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Antonio “Tony” Succar, percussionist, composer, arranger, band leader and music producer

The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson

Antonio “Tony” Succar (Lima, May 18, 1986) is a Peruvian-American percussionist, composer, arranger, band leader and producer.

Succar was born in Lima, Peru. When he was two years old, his family emigrated to the United States and settled in Miami, Florida.

Among his relatives were several musicians who encouraged Succar to develop his own musical interests. The family’s musical tradition began with his paternal great-grandparents, Mexican composer Lauro D. Uranga and Spanish flamenco dancer Adelina Esteve Gregory.

The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson Antonio “Tony” Succar — Antonio “Tony” Succar (Lima, May 18, 1986)

Succar’s father, Antonio F. Succar, is a pianist and his mother Mimy Succar Tayrako Sakaguchi is a singer. Since he was 3 years old Tony started playing in The Peruvian Cajon, when Succar was 13, he started playing drums with his parents’ band when they played at weddings and other private and corporate functions, mainly in Miami, Florida, USA.

Succar attended Miami Sunset Senior High School in Miami-Dade County. At the time his ambition was to be a professional soccer player, and he played on several teams, including his high school team when it won the 2004 state championship. He later tried to earn a soccer scholarship to Florida International University. Unable to get a scholarship, he asked his father for study advice.

The advice he received was to apply to FIU’s School of Music.

Seeking an interview with the school’s drum instructor, he ended up auditioning for the Latin jazz ensemble and was quickly accepted. Succar earned a Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Performance in 2008 and went on to study for a master’s degree, which he earned in 2010.

Succar already had an active musical career while still an undergraduate student. As a junior in college he took over as musical director of the family band, which he renamed Mixtura.

On September 21, 2010, Succar released an album recorded at his graduation recital, a live concert with Mixtura at the Wertheim Performing Arts Center in Miami. This CD/DVD contains a mix of Latin-influenced arrangements of classic jazz numbers and original material. It received numerous positive reviews including from Audiophile Audition5 and JazzChicago.

After graduating from FIU, Succar became artist-in-residence in 2012, and continued to work with the school’s music students on a number of projects. He is the youngest artist to ever hold this appointment at FIU.

Succar has worked with several prominent artists in Latin music genres. These include Tito Nieves, La India, Kevin Ceballo, Michael Stuart, Jon Secada, Jennifer Peña, Jean Rodriguez and Obie Bermudez, who collaborated with him on Unity: The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson.

Unity features over 100 musicians, Latin superstars such as Tito Nieves, Jon Secada, La India, Obie Bermudez, Jennifer Pena, Michael Stuward, Angel Lopez, Sheila E., Judith Hill, Jean Rodriguez, Fernando Vargas, Maribel Diaz, Kevin Ceballo, hosted on PBS TV by Gloria Estefan, and the magic of Jackson's legendary engineer Bruce Swedien. — Unity: The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson is a collaborative project to produce a musical tribute to Michael Jackson.

The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson

Unity: The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson is a collaborative project to produce a musical tribute to Michael Jackson. In addition to live performances, the project plans to release an album consisting of 14 Jackson songs rewritten to include Latin influences, primarily salsa and Latin American rhythms, Succar, who was a long-term fan of Jackson’s work, is the founder and producer of the project. Unity launched in 2015 with a concert at Miami’s Olympia Theater sponsored and broadcast on PBS TV, 360 stations, primetime, Friday night at 9:00 p. m., and also sponsored by Universal Music Classic.

Unity features over 100 musicians, Latin superstars such as Tito Nieves, Jon Secada, La India, Obie Bermudez, Jennifer Pena, Michael Stuward, Angel Lopez, Sheila E., Judith Hill, Jean Rodriguez, Fernando Vargas, Maribel Diaz, Kevin Ceballo, hosted on PBS TV by Gloria Estefan, and the magic of Jackson’s legendary engineer, Bruce Swedien.

Succar’s sound is refined and distinctive. His up-tempo songs have an unmatched explosive energy, while his slower arrangements are soulful and captivate the listener with the intricate nuances that are signatures of his sound.

