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Melina Almodóvar “La Muñeca de la Salsa”

North America / USA / New York

Melina Almodóvar

With an unwavering spirit, melodious voice, Caribbean cadence on her hips, friendly and cataloged by many as sexy, Melina Almodóvar has represented the Latin female son in the US. During her 20 years of artistic career, Melina Almodóvar has conquered audiences in the most imposing scenarios and has shared stages with the most recognized artists of the tropical genre

The nickname as many know she is “La Muñeca de la salsa” and which for a long period of time she sought to have because she had the same name that already identified another Salsa singer. Getting an ideal pseudonym to her was difficult, but not for a fan who, while delighting in her live presentation, cataloged her with this nickname with which they would later recognize her in the whole world.

“I wanted to give myself a nickname for Salsa … But I did not want to change my name … And then one day a gentleman says to me:” Hey, but you are a doll and look how you sing “, and then it was there that I stayed “La Muñeca de la Salsa”. It’s a name that stuck with me and it stayed there, so everyone knows who “La Muñeca de la Salsa” is and sometimes they do not know who Melina Almodóvar is, but I really like that name, I think it’s very beautiful”, she said.

At the age of 14, the interpreter born in San Juan de Puerto Rico lived an experience that marked her life since then. She moved with her mother to Memphis, Tennessee, leaving behind her culture and family, which caused an emotional shock and made her take full refuge in the music.

Melina Almodóvar - Photo — Melina Almodóvar – Photo

“Salsa saved my life.” The Salsa is my way of life. It’s my way of breathing, of doing things “.

“We moved to a very white place to an extremely American place. The south of the US is a very different place from New York or Florida. There are not many Latin people and for me it was very hard … I started studying music at the High School. I got into all the choirs that I could and all the bands in the school where I could be”, told me Melina.

Melina Almodóvar - Photo 2 — Melina Almodóvar – Photo 2

This Puerto Rican composer not only prepared in salsa, also studied different musical styles: Blues, Jazz and Gospel. What made her race for only 3 years at the University of Memphis the career of Musical Execution. Studies that she decided to abandon for working at the same time as a receptionist and translator for the City Council and also to continue pursuing her dream of singing Salsa professionally. “I decided to quit my university studies because I was really doing what I wanted to do: that was to be a singer… I thought it was better to leave school and nothing has gone wrong, I have continued doing everything at that moment, but on a slightly larger scale and for me it was the right decision”, commented Amodóvar.

During the 90s, Melina and other music professionals created the first salsa orchestra in Memphis called “La Orquesta Caliente”. With this band toured places like Alanna, Kentucky and Alabama. They played at such iconic venues as Beale Street, one of the most famous music streets in all the US for almost 4 years, just as they did at Young Ave Deli, a place that filled to its maximum capacity just to hear them sing and play Salsa every Monday. In this regard, Melina told me: “That’s when I started singing Salsa. That’s when I fell in love with salsa and I wanted to continue being a professional Salsa singer.”

Melina Almodóvar “La Muñeca de la Salsa” in concert

Melina Almodóvar “La Muñeca de la Salsa” in concert photo

In 2003, she began her musical career as an independent soloist with her first album Rumba’s Salsa Soul Delight, where she exhibited her creative freedom to compose, work with other people in the music industry and create her own identity in this tropical genre. So, her second álbum was La Muñeca De La Salsa Y Más (2008) and Pasión y Salsa Live in 2013.

In all her productions this Puerto Rican singer based in Miami, likes to sing to the love in a very positive way. Each song is a tropical proposal of Latin culture, passion, celebration, dance and happiness that invites the dancer to enjoy. “I like to talk positively about things that make me happy. I do not like to shoot men … Because it’s not what happened to me. “She added: “I have a bolero that’s called Mi Nueva Página de Amor, but it’s very positive.

Melina Almodóvar “La Muñeca de la Salsa” - Cover — Melina Almodóvar “La Muñeca de la Salsa” – Cover

”Although the Salsa is a genre dominated by men, Melina has shown to take firm steps and open field solidly in the music industry, she has sung alongside major figures such as: The Great Combo of Puerto Rico, Andy Montanez, Bobby Cruz, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Marlo Rosa, Tito Puente Jr., el maestro Larry Harlow and Tromboranga.

She has developed a successful musical career of 20 uninterrupted years that has led her to perform at the biggest annual festivals and daily events in the country. For nine years “La Muñeca de la Salsa” performed live shows in South Florida at Tapas y Tintos club located in Miami’s South Beach with el maestro Ricky Torres, where thousands of dancers from all over the world gathered every Tuesday to dance and enjoy her music.

