Search Results for: Latin

Jose Bello “The Singer-Songwriter”

North America / USA / New York

At International Salsa Magazine, we were able to chat with this incredibly talented artist. Below is the interview:

How was your first presentation? Did you know after that that music would be your passion?

In the kindergarten of the La miraculous school they had parties and they had a stage where I sang constantly and even had choirs that accompanied me and also acted, since I can remember, my passion is music.

How did you and Carlos Castillo meet? Did you know about his career before?

I met Carlos Castillo, because my mom lived in the house next to him and she talked about me to Carlos’s mom and they both agreed to introduce me, I had no idea who he was, until I met him.

What inspired you to compose those songs?

The experience of life and the gift that I always knew I had to compose, at any time.

Tell us a little about Aldemar Barona, what year did you decide to start with the label?

My great friend Aldemar Barona always went to my presentations and when the contract ended with the best record, we decided to make our own record label in the late 80s, early 90s.

Was this performance during a tour? Which album were you promoting? Where could that DVD be purchased?

Exclusive record. He hired me to make that dvd in the mid-90s and you could get it online, or at the Musical 90 record store in Jackson Hghts Queens New York All these artists are very well known worldwide and having been able to share stages with them speaks volumes about your incredible talent and career.

Which of these artists would you say is your greatest inspiration or example?

As I said before, my inspiration is a divine gift, I love all my colleagues very much, I respect and admire them, some started before me, others are from my generation and others became famous after my love, and I respect music, I They have bitten as I am and have led me to feel fulfilled in what I do, blessed and immensely happy.

Where would you like to present yourself in the next opportunity? How was your first presentation?

After I would like to personally take my art to some countries that I have not visited to this day, such as Mexico, Peru, Panama, Canada, Japan, Chile, and Argentina.

What comes next in the life of Jose Bello, El Cantautor?

Make my new recording, already as JOSE BELLO EL MAGNATE DE LA SALSA 40 ANIVERSARIO and finish negotiating my next tours, to Central Europe and South America.

Where does his nickname El Magnate de La Salsa come from?

On July 23, 2017, I married the designer Patricia González on the largest luxury yacht in New York called “Infinity”, around 2000 people and with two orchestras. Tito Nieve with his orchestra and my orchestra. The ceremony was on the high seas. When in Mexico they found out about my marriage, they wrote me congratulating me and told me “Now you are the salsa magnate” I was surprised and asked them why? and they told me “Only Arab tycoons get married on the high seas on a luxury yacht” I liked the idea.

I always hear that in music there are kings, princes, knights, but there are no tycoons and I think that because of the explanation of the Mexicans, I am the salsa tycoon

Marcial Isturiz from Capaya with soneos and melodic phrases and his popular “Agua pa’ los Gallos “Puerto Rico

In 2023 Sergio George, the famous “magician” who produced the artistic career of famous salseros and artists, said that salsa was “dead” and called on new artists to resurrect it and support each other as urban singers do.

This caused commotion and controversy among salseros and made them doubt without a doubt what is the reality that salsa lives and more with the progressive physical departure of emblematic legends who made history in the world, coupled with the proliferation of the so-called “DJ” who multiply many times the nostalgia of the public for living the times of said legends and who became a trend due to this fact. In 2024 we saw how important salsa concerts were held in our country Venezuela where foreigners who had not visited us for a long time did so and so we enjoyed what some call “the last of the Mohicans”, as well as Venezuelans who took to various stages making it clear that, if they continue creating, either by adjusting the sound of the old and modernizing with quality staging or simply delighting with their career and style what they have already established.

We think that there is a lot missing since there is plenty of musical talent and a new generation in every sense, but not who listens to them and supports them, this being a truth bigger than the size of the sun.

