12th at Charley’s LG, 15 N Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos presented by your friends at International Salsa Magazine.  Opening night at this state of the art club will feature the swinging sounds of the multi-talented vocalist/conguero Edgardo Cambon and Candela.  I, Luis Medina from KPFA/WSR and International Salsa Magazine will be your DJ.  World Salsa Radio DJ El De La Clave will also be in the house. Dance lessons by Migi & Angel starts at 8:00 pm.  Music starts at 9 pm.  The upcoming schedule is the following: Julio Bravo and Salsabor 5/19, Manny Martinez and La Rebeldia 5/26 and the Charanga sounds of Orquesta La Moderna Tradición 6/2.  Thursday nights just got hotter in the South Bay…be there!!

Edgardo Cambón at The Seahorse Restaurant, Sausalito

The Ramp at 855 Terry Francois Blvd in San Francisco continues to present Salsa orchestras on Saturday afternoons starting at 5 pm.  The night is closed on June 7th for a private event, The Ramp’s first Salsa festival featuring 2 bands: Gary Flores y su orquesta Salsa Caliente and Eric Rangel and Orquesta America 5/14, The Latin Rhythm Boys 5/21 and Louie Romero and Mazacote on May 28th.  DJ Mendy spins in-between sets and after the live music from 9 to 11 pm.   The Ramp has a great patio overlooking the SF Bay and serves food and drinks.

The Seahorse located at 305 Harbor Drive in Sausalito features live music plus KPOO-KPFA DJ Jose Ruiz on Saturday and Sundays.   Sat, April 30th features La Clave Del Blanco, Rene Escovedo Salsa Band with Ric Feliciano Sun 5/1; Edgardo Cambon & Candela Sun, 5/8; Orquesta Timbalero Sat, 5/14; Louie Romero & Mazacote Sun, 5/15; Susanna y Adelante Sat, 5/21; Orquesta La Original w/Alexis Guillen 5/22; Pepe Y Su Orquesta Sat. 5/28; and Orquesta Taino Sun. 5/29.  Enjoy the fine Italian cuisine, beer, wine and ambiance both indoors and the outdoor patio at this scenic spot just crossing the bridge to Marin County.

The Cigar Bar, 850 Montgomery St. in San Francisco is a favorite spot to dine, have drinks, enjoy a cigar in the courtyard and dance to hot Salsa music.  The calendar for May includes Manteca 5/6, Orquesta Timbalero 5/7, Somos El Son 5/13, Josh Jones Latin Jazz Ensemble 5/14, N’Rumba 5/20, Edgardo y Candela 5/21, Orquesta Taino 5/27 and La Clave Del Blanco 5/28.

René Escovedo will perform at the Seahorse Restaurant, Sausalito, on May 1

DJ Walt Digz has a hot Wednesday night Cuban scene “El Timbon” happening at the Slate Bar, 2925-16th Street in San Francisco.  Digz also hosts his own livestream called “El Timbon” featuring the latest Timba, Cuban Salsa and Cubaton videos every Tuesday night from 7 to 9 pm on Twitch.  He also keeps busy by hosting the monthly Fresquecito Saturday nights at La Furia Chalaca in Oakland and the outdoor El Timbon En El Callejon Sundays from 3 to 8 pm at Vida Cantina, 56 Belden Place in San Francisco.  Digz also continues his original Friday La Tropi-Cal monthly at Il’ Pirata in SF with Añejo Productions now going on their 21st year!

Berkeley’s Ecology Center will present the Berkeley Farmer’s Market Salsa Festival on Saturday, May 21 from 10 am-5 pm.  This free event will feature Christian Pepin and Orquesta Bembe, Afro-Cuban and Afro-Peruvian keyboardist Erick Peralta and Band, Berkeley High School Youth Ensemble and the Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble.  Dance performance and Dance lessons by Rebecca Galindo.  Food, crafts and more. For more information, visit www.ecologycenter.org. 

Don’t forget to check out my radio programs: Con Sabor now in it’s 25th Anniversary Year on KPFA 94.1 FM every Saturday night from 9 to 11 PM PST and Sabiduria Con Tumbao every Wednesday night 5 to 7 pm PST on WorldSalsaRadio.com.

That’s it for this month!  Ciao 4 now!

Néstor Sánchez “El Albino Divino”. With the Greatest Elegance the Golden Voice of Salsa

Néstor Sánchez “Maestro de Soneros¨.

Born in 1950 in New York, of Puerto Rican origin, he is considered by critics as one of the soneros with the best vocal technique.

Néstor Sánchez “El Albino Divino”.

In 1968 he began his musical career at the age of 19 in New York with the orchestra of Ray Rodriguez, Ray was the brother of the late Bobby Rodriguez, the recording was entitled “Introducing Ray Rodriguez and his Orchestra”, he was also with the Tonny Pabon Orchestra, and the Conjunto Candela.

1976 Nestor Sanchez joined the orchestra of the wonderful Jew, Larry Harlow, replacing Junior Gonzalez as lead vocalist and became a member of the Fania label stars, at that time,

Harlow was recording the album “La Raza Latina” for which Sanchez performed one song and the rest was in charge of the Panamanian Ruben Blades where he musically created the history of Nuestra Raza, from the Amerindians, the Spanish conquest, and the arrival of the black African slave.

The album, “El Albino Divino”, was one of his official presentations with the orchestra, with the Harlow Orchestra he spent almost ten years and recorded seven albums, among these: Rumbambola, Dulce aroma del éxito, Soy Latino.