Tony is currently working on his next album and touring the world with his band.

He has performed at the Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival (Aruba), the Ravinia Festival (Chicago), Auditorio Telmex (Mexico), Vivo Beach (Puerto Rico), Tempo Latino (France) and the 2019 Latin Grammy Awards (MGM Grand Las Vegas ), among others.

Contacts:

Youtube: tonysuccarofficial

www.tonysuccar.com

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Known artistically as Mahel, Singer, composer, percussionist and professional model

Maribel Hernández Charry

Mahel A Colombian passionate about the music of our land from a very young age. With the support of a great work team, she has decided to pursue a solo career of the popular genre of cumbia with an authentic project, highlighting her show with her two dancers.

Expecting support from social media, which are the channel used to bring music to her listeners. Just as Maribel Hernandez has participated in different important groups from Cali and abroad like La Orquesta Tumbadora, Orquesta Femenina Son de Azúcar, las divas All Star de Miami, Artistas unidos de la salsa, she also has made accompaniments for artists such as Alex León, Alvaro del Castillo, Julio Flores, Alvaro Granobles among others.

with the support of an excellent work team has decided to launch herself as a soloist of the popular Cumbia genre with an authentic project highlighting her show with her two dancers. — Known artistically as Mahel, Singer, composer, percussionist and professional model.

Currently, she is a member of the female orchestra D’ Cache, which accompanies the “The Gentleman of Salsa” Gilberto Santa Rosa. She has also recorded videos as a model with various artists of different musical genres.

In 2011, the artistic name Mahel was born. She recorded her first solo album entitled “DIMELO DE FRENTE” with the support of excellent musicians and producers.

The aim of this production was the song “SOLA Y SIN NADA” of composer Johnny Martinez, also, a “mix of traditional cumbias” in the style and voice of Mahel.

Subsequently, his second work whose main objective was the song “QUIERO QUE ME DES…” from the hand of composer and record producer José Aguirre, who is the current director of the band Grupo Niche and winner of more than 4 discs of the Cali Festival and the Latin Grammy.

In 2017, the song “QUERIDA SOCIA ” was a success in the media. It was a cumbia with a very particular rhythm and lyrics made by Mexican famous composer Manuel Eduardo Toscano.

In 2018, with the female orchestra D’Cache and the dance academy Son de luz, she participated in the world salsa festival, being winners and recognized as the best orchestra and ensemble mode.

During the month of October with the female orchestra D’Cache they were awarded as the best female orchestra of the year in the Núcleo Urbano awards.

THE DIVA OF THE BELL

I love music and to represent salsa as the Diva de la Campana is an honor. Currently, I have decided to release my new album of cumbia and popular in which there will be several songs of my authorship. Thanks to all my public. — THE DIVA OF THE BELL At the end of 2018, LAS DIVAS DEL GOLPE was born.

LAS DIVAS DEL GOLPE was born at the end of year 2018. This is a salsa project where only good music, dance and percussion instruments are predominant. Being called LA DIVA DE LA CAMPANA on social media, this skyrocketed her career as a percussionist representing Colombia in different countries.

Today, we find ourselves presenting our new musical work 2019 in Colombia and later in Latin America with love, respect, and sympathy.

Entitled: “EL DUEÑO DE MIS BABAS” (THE OWNER OF MY BABAS), Composed by Mahel and a musical production of Leandro Dorado, especially for lovers of good music.

With much love and affection, Mahel From our land to the world.

I love music and representing salsa as the Diva of the Bell is an honor. Currently, I have decided to release my new cumbia and popular music album in which there will be several songs of my own.

Thanks to all my public.

Known artistically as Mahel, Singer, composer, percussionist and professional model. — With love and affection, Mahel De nuestra tierra para el mundo.