Melina Almodóvar “La Muñeca de la Salsa” - Singing — Melina Almodóvar “La Muñeca de la Salsa” – Singing

In 2010, Melina and approximately more than 600 dancers broke the Guinness Record for the largest number of people dancing Salsa at the same time a song. The idea got with her former manager Frank Nieves. The theme was “Lista pa’ Impresionar” of her authorship and doesn’t rule in the near future to do it again. “We were there seeing how we could do something different for an event that he was doing here for the Broward County Patron Festivities and we said why we did not try to break the Guinness Record. Establish a Guinness Record of the greatest number of dancers dancing a song and then we did it and it was spectacular”, said Melina.

In 2016, she released to the national and international market the salsa version single “Estoy aquí” of the popular Pop singer Shakira, whose arrangement was made by Seferino Cavan. The video of “Estoy Aquí” was shot on the famous beaches of Miami Beach and already has almost 1 million views.

Melina Almodóvar “La Muñeca de la Salsa” - Photo — Melina Almodóvar “La Muñeca de la Salsa” – Photo

Likewise, and in mid of 2017, Almodóvar recorded with Tito Puente Jr. a new version in Salsa Mambo of the song “Mi Socio” created by Tito Puente and Cuban singer La Lupe popularized in 1965. In the same way, she did with the singer and composer Bobby Cruz the song “La Chica del Bling”.

Currently, Melina does live performances every Friday to 6pm at Best Time Wine Shop located on 8th Street at 64th and 8th, a wine warehouse with a large dance floor. “Ándale! Pon a Sonar el Güiro” is her most recent single, it was released since last December and you can find it on all digital platforms. During this month of January, Melina will continue playing her music through the territory of Florida with the event Los Patrones de la Salsa and on April 7 she will produce along with her friend Kristina Moinelo the biggest salsa festival in Miami, the Hollywood Salsa Fest, in which she will also participate as a main star with great figures of salsa music.

la muneca de la salsa - flyers — la muneca de la salsa – flyers

Melina Almodóvar believes that the Salsa will never die because it is in the Latin idiosyncrasy and at some point this AfroCaribbean genre will return to be that people like most. She also commented that she does not rule out the possibility in the future to do a fusion with the new urban musical trends of the moment.

“For me to represent Latin music in the US is a very big honor because I love tropical music more than anything. It’s my life, it’s my way of breathing like all the SALSEROS … For me, it’s the whole world to be able to continue my long-standing career, to go ahead and bring good Salsa for the whole World.” Melina Almodóvar

The Salsa is the NUMBER ONE music genre that is danced around the world. I believe that we are keeping this genre alive with what we are doing every day. “Melina Almodóvar

Melina Almodóvar “La Muñeca de la Salsa”

To more information about La Muñeca de la Salsa, please visit www.melinaalmodovar.com or like her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pg/MelinaSalsa

North America / April 2025

Directory of North American nightclubs
CANADA
ONTARIO		VANCOUVER
UNITED STATES
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VIRGINIA	WASHINGTON DC

Producer, composer, and guitarist Oscar Almonte innovates with Dominican music

The United States is and will remain the land of opportunities for artists from all over Latin America, and Dominican producer, composer, and guitarist Oscar Almonte is one more of those examples of what effort and discipline can achieve on fertile ground. We could talk exclusively with Mr. Almonte about the most important aspects of his prolific career, and we want to make them known to our readers, who always honor us by visiting to our content each month.

Oscar posing for the camera — Oscar Almonte with his guitar posing for the camera

What drew Oscar’s Attention to Music

Oscar began telling us that music as such has drawn his attention since he was very little, more specifically, the ones he was listening to at home and that some relatives played, as several of them are professional and amateur musicians. That mix of rhythms and melodies always intrigued him, especially those from Cuban music, which was very popular at that time.

Family parties were the perfect occasion for the young man to show his strong interest in music, as it was not uncommon for one of his uncles to bring out his guitar, play, and sing to lighten the mood. This was one of the things that led Oscar to learn to play as he saw adults do it.

Not to mention that Caleo López, his grandfather, was a guitar maker and played them as well.

Academic Training in Music

Oscar’s primary education in music was given in a self-taught way, In fact, their parents bought him his first guitar at just nine years of age, and he took some classes with this instrument. He stopped for a while and resumed his interest in the guitar at age 14, which is when he learned his first chords and memorized some rock songs he liked to play them.

When he had the right age, he began studying music at the Culture and Art Institute in his hometown, Santiago de Los Caballeros, where he completed a bachelor’s degree in classical guitar.

Move to New Jersey

Today, Oscar is based in New Jersey City, where he moved for the purpose of seeking new horizons personally and professionally. He wanted to soak up the musical culture that exists in the New York area, which is very close to where he is now.

When asked about the job opportunities he had upon arrival, he told us that he had the fortune of having contacts and friends with whom he had already traveled to the country, which allowed him to play with some bands he knew. However, he does admit that it took him a while to find a balance in his economy, so he had to work in family automotive businesses while his situation stabilized. He was working in that until he could devote himself exclusively to music, just as he did in his country.