1979 Harlow disbanded his orchestra, Sanchez also recorded with Tito Puente’s orchestra the song “Bonito y Sabroso” in the LP “Homenaje a Beny Moré” which won a Grammy award for Puente.

In 1984 he recorded the production Julio Castro y La Masacre, in 1990 he was released as a soloist in the romantic wave with the album Como Nunca.

Nestor Sanchez "El Albino Divino". With the Greatest Elegance the Golden Voice of Salsa
Néstor Sánchez “Maestro de Soneros¨

In the year 2000 he was invited by the King of Bass Mr. Bobby Valentin to participate in the album La Gran Reunión, and in all the recordings where he participated as the first voice in the chorus.

This talented man, whom we consider one of the most outstanding voices in our music, and sonero of soneros, never had the recognition he truly deserved. As a tribute and vindication, the February 2017 Salsero of our page is dedicated to him in a heartfelt and sincere way.

As a singer, Néstor Sánchez loved Cuban music and considered himself an admirer of Abelardo Barroso, Beny Moré and Miguelito Cuni, and from La Isla del Encanto his favorites were Tito Rodríguez and Ismael Rivera, in whom he was most likely inspired to create his own style.

His musical career began at the age of 19 in New York in 1968 with Ray Rodríguez’s orchestra. His first recording was the same year and was entitled Introducing Ray Rodriguez and his Orchestra; the second, in 1969 and with this same orchestra, was called Delusion, these two musical works were made for Al Santiago’s label “Alegre Records”.

In 1970, Néstor Sánchez joined Tony Pabón’s orchestra with which he recorded six albums in LP format, these musical productions are: in 1970, Tony Pabon And His All-Stars and La Protesta With Tony Pabón: Free; in 1972, On The Right Track; in 1973, Introducing Néstor Sánchez; in 1974, Tony Pabón & La Protesta Featuring Néstor Sánchez – El Capitán; and in 1976, Tony Pabón Y La Nueva Protesta – Fango – Pura Salsa, Puro Disco.

After his time with La Protesta, El Albino Divino joined Conjunto Candela, with whom he produced an LP entitled Conjunto Candela.

In 1976, he joined the orchestra of “El Judío Maravilloso” Larry Harlow as lead vocalist, replacing the Puerto Rican singer Junior González. With that, he became one of the stars of the Fania label. Between 1977 and 1984 he recorded the albums La Raza Latina – A Salsa Suite, El Albino Divino, Rumbambola; Larry Harlow & Junior González – Our Latin Feeling / Nuestro Sentimiento Latino; El dulce aroma del éxito; Larry Harlow, Canta: Gary Carrión / Así Soy Yo; Larry Harlow – Yo Soy Latino and Larry Harlow / Señor Salsa, featuring the young singer Ray Pérez.

Between 1968 and 1984, Néstor Sánchez was not only part of the orchestras of Ray Rodríguez, Tony Pabón, Conjunto Candela and Larry Harlow. He also recorded with King Nando, Orchestra Colon, Los Hermanos López, Yambú, Andy Harlow, Adalberto Santiago, Charlie Palmieri, Ismael Rivera, Tito Puente, Willie Colón, El Conjunto Libre, Azuquita y Su Melao, Fania All Stars and Louie Ramírez.

Throughout the eighties, Néstor Sánchez’s career had a second stage, in which he participated in musical works as a singer and backing vocalist for other great stars of our musical firmament, such as Héctor Lavoe, Típica 73, Ray Barretto, Julio Castro y La Masacre, Rubén Blades y Seis del Solar, Cheo Feliciano, Ismael Miranda, Oscar D’ León, Celia Cruz and Bobby Valentín.

It is presumed that in his more than three decades of music he participated in some two hundred musical works, about half of which are presented in our “Discography” section, available on our web page. Her voice was also recorded in many musical works of the so-called salsa romántica.

Among the songs that the beautiful voice of our great Albino Divino left us, we highlight numbers such as: “Amor pa’ qué”, “Averigua”, “Bobo tú te quedarás”, “Bonito y sabroso”, “Compay, póngase Duro”, “Con la mayor elegancia”, “El bobito”, “El diablo viene”, “Madre”, “Mentiroso”, “Quasimodo”, “Suena La Quija”, “Va llover”, “Guaguancó para los soneros” and “Vamos a gozar”. Our great sonero also recorded some songs in English.

Finally, we repeat that the present investigative work on the musical life of the great singer, chorister, arranger and composer Néstor Sánchez, “El Albino Divino”, is a tribute to his musical legacy with which the section “El salsero del mes” of our web page www.latinastereo.com wants to remember and keep all his work in force. Néstor Sánchez will remain forever in the hearts of the salseros of the world.

On September 2, 2003, Néstor Sánchez passed away at the age of 54 at his home in Bronx County, New York, after losing a battle with lung cancer.

Born in 1950 in New York, of Puerto Rican origin, he is considered by critics as one of the soneros with the best vocal technique. Nestor Sanchez "El Albino Divino".
Born in 1950 in New York, of Puerto Rican origin, he is considered by critics as one of the soneros with the best vocal technique.
Nestor Sanchez “El Albino Divino”.

Main source:

By: Sergio A. Rendón Ángel

To: www.latinastereo.com

Medellín, Colombia

Article of Interest: Raymundo “Ray” Barretto Pagan was born in Brooklyn, New York on April 29, 1929

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International Salsa Magazine (ISM) is a monthly publication about Salsa activities around the world, that has been publishing since 2007. It is a world network of volunteers coordinated by ISM Magazine. We are working to strengthen all the events by working together.