After this necessary reflection we want to talk about Marcial Isturiz who was born in the sandunguera town of Capaya, Barlovento in the Miranda State of VENEZUELA, and we put it in capital letters because this “extraordinary sonero who wandered through the streets of Petareña hitting any pot he found in his path, finding out where and at what time the “arayé” was lit, always on the “hunt” for a good opportunity”, a quote was written by Ángel Méndez in his book “Entren que Caben Cien” describing how clear this man has been since childhood in pursuing and having the firm certainty of where he had to go to achieve his dream. He understood, from my point of view, that he who perseveres succeeds and we have seen his professional growth during all these years, thirty years recently completed, being a musician performing several instruments, going on to be also a composer and arranger, accompanying with his voice in duos of consecrated stars and groups, renowned orchestras as well as others not so well known, his voice being a characteristic seal that draws the attention of his followers, a sonero that we can say “gets lost from sight”.

A man who has earned the respect and affection of the public wherever he goes and to name one of the presentations in which he has demonstrated his “people skills”, we had the opportunity to travel and share with him closely accompanying him Sonero Clásico del Caribe in that free event that the Barquisimetanos salseros put on at the end of January 2024 to Ramón Méndez, where by the way Marcial took advantage of the invitation to perform the National Anthem the day before at the Cardenales – La Guaira Game, impeccably. Undoubtedly, that presentation was an omen of good fortune for what would be a year full of success.

Marcial Isturiz began hitting a home run this 2025 by performing on January 5 in Puerto Rico on the “Island of Enchantment”, at the traditional Three Kings Eve dance at the Sheraton Hotel, Convention District, with Don Perignon and La Puertorriqueña, with salsa figures such as Herman Olivera, Pedro Bull, Pichie Pérez, Joe González, Rico Walker, Josué Rosado, Jerry Rivas, Gilberto Santa Rosa and of course our Marcial Izturiz.

We saw him singing choruses with these greats, specifically next to Herman Olivera and Rico Walker waiting for his turn like each of those called to this meeting until Peter Perignon introduced him for the first time with his Orchestra La Puertorriqueña and said that the person responsible for that invitation and presence of our sonero there was his friend Gilberto Santa Rosa.

Briefly, Perignon told the audience that he knew Marcial since he was part of Bailatino and he fell in love with that group, since then he had been following him and now recently in his participation with the Latin Dimension he knew that Marcial with this performance made his dream of being in that country come true.

Saying good night to Puerto Rico he performed the song “La Familia” (authored by José Curbelo and musical arrangement by Louie Ramírez, inserted in the production titled Indestructible by Ray Barretto and his Orchestra in the voice of Tito Alen for the year 1973) with soneos and melodic phrases and his popular “agua pa’ los gallos Puerto Rico” left established what this Venezuelan is made of, acclaimed and congratulated by his peers on stage.

Joy is not enough for what we salseros in Venezuela feel for this representation that should not be overlooked because if there are soneros from Venezuela and with class: Marcial Isturiz is one of them; with his own style and professionalism, this is how our “Mayor of Capaya” was seen next to these greats, comfortable, safe and proudly waving our tricolor wherever he goes.

At Swing Latino we say congratulations to Marcial, keep doing your thing without resting like until now, because later it will be too late:

AGUA PA’ LOS GALLOS y

¡Ponle Sabor!

Source: Giorgenling Méndez from Swing Latino

Also Read: Salsa at its best, led by the leader of La Puertorriqueña: Don Perignon

“DeBÍ Tirar Más Fotos” is not just an album; it is an invitation to reimagine music and the cultural impact it can have in an increasingly interconnected world

Bad Bunny was born as Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on March 10, 1994. He is a composer and singer of urban music, especially trap and reggaeton.

Although he never took formal music classes or studied any instrument, he is a singer, composer and creator of his own songs. The first samples of his art were seen on YouTube, where he slowly began to gain fans.

In mid-2016, Bad Bunny joined Hear This Music, a label created by DJ Luian and Los Mambo Kingz, presenting the hit “La Ocasión,” an anthem of trap music. There he also recorded singles such as “Diles,” “Soy Peor,” and “Tú No Vives Así.”

