Search Results for: Héctor Lavoe

Fanny Almenara better known in the salsa environment as “La Sonera del Callao”

Sonera of Callao, who maintains an impeccable musical career, loving music and recording numerous songs as a soloist and with various singers of first order of the Afro Latin Caribbean genre.

The salsa singer named Fanny Almenara, better known in the music scene as the Peruvian Sonera, was born in Callao, daughter of Don Hector Almenara and Carmen Barreto, the second of 9 siblings.

Fanny studied singing thanks to her mother, she met the best teacher, Mrs. Ana Maria Parodi and entered music at a very early age in the lyrical genre.

Juan Canevello: Percusionista, Antonio Cartagena: Cantante, Fanny Almenara: Cantante y Oscar Huaranga Bajista y Productor Musical

Her salsa collector father made her listen to the best of the best exponents such as Justo Betancourt, La Lupe, Candido Fabre, Benny More, Ismael Rivera, Los Papines, Irakere, Luis “Perico” Ortiz, etc.
At the age of 16 she fell in love with the genre called salsa and had the honor of singing with Junior Gonzales for the first time and alternated Grandes with Peruvian Orchestras such as Peru Salsa de Beto Villena, Las Estrellas de la Máquina de Boris Gómez, HIt Parade Latino del Callao, La Nueva Generación de Franco Crovetto.
She was chosen as the best new voice of the salsa genre in the 80s.

La cantante de salsa llamada Fanny Almenara mejor conocida en el ambiente como la Sonera Peruana

She made recordings for different groups, and also recorded an unpublished song of her own entitled “Yo te Espero”.

Between the 70s and 80s came to Peru Las Leyendas Latinas with Ray Barreto and Adalberto Santiago, gave him the great opportunity to sing with them Quítate la Máscara.

Then with Linda Caballero (lLa India), the song Mi Primera Rumba, then with the pharaoh of salsa Oscar D’ León the song Toro Mata, also with the great Hermanos Lebrón the song sin negro no hay guaguancó.
With the owner of Soneo Carlos “El Cano” Estremera the theme Ámame en Cámara lenta, with Frankie Vázquez the theme Cuarto de Tula, with Yolanda Rivera the theme Rumba en el Patio, Vity Ruiz brother of Frankie Ruiz the theme La Cura, with Aldalberto Santiago the theme Nadie se salva de la rumba.

Primera sonera del Callao, que mantiene una carrera musical impecable

And so with her imposing voice Fanny captivated the attention of the greats of salsa, representing Callao and for which the people of Chalaco named her “La Sonera del Callao” (The Sonera of Callao).
For her vast artistic career she was awarded by different musical associations and by the company Pilsen Callao.
(H3) Asocosalsa Peru (Tite Curet Ceremony, Hector Lavoe Bust, Charlie Palmieri and 25th anniversary of artistic life (Okonkolo Association).
Fanny Almenara, continues her impeccable musical career, loving music and recording a song entitled Amor de Mis Amores, salsa version with the Orquesta Ng del Callao director Franco Crovetto.
Although she was in a halt due to the pandemic, she recorded a Challenger “El Virus Se Mata Con Musica” invited by a Cuban musician, which was also recorded by Cuban artists in different parts of the world.

After her voice reached Cuban websites such as “Benny More” “Un Millón De Adalsoneros” “Al Son Del Pinar Del Rio” she was invited to the “Son 8 de mayo” days led by the gentleman of the son Adalberto Alvarez.
Then she also recorded a song written by the King of merengue Milly Quezada “Gracias A Ti” dedicated to those who are always on the front line as doctors and nurses in the Covid 19 and the last thing she has recorded the production of the song La Sitiera Tribute to the diva of Cuba Omara Portuondo in which in that production participated Nelson Gonzales in the tres: Eddie Montalvo on congas, Nohelia Zambrano on violin and Luis Perico Ortiz on trumpet.

Website: Fanny Almenara Oficial

How Jacira Castro and Salsa Power changed the Latin music scene

How did Salsa Power start?

