By: Professor MSc. Carlos Colmenárez (Venezuela)

Pamir Guánchez, brilliant Venezuelan singer, flutist, saxophonist and arranger.

The special guest of this edition of Salsa Written is the brilliant Venezuelan singer, flutist, saxophonist and arranger Pamir Guánchez, born in Caracas, who began his artistic career at an early age.

Welcome Pamir to the Barquisimeto salsa column, we would like to know how were your musical beginnings? Thank you Professor Carlos for inviting me to your column, which has won praise both in my country and here in the United States of America. I received formal training in my beginnings at the National Conservatory of Music “Juan José Landaeta” in the city of Caracas, where I studied for 10 years, graduating as a flutist.

I studied theory and solfeggio, harmony and music history, I received saxophone lessons with Maestro Rolando Briceño in New York City for 5 years, I was also part of the Youth Symphony Orchestra with Maestro José Antonio Abreu and also in the Caracas Chamber Orchestra for 3 years.

Which orchestras have you belonged to? I belonged to different orchestras and tropical groups such as Orquesta La Bronko, Los Melódicos de Renato Capriles, Orquesta La Magnífica de Elio Pacheco, Tabaco y sus Metales, Orquesta Amistad de Chuito y Rodrigo, Orquesta Fascinación de Maracay.

Excellent Pamir, by the way, how did you join the orchestra of the Sonero del Mundo? In 1989, while I was with the Fascinación Orchestra, I was discovered by maestro Oscar D’León, who recognized my talent and opened the doors of his orchestra for me to enter as a flutist and saxophonist. I was there permanently for 15 years, where I was able to travel the world and experience some of the most important moments of my career, such as playing at the famous Carnegie Hall and Madison Square Garden in New York City. Guanchez thanks to his preparation, experience and artistic career with Oscar D’Leon, went on to join one of the iconic orchestras of salsa, as is the Orchestra of the Queen of Salsa Celia Cruz, where he remained for 2 consecutive years, performing as a flutist and baritone saxophonist, experience that marked his artistic career, to live very emotional moments next to the “Guarachera de Cuba“.

Pamir, I understand that you also participated with maestro Tito Puente Jr? Indeed professor, I was also a flutist and saxophonist, making myself known during my time with the orchestra of Tito Puente Jr., with whom I recorded his penultimate musical production “Siguiendo los pasos de mi padre” alongside Latin Jazz stars such as the sax master Mario Rivera and I also accompanied him in his presentations around the world.

In terms of recordings, what can you tell us? In 2004 I began recording my first musical production entitled “Pamir con alma de protón“, which with the song “La Charanga de Pamir” won the Estrella award, an award given to local artists with international projection, the CD was signed by the company Protel and was distributed by Universal Latino, with this CD I begin another facet of my career and it is as a singer.

In 2006, looking to attract and enter the Anglo-Saxon market I recorded my second CD called “Via Miami“, completely instrumental and with the Latin jazz cut, a production that has had great acceptance among jazz lovers.

In 2009 I recorded my third musical production entitled “Pamir inconfundible“, with the promotional number “El soñador“, lyrics, music and composition by Oscar D’León, and also with the participation of former Fania All Stars bassist Salvador Cuevas in a tribute to Jhonny Pacheco, director and flautist of Fania, This CD was on the list for the Latin Grammy nominees, I also counted with the participation of the musicians of the Oscar D’León Orchestra with whom I have a magnificent relationship both professionally and as a friend.

Professor Carlos, I also had the honor of recording with José Alberto “El Canario”, the song “El canario y la flauta”.

Also, with Oscar D’León the song “Baila apretao“, both compositions of the maestro Víctor Gámez.

Pamir has received certification of participation in the 11th annual Latin Grammy Awards, for his participation as a musician in the winning recording, “Tesoros de la música venezolana” (Treasures of Venezuelan music), as he accompanied Ilan Chester.

He has appeared on numerous television programs such as “Despierta America” on Univision, Azteca TV, America TV, interviews on different radio stations in Venezuela, USA, Colombia, Peru, Europe, where they have given him the opportunity to make himself known and continue advancing in his artistic career. Recently he was promoting his fourth musical production called “Se pega“, which has its promotional video. With this production Pamir & La Pachanguísima has won for two consecutive years the 3rd Annual Legends Award and 4th Annual Award as best flutist, at the same time when he is requested by maestro Oscar D’León he accompanies him on stage.