Oscar performing at SOB’s — Oscar Almonte performing at SOB’s (Sounds of Brazil) in Nueva York

The main difference he noticed between the music scene in New Jersey and the Dominican Republic is that, in his home country, it is easier to live exclusively from music as a simple artist. There are things that are easier to do because the budget allows it, and certain places where musicians play cover some elements such as sound engineers and show producers. When he arrived to his new destination, he had to learn many of these things to be able to do them himself and not have to spend what he did not have.

Projects Oscar Has Been Involved In

Just as Oscar has taken great pains to make his own project, he has also been involved in others belonging to artists such as Pavel Nuñez, Felle Vega and La Orquesta de Las Danzas Mezcladas, Xiomara Fortuna, Irka Mateo, El Prodigio, and many others.

He has managed to make contact with several of them because they live in the same city as him. It also happens that he played with several jazz musicians through whom he got to know others, something which took advantage to develop contacts and friendships with whom he could work in the future.

Among the most important things he learned from them, one is audience management, repertoire management, certain vocal techniques that he did not know and, mainly, everything that has to do with the responsibilities an artist who is already the head of his own project should have.

Soberano Awards Nomination

The artist has also been nominated for the famous Soberano Awards in the category of Merengue of the year in 2012 thanks to the song ”Levántate”, which was recorded by Héctor Acosta ”El Torito”. An interesting aspect of this piece is that Oscar wrote it with the purpose of showing it to Ricky Martin so that he would finally record it, but unfortunately it was not possible to make contact with the Puerto Rican.

Oscar and Daddy Yankee — Oscar Belmonte next to Puerto Rican reggaeton singer Daddy Yankee

Over time, he learned that Héctor was looking for songs to add to his new album ”Corazón Abierto”, so Oscar got down to business and contacted his musical director to see if Acosta would be interested. Fortunately, he was and the song enjoyed very acceptance among the public, so he managed to get the nomination at that time.

Debut as a singer-songwriter

Finally, in the year 2020, Oscar was ready for his debut as a singer-songwriter and, at finally, to do things other than what a simple musician does. Although he was writing since he was 14 years old, always thinking for other artists, he decided to change his approach and focus on himself and his career.

It is then when he made his debut in this facet with the song ”Mi Tierra”, in which he describes his hometown Santiago de Los Caballeros as the title indicates. Something interesting about ”Mi Tierra” is that it fuses rhythms from many parts of the world with Dominican pambiche.

Oscar defines pambiche as one of the sounds of merengue, but softer and calmer when compared with the more lively merengue.

As for the rest of the colors it has, the artist used elements of African music and very different tempos to those often used in merengue.

He is also promoting the song ”Bermudas” with the young singer Carolyn Rodriguez. A mutual friend introduced them and thought that their voices would work well together, so they gathered and made a romantic song based on urban bachata with hints of reggae and some electronic touches.

Oscar and Carolyn — Oscar Belmonte singing ”Bermudas” next to Carolyn Rodríguez live

Tromboranga, the Latin soul in Europe.

Europe

A band formed in Spain to share rhythm, music and soul around the world. As a part of the new generation of independent Latin orchestras around the world, Tromboranga is the pure essence of “Salsa Dura”. Tromboranga´s spicy ingredients are the trombones sound, solid and strong percussion, and they recover the essence of “soneos” (voice improvisation among the chorus). With influences from the salsa music from the 60s and 70s, maintaining a raw, strong and a very danceable sound.

Their original songs like “Humildad”, “Palo pa la campana”, “Ah Caraj”, “Mi China Colombiana”, talks about stories that can describe the life of any of us, and they have become number one in Latin radios and dance floors worldwide.

Tromboranga is made up of musicians from the Caribbean and Europe, all residents of Barcelona, Spain.

Its members are:

Joaquín Arteaga, Band leader, Timbal and composer from Venezuela, known for his long career as a percussionist and also as band leader of the orchestra “Bloque 53”.

Diego Coppinger, traditional “Sonero”, with an extensive carrer that includes “Tropicana” in Cuba, gives color and Cuban flavor, with great force and experience in his amazing soneos.

Freddy Ramos, young singer from Venezuela, also arranger with a wide impresive musical career.

Rafael “Madagascar” Arciniegas adds Colombian flavor with his piano and arrangements.

Lorenzo “El diablo” Barriendos, Venezuelan musician on bass, with tastefull tumbaos, known for his interventions with orchestras such as Trabuco Venezolano, Mango group Guaco among others.

The strong and colorful trombone section, which offers a distinctive mark on the band: Vladimir Peña (Venezuela), Josep Blanes (Spain) and Albert Costa (Catalunya), all supported by the taste and the conga afinque Oriol Martinez and the spicy bongo of Climent Campa.