Latin culture, specifically the musical part, has had a large group of unconditional allies who have promoted it worldwide through their work and platforms, being Chilean-American Jacira Castro one of the best known. Jacira is a salsa casino-style salsa teacher and web designer who had the dream of spreading the typical rhythms of our countries, but she did not figure out how until she came up with a revolutionary idea: Salsa Power.

Salsa Power was born in 1999 as part of an initiative created by Castro and graphic designer Julian Mejia, who practically became her partner until the moment when the page stopped working. From that year on that the dance instructor began to generate contacts and develop human networks with people inside and outside the world of music, especially from the salsa genre. A particularity of this system devised by Jacira was that it was fed by the information received from people from anyqhere in the world about everything related to concerts, festivals, press conferences, autograph signings and much more.

Jacira Castro - Salsa Power — Dance instructor and web designer Jacira Castro – Salsa Power

How did this project work?

Thanks to the technology that was advancing little by little in all this time, there were many more contact ways and social media came along to facilitate these activities. The website grew to such an extent that it came to have more than 300 correspondents in over 60 countries, many of whom did not even have professions or occupations related to music, but wanted to strive to make the initiative successful and Latin artists and orchestras have a dependable space to promote their work.

Contrary to what many readers may have thought, everyone involved in this project never received a single cent or publicity in return for all the work being done. In fact, it was Jacira herself who had to pay for all the expenses related to Salsa Power such as plane tickets, travel, lodging, food, wardrobe, among other things. Not to mention the website maintenance and other hosting costs for the domain to work properly.

Fortunately, all that effort and money were worth it because Salsa Power rose to become the largest salsa website on the internet and a true reference for any independent media planning to do anything remotely like that. Much of the fruits harvested by this beautiful project can still be found on the internet and consist of articles, interviews, event coverage, videos and many other things.

The name Salsa Power was so respected that you could not talk about the Latin salsa scene in the United States without mentioning it, especially in South Florida, a place where competition for the first places was at its higuest. This competition was not only between artists and musical groups, but also between media, associations and academies, triggering some inconvenience and regrettable situations like the one experienced by Jacira and Julián a few years ago.

Jacira paid for all the expenses related to Salsa Power

Controversies

Jacira has had run-ins with some important personalities of the Latin music community in Florida because of her political positions, which went against the current of a large number of Latin artists and dancers at that time, especially those who are part of the Cuban exile. Her attitudes towards the political situation in Cuba have been highly controversial, mainly those related to the U.S. economic embargo on the Caribbean country and the limitations on free cultural exchange between both nations. Both Castro and other leaders of the entertainment industry were opposed to the decades-old blockade, which has been maintained until today.

This caused the dance teacher to make some enemies in the Miami music scene, which led to the hacking of Salsa Power with the caption ”This is a communist website” in big red letters along with a message whose author calls Jacira ”communist” and ”pro-Fidel Castro”. Obviously, she got worried and immediately called Julian to bring down the page.

As they began to diagnose the issue and its possible causes, they concluded that those responsible were part of an association composed of a dozen dance schools in Miami and its sorroundings called Salsa United. Around the same time, this organization had just created its own website, which published content very similar to that of Salsa Power, so much so that its principal spokesperson Jolexy Hurtado and Jacira came to have some arguments and run-ins due to how much alike the interviews were in both websites. The conflict reached at such a level that Jacira states that Hurtado told her she was messing with the wrong guy.

Undoubtedly, this whole situation was a big headache for the web designer, but has never let any of this daunt her or make her feel inadequate. On the contrary, she has grown before adversities and has faced them with the gallantry that has always characterized her, since she knows what her work is worth in terms of quality and globality.

However, there comes a point when the effort and time invested are not enough, so it is time to be realistic and assume that everything has its end, as the great Héctor Lavoe would say.

Jacira and Larry — Jacira Castro with producer, composer, and pianist Larry Harlow

Farewell to Salsa Power and Jacira’s current life

After 22 years of operation of the Salsa Power project, many of the correspondents who provided information for the page got married, had children, studied, moved and pursued other professional opportunities that did not allow them to continue their work. For the same reason, Jacira had no choice but to terminate the project that was her life for more than two decades and publish a farewell message thanking all her readers for their support over the years and assuring that she will continue to travel and enjoy salsa and dance.

