Search Results for: Orchestra

Yamilet Pinate

Latin America / Venezuela / Caracas

Yamilet Pinate. The Salsa Designer

Born in Caracas-Venezuela, she grew up in the Parroquia 23 de Enero, there since she was a child she began to enjoy, listen and dance good Salsa. Graduated in Administration, with a study of speech and in other areas so different from advertising design.

I started in this field of design in 2010. My first images were collages that I made for a website dedicated to promoting and supporting the genre that makes us move our feet… Salsa. Little by little, the interest in learning how to use the appropriate programs to design grew and that is how the passion for making designs for events began, initially for Salsa events.

I have done advertising for events held in the cities of Maracay, Caracas, Los Guayos, San Felipe, Puerto Cabello. Among them, with great productions such as Las Noches The Bronx presenting international artists such as Adalberto Santiago, Franquie Vásquez and Luigi Texidor, I have advertised for important events in our country such as El Arepazo, Las Tradicionales Fiestas de Rafael Muro, Producciones Sol100% Salsa, Rest .

El Lagar, The Traditional Black Night in Maracay, El Guateque de Producciones Taylor presenting Bailatino, Naty and his orchestra in Valencia, Bacheo Orchestra in Maracay, Naty and his Orchestra in Maracay, Grupo Mango in Maracay, presentation of the Tribute Orchestra Cheo Navarro in Maracay, Rodrigo Mendoza, Marcial Isturiz, in Puerto Cabello. Meeting of great Salsa DJs in Guatire, presentation of the Salsaboryson Orchestra in Los Guayos, presentation of the Palo Mayor Orchestra in the Sarao Caracas.

Victor Perez

Latin America / Venezuela / Maracay

Victor Perez: I was born in Maracay as a necessity of the rumbera movement that refuses to die, followed by a legion of salseros and salseras experts and experts in the rumbera subject. Due to the encouragement of rumberos and rumberas throughout various salsa parties, we managed to concretize and carry out purely salsa events.

Salsa Project

It is represented by Víctor Pérez with the idea that this movement can shape and maintain the Caribbean feeling in the music lover current.

Starting with the street rumba, rumba for the neighborhood, we started in a patio to have parties (only with sound), we made several calls receiving the attention of the rumba people, the patio being too small.

Dj Victor Perez - Salsa Proyect — Dj Victor Perez – Salsa Proyect

In 2004 we set up our first great unforgettable event, we managed to bring an anthology rumba dancer to Maracay for the first time.

In the following we continue with the rumbas with the regional orchestras and groups maintaining the salsa movement, we also held a discussion, conference in the house of culture of Maracay.

Salsa Project

In his career carrying out events he has presented a great variety of groups such as:

Bailatino, Joel Uriola and his band, mango group, Mandinga and his star band among others.

Expresion Latina - DJs Victor Perez — Expresion Latina – DJs Victor Perez

Not only in Maracay has the salsa project held events, we have worked on victory with the same rumba, bringing together salseros and salseras with the same idea.

The salsa project has also intertwined with various national organizations such as asocosalsa (caracas), asocrosalsa (pto. pelo), friends from Valencia involved with the genre, and associations from Maracay such as rumberos del patio, asosalsa Aragua, the salsa troop and others from the region. .

Jhon Semeco

Latin America / Venezuela / Caracas

Musical rhythms always attracted and encouraged Jhon Semeco, from a very young age, at the age of 9 he entered the Venezuela Children’s Choir and later the Rondallita, by then he was already singing on television and recording albums, however, his passion was Salsa which is one of the rhythms that he liked the most.

He mentions that “Salsa won among all the musical rhythms because it is in the blood and in the genes, we are Latinos with warm blood, we grew up with flavor and tumbao, it is impossible not to move our feet to the rhythm of a tumbao, the chapeo of a timpani, to the mark of the key and the mintune of the piano, impossible not to give in to the cadence of the bass, the trill of the metals and the voice with the feeling of a singer”.

He was listening to Rubén Blades, Willy Colon, Héctor Lavoe, Latin Dimension, La Salsa Mayor, Ismael Ribera, Estrellas de Fania and the Venezuelan trabuco, among other well-known salsa groups and artists.