Congratulations Pamir for your extraordinary artistic career and from International Salsa Magazine and from www.salsagoogle.com and from this server Carlos Colmenárez, we wish you to continue reaping success, putting the name of Venezuela on high. Thank you very much Professor Carlos for giving me the opportunity to make contact with my country through your column and I hope to be with you again, blessings, a hug in the distance.

 

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The Salsa singer Maelo Ruiz has over thirty years of singing romantic themes that have made him the leader of a small group of soneros of this style. And although he is very popular in Europe, the United States, and Latin America with his catchy songs and great commercial hook, you may not know everything about this artist. For that, we are going to tell you 11 things about the Salsa´s “Cuchi, Cuchi” little known to make you stand out among his fans.

1- Ismael Ruiz Hernández, better known as Maelo Ruiz ““El boricua de la Salsa”, was really born in New York (United States) in the late 60s and moved to Puerto Rico at 4 years old. He began his musical career at 16 years old at Escuela Libre de Música de Caguas under the direction of Juan Pacheco.

2- In 2007 Maelo was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award, in the best Salsa Album category for his album “Puro Amor”.

3- He has been a supporting singer for the artist Willie González on several opportunities.

4- He is a partner of the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara Campus Tabasco, where he supports young students to continue with their musical careers.

5- The Romantic Salsero has not had gastric bypass surgery for fear of a possible alteration of his vocal register.

6- Maelo Ruiz hasn’t composed any of the songs on his albums. “I don’t like writing songs. I leave that to the masters because they are the ones who compose and I sing. That is my philosophy.” He said to an international social medium.

7- He doesn’t know how to dance. No matter how hard he made, “he has two left feet.”

8- After the failure of his first two albums as a solo: “Experience” (1996) and “Maelo Ruiz” (1999), the Salsa singer had to cut the grass in the parks to survive. As an anecdote, he related that one day a lady heard him singing while doing his daily work and told him: “Boy, stop mowing the grass and dedicate yourself to singing with that beautiful voice you have.” Those words again prompted him to continue in the Salsa world.

9- In 2013, a Venezuelan lady stole the semen of the “Por favor señora” vocalist from a human reproduction institution, Fertilab, located in Venezuela. Artificial insemination was without Sonero´s consent and it produced unrecognized twin girls in September 2014.

10- The video with the highest number of reproductions of the singer on the YouTube site is the single “He vuelto por ti” with 60 million views until now, followed by “Te va a doler” with 42 million.

11- And finally, inside of the list: Maelo Ruiz’s 11 Things you didn’t know is his most successful soloist album: “En Tiempo De Amor” launched in 2003. This album has 11 songs, such as: “Por favor señora”, “Te va a doler”, “Así no se da el amor”, “Si volvieras a mí”, among others.

Who is Maelo Ruiz?

 

Ismael Ruiz Hernández, better known as Maelo Ruiz, was born in New York City in 1966, but at the age of 4, he moved with his family to Puerto Rico where his parents are originally from.

In 1994 he released his first record production as a soloist, which included the renowned song:  “Te Necesita Mi Amor”, which ranked # 1 on the list of tropical music for four weeks in Latin American countries such as Colombia, Panama, Venezuela, and cities of the United States: Chicago, Los Angeles, and Miami. Likewise, Maelo is credited as Best Salsero in Peru. And also, he got the Rumba de Oro Award in Ecuador.

Two years later, Ruiz launched his second album which was called “Experiencia” which contained among other hits: “Te Amo”, “El Reloj Cucu”, “La Primera Noche”, “La Dueña De Mi Corazón”.

In 1999 he released the third self-titled album that takes him on a tour around the European continent, promoting themes such as: “Oh Mujer”, “A Media Luz” y “Maldito”.

His fourth CD “En Tiempo de Amor” (2004) was directed by Diego Galé, highlighting themes such as: “Así Eres Tú” by Axel Martínez, “Será Que Si” by Luis Lambis, and two ballads: “Por favor Señora” by Juan C. Calderón and the popular song “Te Va a Doler” by Álvaro Torres.

During 2007, Maelo premiered his album “Puro Corazón”, where he decided to do the cover: “Entrégate” from Luis Miguel originally, “Amor, Amor” by Camilo Sesto and “He Vuelto Por Ti”  by Myriam Hernández, and whose album was nominated for The Latin Grammy Award for Best Salsa Album.Inicio