In spite of abandoning her duties as administrator of Salsa Power, the great impact of the Chilean-American’s work on those who have come to know her and collaborate with her cannot be denied. On her LinkedIn profile, there plenty of favorable reviews about her professionalism and commitment in every activity she makes.

From International Salsa Magazine, we wish her the greatest success in every project she undertakes and that she enjoys all the stages that are to come.

XXXIX National Zalsa Day March 19, 2023 Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan Puerto Rico

Celebrates 150 years of history with a posthumous tribute to Tito Puente, Típica 73 and Ismael Miranda

National Zalsa Day 2023

This year the privilege of conducting the Super Orchestra of the National Zalsa Day 2023 is for Maestro Isidro Infante, March 19 at the Hiram Bithorn Park in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

For many years the most important salsa event in Puerto Rico and internationally. Thanks to Z-93 and the entire SBS family. Mr. Alarcón, Víctor Roque, El Cacique and all the executives involved in such an important event.

We will also have Buho Loco and El Hachero, among others.

Celebra 150 años de historia con un póstumo homenaje a Tito Puente y Típica 73 e Ismael Miranda

The radio station Zeta93FM and its sister company, LaMusica.com, announce the thirty-ninth edition of the National Zalsa Day; an award-winning concert, which, on this occasion, will pay a special tribute to the 50th anniversary of one of the most recognized orchestras in the world, La Típica 73.

Known as the pioneers in performing the famous “Descargas musicales”, Adalberto Santiago, José Alberto “El Canario”, Tito Allen and Johnny “Dandy” Rodríguez, have already confirmed their participation and we are proud that the members of this legendary band, which left such a deep mark on the salsa genre, have decided to join us in this celebration.

XXXIX Día Nacional de la Zalsa 19 de Marzo 2023 Estadio Hiram Bithorn en San Juan Puerto Rico

On April 20, 2023, the 100th anniversary of the birth of legendary timbalero Tito Puente, his son.

Tito Puente Jr., along with great guest artists such as Orestes Vilato, Nicky Marrero, Endel Dueño, Frankie Figueroa, Frankie Morales, John “Dandy” Rodríguez and José Madera celebrarán playing on stage the greatest hits of the “King of Latin Music”, among which are: “Oye como va”, “Ran Kan Kan” and “Para los Rumberos”.

“Puente’s legacy of more than 50 years, known as ‘The King of the Timbal’, ‘The composer and musician of the eternal smile’ and ‘The godfather of Latin jazz and salsa’, will be exalted in front of more than 20,000 people at DNZ2023 and we are sure that all salseros will enjoy this presentation,” said announcer Marcos Rodríguez “El Cacique”.

In April 2000, the third Sunday of March was instituted as National Zalsa Day under Law #100 of the Senate of Puerto Rico.

History

National Zalsa Day was created in 1984 by Pedro Arroyo, Programming Director of Z-93, who always wanted to celebrate an event that would recognize the talent of popular salsa music, its composers and performers, to present it to the great public who love this tropical genre.

Since its first year, the great event took hold of an audience eager to enjoy this music live.

The support was total and it immediately positioned itself as the annual concert of the people of Puerto Rico and visitors from other countries.

From its beginnings, National Zalsa Day was dedicated to a figure of this genre, as a recognition of his talent and rootedness in the public.

1984 – Dedicated in life to Sonero Mayor, Ismael Rivera

1985 – Rafael Ithier of the Gran Combo de Puerto Rico

1986 – Tito Puente and Santitos Colón

1987 – Héctor Lavoe

1988 – Andy Montañez and Gilberto Santa Rosa

1989 – Celia Cruz and Sonora Ponceña

1990 – Willie Colón and Tite Curet Alonso

1991 – Bobby Valentín, Oscar D’León and composer Gloria González.

1992 – To the Best 5 trumpets of Puerto Rico: Elías Lopés, Charlie Sepúlveda, Juancito Torres, Mario Ortiz and Luis “Perico” Ortiz.

1993 – Celebration of the Tenth Anniversary of National Zalsa Day, dedicated to the Salsa People

1994 – Ray Barreto and Adalberto Santiago

1995 – “Duels at sunset”.