Jhon Semeco with Luis Enrique, Juan Carlos Perez Soto and Fernando Osorio

The artist career is a long and difficult path that they follow, but few achieve success and it is thanks to their great will, struggle and desire to be recognized for their music that they manage to perform, in addition, Jhon Semeco refers that the support and encouragement of moving forward was given to him by friends, artists and colleagues, in this way he achieves perseverance, dedication, determination, seriousness, professionalism, study, love and passion for what he does, thus achieving respect and credibility, thus obtaining the convening power in this music environment.

He is currently creating a new Salsa Romántica album, which he will call “Propias y Ajenas”, this arises at the request of his friends and colleagues, since after writing for many artists and orchestras such as La Dimensión Latina, La Salsa Mayor, Los Satélites , the Combo de Venezuela, The Sopranos, Marcial Izturiz, Wladimir Lozano, among many others…

Decided to sing his songs, accompanied by great composers whom he admires and respects, and whom at some point he saw very far away and today life rewards him by being his friends, giving him the opportunity to interpret his songs, they are nothing more and nothing less than Jorge Luis Piloto, Pedro Azael, Yasmil Marrufo, Alfredo Matheus 10, Juan Carlos Pérez Soto, Enrique Barrios, and Luis Romero, all GRAMMY winners.

It is worth mentioning that they are the ones who write for stars like Marc Anthony, Luis Miguel, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Luis Enrique, Franky Ruiz, Roberto Roena, Jerry Rivera, Olga Tañon, Ricardo Montaner, Luis Fonsi, Cristina Aguilera, Ricky Martín, Cristian Castro , Carlos Baute, Prince Royce, Gloria Estefan, José Feliciano, Celia Cruz, Tito Nieves, Mariah Carey, Oscar de León, José Luis Rodríguez, Paulina Rubio, and other well-known artists. Now Jhon with his new album has the privilege of singing songs composed by himself and songs by his friends thanks to friendship and mutual admiration.

Jhon Semeco - Cover — Jhon Semeco – Cover

“Propias y Ajenas” will have 1 song for each of them, and the rest are songs of their own written with all their heart, most of them are experiences lived or seen in others, this is how the title of their album came about.

We asked him to know what he recommends to all the new talents who are in the process of training and who are in the arduous struggle to stand out in this environment, and this is how he replied:

“I recommend that you study, that you prepare, that you listen and learn from the best, whatever your musical style, that you say NO to mediocrity, that you have personality and not a copy of another, that you understand that putting on a hat reverse, dark glasses and chains does not make them an artist, that they strive to make good music and not songs with repetitive rhythms and lyrics”

For more information, you can contact him through:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rumbandajhon
Correo: [email protected]

Jhon Semeco - soundtracks tv novels — Jhon Semeco – soundtracks tv novels

Jose Bello, The Salsa Tycoon

North America / USA / New York

Jose Manuel Bello Suazo, better known as José Bello “El Cantautor”, a Dominican artist of international stature with several awards and achievements worldwide.

Jose Bello, born on April 6 in the city of Santo Domingo, who from an early age showed a deep love for music, making his first performances in kindergarten and elementary school. As a teenager, he moved to New York where he met Carlos Castillo, a member of internationally known bands such as Machito y su Orquesta, Joe Cuba y su Sexteto, Tito Rodríguez y su Orquesta. From that moment on, Bello formalized his start in the world of music by forming “El Sexteto Latino” together with Carlos Castillo.

Baila que Baila is known as his first musical recording with maestro Julio Gutiérrez, after that he recorded four record productions with the owners of LA CHARANGA AMERICA. His first full-length album emerged in the 70’s, with the record company “Lo mejor records” with songs of his own inspiration. But, it was in his third record production, where he decides to add songs with a title in another language, entitled “Blue Bossa”

José Bello manages to start his own record label in partnership with Mr. Aldemar Barona, who titled it “B&B Records Presents José Bello”, containing compositions by both members. In the fifth record production, which was established as the owner Jose Bello, El Cantautor, where only the La Salsa Magnate’s own productions are found.

After that, it was decided to record the first DVD recorded live in the city of Medellin, Colombia, becoming known around the world.

In the last 10 years, José Bello has taken his music to all parts of the world, receiving great acceptance from the European, American and Latin American public. Sharing the stage with great personalities such as Celia Cruz, Rubén Blades, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Oscar D’Leon, Marc Anthony, Tito Nieves, among many more.

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 to Carlos’s mom about me 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? What 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 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, They have moderated me 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?