Their first EP “Agua que va caer” hits the market in November 2011 in anticipation for the first official cd “Salsa Dura” (April 2012), considered by Latin music lovers, DJs, dancers and specialize salsa bloggers among the 10 best CDs of 2012. Also recorded a CD together with Bloque 53 “Tumba Puchunga” where the song “Me alborotas” and also “Tumba Puchunga” reached number one in many Latin radios listings.

In April 2013 the new cd “Al mal tiempo buena salsa”, take them to do their first world tour in Spain, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Netherlands, Tunisia, Germany and Colombia.

In November 2013 they release a L.P. Vinyl Special Limited Edition (only 300 copies) called “Solo para coleccionistas Vol. 1”. They are invited to do 4 concerts at one of the biggest salsa festivals in the world “La Feria de Cali” and Pereira, Colombia. The 4 concerts were filled in its entirety. Since then the followers and fans of the band call themselves “Salseros Tromborangueros”.

In 2014 visit Mexico on a tour of four dates, all concerts were sold out and the public had the opportunity to hear some songs from the 4th Album called “Salsa pa’ rato”, with 10 new original tracks.

From “Salsa pa´rato” album the track “Palo pa la campana” is already a hit among salsa dancers, been between top 10 salsa dancing songs of 2014. Also “Sentimiento Caleño”, a song dedicated to the city of Cali. Songs with social messages like “Esclavo de tu apariencia”, “No tengo pa pagar” and “Como la marea” also known for their catchy tune.

2015 arrives with new album “Golpe con Melodía” , with 8 new hard and raw salsa tunes, and great swing for dancers, with songs like “Golpe con Melodía”, son montuno “Carretera” and a cover of “La mafia”. And a extensive tour in Colombia, Ecuador and in USA for the first time in cities like New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and many more.

In 2016 the songs “Ah Caraj, aquí que pasó”, “Cambumbo”, “El rey sin corona”, “No me vuelvo a enamorar”and “Mi China Colombiana” from new album “Sangre Sudor y Salsa” are already on every salsa Dj set. Also they release amazing new videos from this songs. In 2016 they have long tour from Japan to Russia, from USA to United Kingdom and all Europe.

Other songs like “Agua que va caer”, “Humildad”, “Te provoca”, “Adios que te vaya bien”, “Mama Calunga”, “amigo el raton”, “Boogaloo Marilu”, “Rompe colchon” are danced currently on the dance floor of salsotecas, dance schools, salsa parties and salsa festivals worldwide.

THE 2018 TOUR

JANUARY

• 19 Lille, FRANCE..

FEBRUARY

• 14 @The Gov Hindmarsh, Adelaide, AUSTRALIA.
• 16 @The Track, Toorak, Melbourne AUSTRALIA.
• 17 @Cloudland, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, AUSTRALIA.
•18 @The Studio venue, Auckland NEW ZEALAND.
• 24 @Big Top, Luna Park, Sydney AUSTRALIA.
• ALL TICKETS FOR AUSTRALIA at:

APRIL

• 7 Afrolatin Festival, Madrid SPAIN.

MAY

• 11 Bern, SWITZERLAND.
• 13 Barceloneta, Barcelona, SPAIN.

JUNE

• 8 Bangkok THAILAND.
• 9 Bangkok THAILAND.
• 23 Ourense SPAIN.
• 30 Saint Tropez, FRANCE.

AUGUST

• 25 Pirineos salsa Festival, Huesca, SPAIN.

OCTOBER

• 11 Aventura Dance Cruise Los Angeles U.S.A.

Discography:

-Tromboranga EP “Agua que va caer” (2011)

-Bloque 53 & Tromboranga “Tumba Puchunga” (2012)

-Tromboranga “Salsa dura” (2012)

-Tromboranga “Al mal tiempo buena salsa” (2013)

-Tromboranga “Solo para coleccionistas” (2013)

-Tromboranga “Salsa Pa´Rato” (2014)

-Tromboranga “Golpe con Melodía” (2015)

-Tromboranga “Sangre Sudor y Salsa” (2016)

Web & Social Network:

www.tromboranga.com

www.facebook.com/tromboranga

www.youtube.com/tromboranga

www.twitter.com/tromboranga

www.instagram.com/tromboranga

Music available at:

@cdbaby: http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/Tromboranga

@iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/es/artist/tromboranga/id484381251

Production and Bandleader: Joaquin Arteaga

Musicians:

Joaquin Arteaga: Director and Timbal.

Diego Coppinger : Voice

Freddy Ramos: Voice

Oriol Martinez: Congas

Climent Campa: Bongo

Lorenzo Barriendos: Bass

Rafa Madagascar : Piano

Vladimir Peña: Trombone

Josep Blanes: Trombone

Albert Costa: Trombone

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