Contact Estados Unidos:

Paz Entertaiment. Phone: (+1) 786 457 1224

https://mahel.co/

@mahelmusic

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Meet Gerardo Osvaldo – Salsa y Sentimiento Academy

Meet Gerardo Osvaldo Russo, director of the Salsa y Sentimiento Academy and organizer of the San Clemente Salsa Congress

One of the seaside and tourist cities in Argentina is San Clemente del Tuyu belonging to the La Costa district, in the province of Buenos Aires, a very cozy place especially if you have a beach taste, enjoy the beaches, the tourist hotels, the seafood and many other things.

This time we have Gerardo Osvaldo Russo, he was born on July 3, 1984, he lives in a small city called San Clemente Del Tuyú, Argentina, he mentions his tastes for salsa and Latin rhythms, he tells us that in 2005 he began to dance and listen to salsa, from that moment his taste and passion for this great musical genre began, then he went on to dance other Caribbean rhythms.

Since 2009, I have been teaching Caribbean Rhythms in the “SAOCO” studio, one of the best places to train in your country, for that I had to travel every week since it was 300 kilometers away from where I lived. Then he made an important decision, which consisted of dedicating himself completely to teaching and then in the future to be able to create new projects that he already had in mind.

He mentions that in the city where he lived, he had no way of training, since there were few resources and he could not get to do everything he had in mind, in addition, his motivation was to grow personally as a teacher and dancer, to be able to dump all the knowledge that he was going acquiring the people who went to his classes.
For the year 2008 he began to teach at the beginning as a hobby for a year and a half until he made the decision to work 100% in his profession; So today he has his own Dance Academy called “Academia Salsa y Sentimiento” which was inaugurated in 2012, where he is currently a coordinator and teacher.

Team photo of Gerardo Oswaldo Russo — Gerardo Oswaldo Russo’s team

Gerardo has also been in charge of organizing the “San Clemente Salsa Congress” for about 3 years, as well as for his institution he holds Salsa, Bachata and other Caribbean rhythms every year, these include seminars and trainings with great teachers. quality and track record.

The reason that allowed the inauguration of the “Academia Salsa y Sentimiento” was basically the need in the people (not only in their city, but also in the neighboring cities of Puerto de la Costa, which is the region to which San Clemente belongs del Tuyú) to have the opportunity to learn to dance, express themselves, find a place of liberation, belonging and also be able to meet people and socialize.

For what it is known for being the first dance academy registered in the entire region, feeling very proud of its work team and of itself. In a few words, they mention that their goal has always been for people to identify with the activities they do, find a place where they can learn and have fun, as well as recharge. Students entering this academy may do so without any experience or knowledge of the rhythm they wish to practice.

At the Salsa y Sentimiento academy you start from scratch but people who already have knowledge can also come because we have various levels, working with people from 3 years onwards.

The biggest goal to be achieved was to create an International Salsa Congress, where they proposed to bring their students to compete; and in 2016 they were able to do it with the reggaeton group with professor “Maximiliano Laplaca” reaching the finals of one of the most important competitions in Argentina and South America called “Argentine Aerobic and Dance Tournament” (TAAD).

In 2017 their official website was inaugurated where they can manage more information and not only through their Facebook account and in the academy, together with other companies in the city, they are working to provide benefits to their students and not only have the possibility of learning and have fun if they can not also access discounts and benefits in stores in San Clemente. There is also a project for a few years from now and it is to be able to train teachers who leave our Academy. And later he began to broadcast live on his radio “Sentimiento Salsero”to promote other artists in the musical world.

During the Covid-19 period, many activities were paralyzed, including face-to-face classes, but it has managed to keep up with online activities and events, where for the first time its salsa and feeling congress was a success in 2020, we all look forward to your next congress in 2021.

Gerardo Oswaldo Russo at the dance academy

At the end, he gives us a message for both students and future learners.

“My message is as a teacher but fundamentally as a human being is that you do not stop going in search of your dreams, as long as you work hard with responsibility, passion and respect, things can be achieved. To also tell anyone who wants to come to the Salsa y Sentimiento Academy, they will find a place not only where they can learn to dance and train, but also a human group of containment, a place where they can freely express and bring out everything they carry inside. Young and old, to whom we are united by the passion for dancing. Teachers who love what they do and want to pass it on to new generations. Always open to the possibility of listening to anyone who has new ideas to build a better ACADEMY SALSA Y SENTIMIENTO every year ”

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The project “A Bailar Colombia” that moved the country.

