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Search Results for: Puerto Rico

Julio Vilchez and his orchestra conquer Miami

Peru continues to give us something to talk about thanks to all the salsa talent coming out that country in recent years and today we had the opportunity to talk with one of them, which is the producer, composer and singer Julio Vilchez. 

After we communicated with Vilchez via email and WhatsApp to schedule an interview, we have managed to have a great conversation in which we knew a little more about the artist’s beginnings in this fascinating world that is music.   

singer Julio Vilchez
This is Peruvian producer, composer and singer Julio Vilchez

Childhood and musical roots in the Vilchez family 

It is not surprising that Vilchez took that parth of life considering that his father, Juan José Vilchez Sanchez, was a talented actor, comedian and professional dancer who carried music in the blood and ran some of the most famous salsa clubs in the city of Lima, which served as a stage for important national and international groups and singers of all genres.   

Having referred with admiration to his father because of all that he achieved in life thanks to music, he assured that music definitely ran through the veins of his family and had always been a very important part of his childhood and youth. 

Seeing all this, the years were not many when Vilchez became interested in musical instruments such as maracas, the bongo bell and the güiro, which led him to participate in groups such as Raíces, La Fragua and Soy Calidad.   

Salsa and other genres 

A large majority of Peruvian artists whom we had the honor to interview have typically ventured in Peruvian Creole music before getting involved in salsa, but not Vilchez. In fact, he pointed out to us that his country was heavily influenced by Cuba musically speaking and there used to be a time when groups from the island visited Peru such as La Sonora Matancera and Los Compadres. Peru also received influence from Colombia, Venezuela and Puerto Rico, although to a lesser extent. 

The artist also remembers that, at home, he and his family always used to listen to Venezuelan singers and orchestras such as La Dimensión Latina, Oscar D’ León, Luisito Quintero, Nati Y Su Orquesta, among others. In the case of Puerto Rico, of course Vilchez and his family used to listen to La Fania All Stars.  

Vilchez was part of Raíces, La Fragua and Soy Calidad
Julio Vilchez was part of groups such as Raíces, La Fragua and Soy Calidad

Formal beginnings of Julio Vilchez in music 

In the neighborhood Vilchez and his family lived in, the singer made friends with other local boys and met up with them to sing in a completely amateur way. In addition to that, he liked to participate in school talent shows, in which he delighted the crowd performing songs from Oscar D’León, Rubén Blades and Willie Colón. 

After attaining the age of 17, he began working alongside his father in the business of running clubs, which gave him the opportunity to spend time with the members of the orchestra La Progresiva del Callao, who performed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in one of those places.   

Since Vilchez loved to dance and the orchestra focused a lot on its choreographies, the young man identified himself a lot with the group and began to learn the steps the singers performed on stage. One day, the boys saw him dancing and invited him to sing with them in one of their shows, in which he danced very well, but he did not sing in the best way. For this reason, he got the opportunity to stay permanently in the orchestra, but only as a dancer for the moment.   

Over time, he was grabbing experience on stage and getting over stage fright until he managed to keep up with the rest of his orchestra fellows with the passing of days.  

Julio Vilchez with Cano Estremera
Julio Vilchez with Puerto Rican salsa singer Cano Estremera

Vilchez’s time in Venezuela 

Vilchez made friends with a group of Venezuelan musicians who accompanied Oscar D’ León in one of his concerts and invited him to travel with them to Venezuela because they wanted him to be part of the sextet they were going to create, which was meant to perform at a tavern in Caracas. 

Seeing that things were going well in Venezuela at that time, Vílchez decided to accept the invitation and immigrate to the South American country to try his luck. Once there, he spent a lot of time alone because the boys from the sextet traveled a lot, something which took advantage to get to know other groups, one of them being La Selecta de Cúa. One day, Vilchez was walking down the street and heard this orchestra rehearsing, but it needed a singer. That is when Vilchez proposed himself as an option, was admitted and worked for about two years in this orchestra. 

Although he did well in Venezuela, he ended up returning to his native country because he missed his homeland and his father could not get used to having him away, so he packed suitcases and decided to return.   

Tributo al Caballero by Julio Vilchez
Cover of the album Tributo al Caballero by Julio Vilchez

Life in the United States 

One of the songs he released in 1995 led him to make a video clip, which started to become very popular on music channels and shows, giving him the recognition Vilchez aimed for so long.  

Since things were not going as he expected on his solo career, he joined the Orquesta La Novel to continue working on music for the next two years. Although his name was not as well known as Vilchez needed it to be, his song was still sounding loud internationally for quite some time, which led him to receive a proposal to perform eight shows with his orchestra in the United States in 2000. 

When Vilchez and the rest of the musicians traveled to Miami, about nine members of the orchestra received proposals to stay in the country and decided to accept. It was there where the artist gathered his courage and says to himself ”I’m staying too”. That was over 24 years ago now.   

At that point, the Peruvian had to look for other musicians to replace the others in order to finish the concert tour they had scheduled. It was then when he contacted José Alberto ”El Canario” through a Peruvian colleague of his to use his band for the remainder of the tour and so he did. Vilchez did two or three shows with this band and stayed in Miami from 2001 to 2004.   

Given the lack of musical proposals, he spent a few years in New York, but returned to Miami some time later to work both with music and with a business sector linked to gastronomy, since living only from music is complicated. In addition to that, his children live in Miami and he wanted to spend more time with them, so this was also a powerful reason to return.   

Read also: Argentine-American composer and guitarrist Alejandro Meola kindly talked to us 

Benny Moré. The story of Cuba’s biggest crowd idol

Latin America / Cuba / La Habana

Who is Benny Moré? He is not just another musician, he is unanimously the most brilliant popular artist that has existed on the Afro-Cuban island. He is the symbol, the myth, the legend, it is undoubtedly the summary of the popular, rich and abundant music of Cuba.