1996 – Dedicated to the reunions: Conjunto Clásico, Tito Nieves, Luis “Perico” Ortiz and Rafael De Jesús, El Gran Combo; Andy Montañez and

Roberto Rohena; Sonora Ponceña with Luigi Texidor and Yolanda Rivera.

1997 – To the salsa people

1998 – Jerry Masucci

1999 – Cheo Feliciano

2000 – Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz

2001 – Eddie Palmieri

2002 – Ruben Blades

2003 – Johnny Pacheco and Roberto Rohena

2004 – Quique Lucca, Papo Lucca and Willie Rosario

2005 – Tommy Olivencia and Roberto Angleró

2006 – Los Hermanos Lebrón and posthumous tribute to Charlie Palmieri, Tito Rodríguez and Ray Barretto

2007 – Ismael Miranda, Ramón Rodríguez, Raphy Leavitt and Sammy Marrero

2008 – Larry Harlow and Manny Oquendo

2009 – Celebration of the release of Tite Curet Alonso’s work on Puerto Rican radio. Dedicated to Louis Garcia.

2010 – Johnny Ortiz. Special recognition to Héctor Maisonave and Ángel Luis Córdova García “Paleco”.

2011 – Elvin Torres of Costa Brava, Luisito Ayala of Puerto Rican Power, Paquito Guzmán, Tito Allen and Luigi Texidor.

2012 – Posthumous tribute to Frankie Ruiz. Dedicated to Orquesta Zodiac and La Corporación Latina.

2013 – Posthumous tribute to Pedro Arroyo, former director of Z-93. Special recognition to Edwin Morales of La Mulenze, Pedro Brul, Pedro Conga of Orquesta Internacional and Cano Estremera.

2014 – El Gran Combo, Joe Rodríguez of La Terrífica, Justo Betancourt and Meñique.

2015 – Gilberto Santa Rosa receives the first National Zalsa Day Star Award. Dedicated to Sammy “Rolo” González, Mickey Cora, Nacho Sanabria.

2016 – Eddie Palmieri receives the second National Zalsa Day Star Award. Dedicated to Lalo Rodríguez and Tito Rojas.

2017 – Zeta 93 announced on the program of its director Néstor Galán, el Buho Loco, that the artists participating in the 34th edition of National Salsa Day are el Gran Combo, José Alberto el Canario, Andy Montañez, la India, Don Perignón y la Puertorriqueña, Grupo Niche, Víctor Manuelle, Luisito Carrión, Guillo Rivera, Camilo Azuquita, Raúl Marrero, Carlos D’ Castro, Juan Pablo Díaz, Orquesta DNZ2017 and Orquesta Canario.

2018 – Dedicated To The People Of Puerto Rico!

Domingo Quiñones, Maelo Ruiz, Chamaco Rivera, Pupy Cantor, Oscar de León, Orquesta Canela (Cali, Colombia), Tribute to Tito Nieves and Yolanda Rivera, La Orquesta del Día Nacional de La Salsa, Pete Pererignon y la Generación del Presente, El Maestro Sammy Velez with Nino Segarra, Héctor Tricoche y Simón Pérez, Víctor García y La Sonora San Juanera and Willie Otero y su Orquesta.

2019 – Los Reencuentros will be

Conjunto Clásico with Tito Nieves, Luis Perico Ortiz with Roberto Lugo, Orquesta Mulenze with Pedro Brull, Don Perignon y la Puertorriqueña with Víctor Manuelle, Frankie Vázquez, Pedro Bermúdez Big Band, Charlie Aponte, Pichie Pérez, Yolanda Rivera, Pedro Arroyo, Conjuno Chaney, Pirulo y la Tribu, Manolito Rodríguez.

2020 – Oscar D’ León, Eddie Palmieri, La India, Tito Rojas, Lalo Rodríguez, La Sonora Ponceña, Ray de la Paz, Ismael Miranda, Tony Vega, Orq. Del Día Nacional (directed by Louis García).