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 José 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.

Jose Bello, Jose Bello, The Salsa Tycoon — Jose Bello, The Salsa Tycoon

When in Mexico they found out about my marriage, they wrote to congratulate me and told me “Now you are the salsa magnate” I was surprised and asked them why? and they told me “Only Arab Magnates 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 tycoon of salsa.

The legacy of El Palladium lives on, as demonstrated by ‘Mambo Fantasy’

The legacy On Saturday, January 18, 2025, the Tropicoro Club at the Fairmont El San Juan Hotel in Puerto Rico was decked out to celebrate the music of Tito Rodríguez; led by his heir, Tito Rodriguez Jr., and El Caballero de la Salsa: Gilbertito Santa Rosa on vocals and the characteristic marquee of “El Inolvidable”. The show was part of ‘Mambo Fantasy’, a duel between the legacy of Tito Puente and that of Tito Rodríguez, two of the Kings of mambo during the golden age of big bands.

Humberto Ramirez, Herman Olivera, Tito Rodriguez jr. y Gilberto SantaRosa en Mambo Fantasy

The dance concert featured the musical power of the big orchestras, responsible for placing Latin music among the favorites of the dancing public. It was a must remember that the history of what was the era of mambo was strengthened in the emblematic New York halls, among which “El Palladium” stood out. To do so, the dance corps of Tito Ortos and Tamara Livolsi was accompanied by the nonagenarian Mambo Mike, engaging in an energetic choreography that the trio executed to perfection.

The legacy of Tito Puente resonated under the musical direction of the trumpeter, arranger, composer and producer Humberto Ramírez, with Hermán Olivera and Michelle Brava as the singers in charge of interpreting Puente’s repertoire.

Michelle La Brava 'Mambo Fantasy' en Puerto Rico — Michelle La Brava ‘Mambo Fantasy’ en Puerto Rico

Rodríguez’s legacy was carried out by the union between the timbalero, arranger, composer, producer and orchestra director, heir to the musicality and the name of one of our greatest musical glories -Tito Rodríguez, Jr.- and one of the greatest stars of contemporary music -Gilberto Santa Rosa. The group was composed of: Gerardo Rivas on the tumbadoras, Pete Perignon on the bongos, Mako Pérez and Genaro “Ginno” Ramírez on the chorus, Luis Marín on the piano, Johnny Torres on the bass; Freddie Miranda, Josué Urbina, Saviel Cartagena and Francisco “Pacman” Cruz on the saxophones; Georgie Torres and Anthony “Nony” Rosado on the trombones; with Rolando Alejandro, Pedro Marcano, Kevin Ibáñez and Becky Zambrana on the trumpets. And since legacies are significant, it should not be overlooked that the three percussionists of this group are children of musicians.

Orquesta 'Mambo Fantasy' en Puerto Rico — Orquesta ‘Mambo Fantasy’ en Puerto Rico

The repertoire, which included “Mama Güela,” “A los Muchachos de Belén,” “Vuela la paloma,” the bolero “Me faltabas tú,” “Baranga,” “Bon sueno,” “Yambú,” “Avísale a mi contrario,” “El agua de Belén,” “Óyeme Antonia,” “Estoy como nunca,” and the surprising intervention of the tumbador singer Johnny Rivero, the bolero “Tómame ya,” “El que se fue,” and “Abarriba cumbiaremos,” made it clear that the musical complexity of the golden age of mambo remains alive. The Gentleman of Salsa gave a lecture on his expertise in the most Tito Rodríguez-like dance that has ever been seen and heard, imprinting his interpretive style on the songs of “El Inolvidable,” while demonstrating his mastery of the dance, sliding across the stage using Rodríguez’s best steps.

Herman Olivera 'Mambo Fantasy' en Puerto Rico — Herman Olivera ‘Mambo Fantasy’ en Puerto Rico

Evidently, the participation of El Caballero de la Salsa was inspired by the musical perfection of “El Inolvidable”, achieving an impeccable performance. Through the magic that Santa Rosa brought to the concert, Tito Rodríguez, Jr. managed to connect with the Puerto Rican public that follows his father’s music. For our part, we are grateful for the invitation of the work team responsible for the success of ‘Mambo Fantasy’, while we remain awaiting the next show that manages to bring together these greats of mambo.

Also Read: Bella Martinez, the irreverent Salsa writer