Bad Bunny has also participated in songs with numerous artists, such as Farruko, De La Ghetto, J Balvin, Maluma, Nicky Jam and Ozuna, among other urban music stars.

In 2017 he conquered Europe, touring with more than 20 concerts in 20 days. Upon his return he sang “Si Tu Novio Te Deja Sola” at the 2017 Billboard Latin Music Awards with J Balvin.

In addition, he sold out concerts at the Luna Park in Buenos Aires on September 8 and 9. In November he released “Sensualidad” with Prince Royce and J Balvin.

The year 2018 began with great success.

On January 12, he released “El Baño”, a collaboration he recorded with Enrique Iglesias.

On February 6, he released “Salimos A Buscarte”.

On the 9th, he presented “Fantasía”, with Alex Sensation.

On the 14th, she released a version of the hit “Báilame” by Nacho, together with Luis Fonsi, Yandel and Daddy Yankee.

On the 15th, she released “Amorfoda”, a new single in which she says “no” to love.

She didn’t wait and on the 22nd, she released “Dime Si Te Acuerdas”.

On March 16, she released a song with Khea, Düki and Cazzu, titled “Loca”.

On the 23rd of that month, “Dime” was released, recorded with Revol, J Balvin, Arcángel and De La Ghetto.

On April 1, she presented “Me Rolié”. In the same month, she released: “Te Boté”, with Ozuna, Nicky Jam, Nio García, Darell and Casper Mágico; and “Explícale”, with Yandel, Noriel Cosculluela and Brytiago.

On May 5, she recorded “Contigo”.

Bad Bunny nació como Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio

On the 12th, 13th and 14th she presents her songs live, again at Luna Park. In between these concerts she releases “Sólo Avísame”. Then she releases “Quiere Verme”, together with Anuel Aa and “Diles”, with Ledy Medina.

On June 22nd she releases “I Like It”, recorded with Cardi B and J Balvin. On the 28th of the same month she releases the single “Estamos Bien”. She participates in Marc Anthony’s song “Está Rico”, together with Will Smith. On October 11th she releases “Mía”, in a spectacular collaboration with Drake singing in Spanish. On December 8th she releases the hit “Desde el Corazón” and on the 14th of the same month she presents “Sólo de Mí”, whose video reflects gender violence. On the 23rd her debut album goes on sale, under the name “X100Pre”.

On June 28, Bad Bunny & J Balvin present the eight-song album “Oasis” with the first single, “Qué Pretendes” (with special appearances by Mr. Eazi and Marciano Cantero of Enanitos Verdes)

Following the death of basketball player Kobe Bryant, Bad Bunny paid tribute to him with an emotional song titled “6 Rings.”

YHLQMDLG was released by the artist at midnight on February 29, 2020. The title means “I do what I want” and features collaborations with Daddy Yankee, Yaviah, Jowell & Randy, and Ñengo Flow. The album is a tribute to the marquesinas (garage parties) that Bad Bunny grew up attending, and features many nods to reggaeton from the early and mid-2000s

On May 10, 2020, he released his third studio album “Las que no iban a salir,” which features the participation of Don Omar, Zion & Lennox, Nicky Jam, Yandel, among others.

In July, after being the first Latin urban artist to be on the cover of Rolling Stones magazine, El Conejo Malo becomes the protagonist of the first digital cover of the legendary Playboy magazine.

On July 25, he releases the song and video: “Un día (One Day)” with Dua Lipa, J Balvin and Tainy.

On January 3, 2021, he releases the video for his song “Booker T”. That same year, he releases the single and video clip “Lo sentir BB” with Julieta Venegas and Tainy.

Throughout the year, he publishes several singles and video clips.

On May 5, 2022, he releases the album “Un verano sin ti”.

On June 2, he releases the video clip for the song “Tití mepregunta”.

On November 30, he releases the single “La Jumpa” with the video clip.

On December 22, he released the single “Gato de noche” with Ñengo Flow.