The beginning of the project “A Bailar Colombia”:

South America maintains an important space for Salsa in many of its main capitals, it is easy to speak of Lima as a great salsa and timbera area like Venezuela, but beyond the contributions they make, it cannot be forgotten that if It is not the most important, it is one of the main ones, is Colombia.

Cuba and Puerto Rico do a great job for the dissemination of this beautiful genre to the world, however Colombia accompanies much of this work for the south of this continent. Many of us already know Cali as a salsa city of birth, along with it Cartagena, Barranquilla and Buenaventura combine a good salsa team, an element that at the moment weakens other areas of this beautiful country.

The #ABailarColombia project directed by the Son Rumbero schools in Bogotá and Bucaramanga, Emily’s dance and Baila Latino de Medellín, Timbea and Danz in Barranquilla, as well as 5 other academies that work towards the growth of the academic training of Salsa dance in various modalities, in addition to the main genres of Afro-Latin dance music.

The Son Rumbero dance school with 16 years of experience, opened its headquarters in the capital Bogotá in 2017 and in 2018 it will go to Bucaramanga, the main concept is not only to dance, but to do it academically, quickly and effectively. The object is to teach in ideal spaces, that is why its main headquarters is located at calle 19 # 4-20 in Bogotá, Son Salomé nightclub, where at the end of each class a practice space is released in an environment destined to dance and enjoyment. a real night dance room, in the same way they handle a very effective project in distance education, who would say that you can learn from the comfort of your home, organized at your entire disposal and with supervised classes with dance professionals by video live classes , an incredible way to learn, you can contact them at 3022582306 or social networks like @sonrumbero.

If you are in Medellín, the options vary, the Baila Latino school rules the rhythm in this city since 2011, dedicated to training in various branches of dance, from porro to kizomba, they are located at Calle 44 # 80 – 31, with group classes of excellent level, they serve audiences of all ages with certified professionals, they manage competition groups, formed under professional dance lines, in their closest projects is being part of large festivals such as the Casinea in Bogotá and the Venezuela is Latin, easy to contact by 3104749407 and its social networks @academiabailaltino.

In the same order Emily’s dance opens doors in 2018 in Medellin with a comprehensive training proposal, where we can see classes in various disciplines with personalized attention in the hands of its director Emily Sánchez, a professional in the world of dance with more than 25 years of experience. artistic career, managing to project his work in 3 of the world’s continents, in this great proposal he leans classes of a particular nature that seek a guaranteed learning in a short time, they can take classes by the numbers 3008510304.

Visiting the northern area of Colombia on the coast we can dance to the rhythm of Danz in Barranquilla, a school with headquarters in Cr 46 82-71 vibra fitness studio and Cr 43 87-120 danceworkshop dedicates its program in the Cuban Casino, the bachata, the Feminine style in salsa and they even work on DanzKids, the latter a training profile for boys and girls, a fact that incorporates them into the world of dance from a very young age. With almost three years of foundation, they have managed to advance by having group classes at various levels and developing activities that allow recreation for the whole family, 3003827618 or Instagram @danzacademy.

Meringue Competition — Photo of dancers dancing Merengue

Similarly, Timbea in Barranquilla presented a very entertaining proposal to learn to dance, structured in 2018, this institution develops an important profile in Salsa, Merengue and Bachata, with dynamic classes under a very integrating criterion. Its founder and main instructor registers a trajectory of more than 7 years with awards and a good position in the world of salsa in Venezuela, being part of a prestigious school such as rhythm and essence in the state of Zulia, you can find them at 310 6326106 and on the networks by @ timbea2018.

Currently during the Covid-19 pandemic, many events, projects have been kept on hold until there is no danger of contagion, where many of the academies have chosen to give online classes and some competitions and / or congresses, remain fixed either online or in person, the latter depending on how the quarantine is at that time.

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OMAR LEDEZMA JR.