2022 – The gathering was Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz, Víctor Manuelle, Willie Rosario, Bobby Valentín, La Sonora Ponceña, Andy Montañez, Apollo Sound, La Mulenze, from Panama come to Puerto Rico the winners of the contest in which hundreds of salsa orchestras competed, Luis Lugo y La Orquesta 507, the women’s orchestra Son Divas, La Tribu de Abrante and Luis Vázquez,” said Marcos Rodríguez,

Sunday, March 19, 2023 – 9:00am

Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan

On stage:

– – José Alberto “El Canario”

– Adalberto Santiago

– Tito Allen & Johnny el Dandy Rodriguez

– Luis Figueroa

– Pirulo

– India

– Charlie Aponte

– Maelo Ruiz

– Yolanda Rivera

– Luigi Texidor

– Pichie Perez

– Isidoro Infante

– Alex D’ Castro

– Tributes to Tito Puente, Típica 73 and Ismael Miranda

Prices:

Early Bird : $10.00 + ivu & c.s (Limited quantities) SOLD OUT

Presale: $15.00 + ivu & c.s (Limited quantities) SOLD OUT

GENERAL – $20.00 + ivu & c.s

V.I.P. – $75.00 + ivu & c.s. (Includes numbered seat and preferred entrance)

PLATINUM – $225.00 + ivu & c.s. (Includes food, open bar, official t-shirt and preferential entrance)

Information and Tickets: 787-200-7110 or [email protected]

Ticket office open from 2 hours before the start of the event.

The magic timbales of Nicky Marrero

Today’s character

After a long wait, we have managed to make the talented New York musician Nicholas Marrero, better known as Nicky Marrero, to come to the Spanish Harlem Salsa Museum to share with Johnny Cruz and his friendly staff on February 26th of this year. Therefore, we would like to take this opportunity to talk a little about his brilliant career and the great contributions he has made to Latin music in the United States.

Beginnings

Nicholas Marrero was born in the Bronx, New York, on June 17, 1950 and both his parents are Puerto Rican. This made the boy grow up among maracas, guitars, güiros and other instruments at home. In addition to the roots of his parents and the whole family, young Nicholas showed a talent that made him stand out very quickly and led him to study drums until his interests began to change and he started feeling drawn to the music made by Willie Bobo and ”The King of Timbales” Tito Puente. Both figures were arguably two of his greatest influences and inspirations in the world of music.

According to rumors in certain circles, his first recording was with Willie Colón’s band when he was only 15 years old, but the material was never released because of some alleged problems with the record label involved. The first albums with his participation as timbalero that were made public were ”El Malo” and ”The Hustler” by Willie Colón, both made in 1968. The usic productions were released in LP format in both cases.

Johnny Cruz and Nicky Marrero playing the timbales in 2017

Collaborations with Eddie Palmieri and others (título 3)

That same year, the growing artist began collaborating with Eddie Palmieri’s orchestra and had an important participation in the album ”Champagne”, which was released through the Tico Records label and whose repertoire includes songs such as ”Cinturita”, ”Palo De Mango” and ”Ay Que Rico”. Marrero contribute his talent to Palmieri’s on 15 more productions over the next 50 years that followed. Many of them were extremely successful and earned him the Latin Grammy Award on several occasions.

Another important step in his career was the replacement of Orestes Vilato as timbalero in the Fania All Stars, with whom he performed all kinds of activities in many countries such as tours, concerts, press releases, among other things. He played in 25 music productions for this important salsa and Caribbean music orchestra during the time that he was a member of the group.

Johnny Cruz and Nicky Marrero again in 2023

Although the artist’s most outstanding collaborations have been with Eddie Palmieri and Fania All Stars, the timbalero has also collaborated with other great names in the world of salsa and Latin music such as Hector Lavoe, Louie Ramirez, Larry Harlow, Alfredo De La Fé, Ismael Miranda, Cheo Feliciano, Joe Quijano, Daniel Santos and many more.

Among the latest works in which Nicky participated is the album ”Full Circle” by Eddie Palmieri for the Ropeadope Records / Uprising Music label. The unmistakable sound of the musician is more than present with his characteristic bongos and timbalitos along with the unforgettable notes from the piano of maestro Palmieri, who has been more than a mentor since the artist started his prolific career.

By Johnny Cruz, ISM Correspondents, New York, New York City