On February 15, 2023, he released the video for “Ojitos lindos” with Bomba Estéreo.

On May 18, he released the single “Where she goes” along with its video.

On July 21, he collaborated with Travis Scott on the single “K-Pop” with The Weeknd.

On September 25, he released the single and video “Un preview”.

On October 13, he released the album “Nadie sabe lo que va a pasará mañana” becoming a hit single.

Becoming the most listened to album of the year in a single day.

“What are we overlooking in Bad Bunny’s ‘DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS’? Beyond reggaeton, a lesson in artistic evolution.”

While social media is boiling with divided opinions about Bad Bunny’s new album, it is worth moving away from the extremes and analyzing “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” from a broader perspective.

Beyond being a reggaeton album, this work is an artistic, cultural and strategic manifesto that leaves valuable lessons for all musical genres, including salsa.

Bad Bunny has used his position as a global artist to fuse elements such as salsa with urban rhythms, achieving a musical dialogue that transcends generations and tastes. However, the impact of this project does not stop there.

I’d like to share five key aspects that other artists could learn from this release to innovate and connect more deeply with their audiences.

The power of nostalgia: plastic chairs as a universal symbol

The album cover, with the humble plastic chairs, connects directly with the everyday life of Latin American neighborhoods. These common objects evoke memories of family gatherings, celebrations, and moments of community. The message is powerful: simplicity can be deeply meaningful and resonate globally.

Exclusivity that generates value: “Residencia” concerts

Instead of a world tour, Bad Bunny is betting on “Residencia,” a series of exclusive concerts in Puerto Rico. With this strategy, he not only boosts tourism and the local economy, but creates a “FOMO” (fear of missing out) phenomenon in his fans. This generates massive advance reservations on hotels and flights.

QR codes: intelligent digital interaction

Integrating technology with music is something that Bad Bunny has done masterfully. QR codes in Puerto Rico allow fans to interact with the album in innovative ways, unlocking exclusive content and creating a bridge between the physical and the digital.

Incorporating traditional genres and sounds

Bad Bunny is not afraid to mix salsa with reggaeton, betting on musical arrangements that celebrate his cultural heritage. This shows that genres are not compartments or “silos”, but platforms for dialogue

Expectation and release strategy

From the announcement of the title to the release date, passing through a short film full of cultural references, everything in this project has been designed to create a narrative that maintains the interest of the public. The lesson here is clear: music is not just released, it is experienced as a complete cultural event.

Final thoughts: innovation and evolution

In a world dominated by technology, staying traditional is not an option for artists who want to grow. Tools like Web 3.0, Blockchain, NFTs to offer immersive experiences and AI are revolutionizing the way musicians interact with their audiences and generate income.

While some lose themselves in criticism, others take advantage of these tools to redefine their art and project themselves globally. The lesson is clear: you have to look ahead and dare to evolve.

“DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” is not just an album; it is an invitation to reimagine music and the cultural impact it can have in an increasingly interconnected world.

Also Read: Sessions from La Loma brings together salsa fans from all over the world in Puerto Rico

So that you know something more about the DJ. Jaime Guanipa, the Vinyl of Salsa

Jaime Guanipa was born in December 1966 in Caracas, Venezuela, originally from Sarria, belonging to the parish of La Candelaria, growing up in two areas in my early years, between Sarria and Alta Vista in Catia, Parish of Sucre, also in Caracas.

His first tangible experience within Latin music called “Salsa” thanks to the Venezuelan “PHIDIAS DANILO ESCALONA” who gave him this label that has immortalized the genre.

For my memory it was in 1973 with the premiere of the film “Nuestra Cosa Latina” and the SALSA Movie in different movie theaters in our city, where through its soundtrack I was impacted, thus generating a definitive taste in the musical field, fertilized by it wanting to be more extensive and thus achieving in subsequent years a broader knowledge within the Latin American Culture in this concept.