From The Venezuelan Melody To The Caribbean Rhythm

Portentous percussionist and surprising Venezuelan singer. Musician trained at the prestigious Berklee University in Boston (US). Winner of a Grammy Award. His lifestyle is characterized by national and international performances, collaborations, compositions, and tours. Familiar, fearless, personable, and cheerful. This is how Omar Ledezma Jr. presents us his life.

He was born in the mountainous valley of Caracas (Venezuela) west of the city in the La Candelaria parish in the summer of 1972 at the height of the Salsa. From seven years old he briefly began his musical studies on the Piano at the prominent Yamaha school.

At the age of thirteen, he returned to music again, but this time playing percussion instruments in a “war band” at Claret school, one of the most recognized educational institutions in the Venezuelan capital.

At 16 years old he already formed his first Merengue and Salsa group together with his first musical friends.

At this dizzying pace, Omar began to take an interest in the Gaitas (traditional holiday music from this Latin American country) and began his foray into this genre. In 1991 he obtained his first prize, third place in the Pupitres y Gaitas contest on behalf of the Claret school. “When I started to grow up I was interested in drums. I awoke an interest in the Gaitas festivals… In fact, the Venezuelan rhythm has marked my life as a musician”. Omar commented.

At the age of 17, this percussion player began his university studies in Law at the Faculty of Law of the Santa María University in the middle of a troubled city and in search of knowledge about how society worked. Omar Jr. adds: “Already in the first year of Law I knew that in Venezuela we had a great root in Roman Rights and modern laws, but those laws were not applied. And that worried me“.

At the same time, Omar continued his music studies but this time with his related instrument, the percussion. To achieve mastery, he obtained classes with the Venezuelan teachers Rubén García with whom he is currently collaborating on some projects in Uruguay. He also got instruction from the musical director from the popular area of San Agustín in Sarria (Caracas), Jorge Orta “CroCro” who currently resides in the United States and the founder of the Orquesta CroCro y su Tumbaka.

Years later, and with experience acquired in presentations, and groups, Omar Jr. met his first mentor, Aquiles Baez, a famous Venezuelan artist, guitar virtuoso. Together with Aquiles, he made his first international tour of the United States. “With Aquiles, I had the pleasure of playing Venezuelan music. We play with many artists in the United States… Thanks to him I developed percussion (Non-autochthonous element) in Venezuelan music”. Ledezma Jr. commented.

In 1995 and with a law degree, he decided to dedicate himself to music professionally. He works hand in hand with consolidated national artists such as Daniel Somaroo, Carlos Puchi, Gerardo Rosales, just as his popularity begins and therefore his foray into studio album recordings.

Five years later, one of the most important phone calls arrived and the one that would turn his life upside down. Omar receives the call from Andy Vargas, the singer of the famous Mexican guitarist Carlos Santana. Vargas invited him to participate in his first residency at the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas (Nevada), doing a show every half hour starting at six in the afternoon in the renowned bar of those facilities. This residency gave him many satisfactions and multiple experiences during his four years there.

Between these touches in Las Vegas, his second chance arises on the phone again, this time by the hand of the Venezuelan artist Jackeline Rago. Both worked for a season in a school program with the San Francisco Symphony.

All these experiences led him to be part of one of the most prominent local orchestras on the international rise of the San Francisco City (USA), the Pacific Mambo Orchestra for a decade.

In addition, Omar offers weekly personalized percussion training classes and works with various local organizations such as the San Francisco Ballet and the Community Music Center.

This cheerful and outstanding percussionist will soon surprise us with unpublished material in the dance genre. It will be two singles making his debut in the art world as a singer-songwriter, and you can enjoy it on his YouTube channel that he reactivated in December 2020.

OMAR LEDEZMA JR. & PACIFIC MAMBO ORCHESTRA

Omar Ledezma Jr. dancing with Sheila E. — Omar dancing with Sheila E. at the live concert at Stern Grove (San Francisco) in 2017

In 2011, the Grammy Award winner, Omar Ledezma Jr., is part of the most ambitious project of his life, the Pacific Mambo Orchestra (PMO), after moving to the fourth most populous city in the state of California (USA) and most receptive with Latino musicians, San Francisco.

It has been ten uninterrupted years in which Omar has gone from playing the conga to being the singer of the orchestra and is currently developing as the official timpanist of PMO, once that Karl Perazzo (Carlos Santana´s timpanist) left the big band. “Eventually he told me that is yours… I appreciate that opportunity because the Grammy has already come; many satisfactions and a lot of work have come as well”. Omar explained to us.

As time passed, they achieved a characteristic sound. And with it begin the recording of their self-titled album. Ledezma details us: “The band began to become popular on Monday nights, and we began to charge the entrance fee of 5, 10, 20, 30 dollars. Then we started on Saturdays with a lot of receptivity”.

In 2013 they won their first Grammy for Best Tropical Latin Album and embarked on their first national tour for 30 days accompanying Latin artists Marlon Rosado and Tito Puente Jr. They toured the stages of Indiana, Arizona, and Oregon ending in California. The first international tour was held in Mexico and the second at the Montreux Festival in Switzerland.

After the Grammy and his tour, the second Pacific Mambo Orchestra album was on its way but this time recorded live at Stern Grove (San Francisco) in 2017. Here, Omar had outstanding participation with the queen of percussion, Sheila E. During the song Ran kan kan Omar Jr. & Sheila E. made a kettledrum war. He adds: “It was nice playing with her, watching her perform, and playing her music”.

This international orchestra made up of 20 musicians began rehearsals for the rhythm section on May 1 after a year and a half of not seeing each other. Before the end of 2021, they will make streaming where they will play original music such as PMO Intro, Muévete con Prisa, and Mr. B’s Mambo, among many others.

THE MUSIC RUNS THROUGH YOUR VEINS

Omar Ledezma Jr. Sitting — Omar and Cro Cro worked together in the band of José Alberto “El Canario” in performances in the United States before the pandemic.

His lineage confirms his musical streak. The Big Bands were always his great curiosity, and Glenn Miller’s orchestra his greatest ambition.

His father and his grandfather are musicians. His grandfather Rafael Isidro Ledezma “El Negro” was a renowned Orchestra conductor of the El Tigre city in Venezuela.

As an only child, he followed in the footsteps of his grandfather. He developed himself professionally in music.

In 1995 he belonged for a few months to the Venezuelan super band Guaco in the Salsa project directed by Gustavo Aguado at La Cantina located in Las Mercedes in the Venezuelan capital. “I learned as much as I learned at Berklee”. Omar commented.

Among so many things learned, the main and undoubtedly important were: being a music lover, having discipline, developing creativity, and cultivating friendship.

The last tour in Venezuela that Ledezma carried out with the Gonzalo Grau quintet (with whom he obtained his first Grammy nomination) was 20 years ago at the Teresa Carreño Theater as the opening act for Pablo Milanés.

If I had children I would like them to follow their steps along with mine.” Omar Ledezma Jr.

YOUR WAY TO BERKLEE

Omar Ledezma Jr. playing percussion — Omar first led a music trio and then established a Salsa band in a venue very close to the school.

During a trip to Boston, Ledezma visited Berklee University for the first time in the summer of 1998. Through brochures, he learned that he had the necessary conditions to apply for a scholarship at this important school, and immediately did so without distraction. “Many said you couldn’t and I’m the one who thinks you don’t lose anything by trying”. Omar said.

He got going and sent in a demo to schedule an audition. That presentation was a success and he was accepted right away as one of the graduates of this prestigious institution. It took him a year to move to Boston and began his studies in the fall of 1999. The first years were emotionally hard due to the death of his second mother.

But he knew how to recover and move on. He worked very hard for six years to finish paying for school in 2002.

He obtained a Diploma in Performance. During the five years of study, he learned the four harmonies, arrangements, and composition. Also, in percussion, he developed skills in drums, Latin percussion, and vibraphone.

I still feel like my career is just beginning.” Omar Ledezma Jr.

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