Subscriber to absorb like a sponge everything related to the environment and listening to the Radio where greats of knowledge moderated, to which I can name our Venezuelans and experts and moderators in different AM Radio stations for the time in Caracas such as, Phidias Danilo Escalona, Floro Manco, Enrique Bolívar Navas, Héctor Castillo, Rafael Rivas, among other great broadcasters, achieving a very solid understanding within the majesty of salsa.

He was able to define that by 1979, already having the concern to share and make the most of our Latin music heard within parties both family and friends, he made comments and selection of music from the acetate records that were in said meetings, this being a cult for the distinctive passion for what was already defined as the path to being a Salsa DJ in 1982.

Subscribed to technology and the true art of the moment, which is the research, the study of the genre and the credits of his albums, which logically were and are in LP format.

Generating in this way a breeding ground for musical experimentation and selection, it is from this moment referring to the date that my experience and exchange of criteria between friends who throughout these years have followed me and accompanied me within this passion was unleashed, having successes as a salsa musician in extinct venues in the city of Caracas for the years 1985 to 1990.

Then later in 1993, I temporarily retired due to family responsibilities, but without ever abandoning my passion for musicalization and research of the genre both here in my country Venezuela and abroad, by the year 2008, I decided to resume after a very reasonable time my most significant taste for salsa music, by the time obtaining many new bastions but with their due time of seniority within the genre, evolving distinctively in terms of its versatility and exponents.

I would like to point out that for me it is not a challenge, since due to the concept gained and maintained, it has given me a very preferential position within the taste of the salsa dancer and the dancer that I call demanding.

Experience gained due to being surrounded at the right time by great friends who love the salsa genre, many of whom I share today, reason for this and subscribed to current technology and its ease of access makes it possible for me to masterfully give the dancing public what they really want and desire at each meeting, event and party.

Without a doubt, before this I present an interactive referential synthesis of my passage through this exciting world as it is and I define “Salsa Musicalization in the Caracas nightlife. Thank you for your interest in this humble servant.

It is not just a photo with an LP, it is an image with a history, in 1981, I remember when I rode my bike in Sarria and many times in Guaicaipuro, where two friends Sergio and Napoleon lived. The latter had Sansui sound equipment in his house that sounded excellently well, we listened to endless hours of irreverent Salsa full of rhythmic diversity.

It's not just a photo with an LP, it's an image with a story Orquesta La Critica — It’s not just a photo with an LP, it’s an image with a story Orquesta La Critica

One day he said to me “Gordo” let’s go to Paradise and we went to listen to where Oscar D’Leon has his house and they rehearse there, so I told him let’s go and we listened in Machado alley not only to the regular rehearsals of Oscar’s Orchestra but one day in particular it was “LA ORQUESTA LA CRITICA”.

I particularly heard two songs that I remember with great specialness, such as “A EL” and MONTA MI CABALLO, where the quality and function of the ensemble were majestic, full of cadence, exceptional harmonics, the brass voices and the accompaniment between bass and piano were evident.

I remember seeing Larry Machado, Teo Hernández, José “Cheo” Navarro, and Flaco Bermúdez on several occasions during a chronologically dispersed period of time. I never saw Oscar, I never saw this character despite hearing his voice on several occasions.

In conclusion, an anecdotal experience that I will never forget, since it is not only having a record, but the history and the experience that it contains, which is what remains and is transmitted, the passion and the good fellowship before the Demanding Dancer, I hope you liked this little anecdote that I share with you, dear friends. Demanding, I hope you liked this little anecdote that I share with you, dear friends.

Dj. Jaime Guanipa Since 1982

Caracas – Venezuela.

Jaime Guanipa passed away in Caracas on February 27, 2023.

Excellent Venezuelan music lover, researcher, disseminator and DJ of Afro-Caribbean music.

I contribute in a simple way the best of the true art of entertainment and salsa music in the city of Caracas-Venezuela.

Also Read: “Djane Shina” a passion turned into reality