Benny Moré symbolizes the peasant “Guateque”, the “Sarao”, the bohemian, the coffee, the bar, the theater, the party, carnivals, the show. “El Bárbaro del Ritmo” was the most popular in Afro-Cuban music.

Benny Moré
Benny Moré

He was born on August 24, 1919 at seven in the morning in the Pueblo Nuevo neighborhood of the town of Santa Isabel de las Lajas, belonging to the Cienfuegos province. His parents were Virginia Moré and Silvestre Gutiérrez, and Benny was the oldest of 18 siblings. His last name Moré came from Ta Ramón Gundo Moré (slave of the Count Moré), who, according to the tradition of the Congos, was his first king in Santa Isabel de las Lajas.

Benny was gifted with a fluent tenor voice that gave life with great expressiveness and this context was definitive for his future career in music. He learned to play the insundi, the yuka drums, the Makuta and Bembé, invocators of deities, with whom he not only sang and danced to perfection, but also played the son, the guaracha and the rumba.

Since he was a child he expressed his great vocation for music, he would spend all day humming a song or improvising and directing ensembles composed of machetes, bongos made with milk cans, guitars made with a board and nails with strings of string sew, two sticks as keys, and so on.

Benny Moré singing
Benny Moré singing

Moré was a teacher in all genres of Cuban music

The “Bárbaro del Ritmo” could always be found standing on a table singing and playing, surrounded by listeners. Bartolomé spent his childhood and adolescence, with no opportunity for study or permanent employment. Like his brother Teodoro, Bartolomé was enrolled in the School of Public Instruction “José de la Luz y Caballero”, where he always stood out for his conduct and application.

Why is the Bacardi symbol a bat?

Since he was a child, Moré had skills for singing and improvisation, which he demonstrated when he was barely seven years old, when he would run away for a few hours to entertain parties in the neighborhood and loved singing notes with his mother, to prevent her from sleeping while ironing late into the night.

His voice was particularly highlighted in the Son Montuno, the Mambo, and the Bolero

Benny Moré live
Benny Moré live

Benny went through a complicated life, but he was willing to do anything to achieve his dreams of triumph. With almost 20 years of age, in 1940 Bartolomé said goodbye to his mother at the Hotel Ritz in the Central Vertientes, where she worked, and traveled hidden, indistinctly, by train and truck to the City of Havana. He was definitely in the mission to try his luck in the bustling city!

Since then, he was seen by the famous neighborhood of Belen, with a guitar acquired in a pawnshop, wandering through cafes, bars, hotels, restaurants, and even brothels. That same year he told his cousin: “I stay in Havana, I rise up here or I sink”. From that moment began the saga of concerts at the bars of the port avenue … Once remembering those times, he confessed: “I threw myself into the street with a guitar on my shoulder to sing to tourists. I am not ashamed of it; Carlos Gardel also did it in Argentina and is the king of tango. ”

At that time, the CMQ station began broadcasting the Supreme Court of Art. Bartolomé Maximiliano Moré appeared in that program that Germán Pinelli and José Antonio Alonso encouraged. After presenting it and at the moment of beginning his presentation, they rang the bell.

Later Bartolomé returned to Monte and Prado to the Supreme Court and on this second occasion he won the first prize. Possessing a fresh voice, beautiful timbre, sensual and evocative. Bartolo sang with all the inner strength that claimed the Cuban rhythms.

In one of his raids, Siro Rodríguez, member of the famous Matamoros Trio, heard him sing in the bar of El Templete restaurant, on Avenida del Puerto, and was very impressed by the boy’s voice and tuning.

The entry of Bartolomé to the group of Miguel Matamoros was a fact and can be considered as his real debut as a professional singer, because with this group he had for the first time a steady job as a musician and made his first recordings on 78 revolutions per minute discs.

Benny knew he had a voice, the luck and a destiny. Perhaps he sensed it, intuited it, or simply trusted his triumph. When he started with Miguel Matamoros and his group, I already wanted to make changes in the picket line.

In Mexico, when Miguel became ill, he was able to direct the group, took control and enjoyed the “Cuates” in El Patio cabaret. When the contract ended, the Matamoros group returned to Havana, but without Bartolomé, who decided to try his luck by himself in Mexico.

When he communicated his decision to the famous author of El Son Siembra Su Maíz, Miguel Matamoros said: “It’s very good, but you have to change the name of Bartolo, which is very ugly. With that name you will not go anywhere”, You are right, Bartolo replied, from today I will call myself Benny, yes, Benny Moré. ”

The owner of the business was hypnotized by the very tasty atmosphere that Benny led as director. After singing with several push orchestras in Mexico, he planted himself beautifully with the most famous band of the 20th century: Pérez Prado and the Cuban mambo.

With this meeting two geniuses joined: Benny Moré had talent and natural intuition; in Pérez Prado, in addition to all that, the mastery of technique and an enormous facility to make music. With Perez Prado he conquered the noble Aztec people on tours of different states of that sister country.

Benny Moré
Benny Moré

Due to the success achieved by Benny, the town gave him the title of “Prince of Mambo” and Pérez Prado, “King of Mambo“. He sang like nobody else in the world and began his international promotion.

By that time, Benny’s voice was known in Panama, Colombia, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Venezuela, and of course, in his native Cuba.

In the joyful world of nightlife in Mexico City, the Cuban singer performed in many theaters, including Margo, Blanquita, Folliers and Cabaret Waikiki, alternating with renowned artists such as the legendary star Yolanda Montes (Tongolele), the Mexican Toña la Negra, and the outstanding cuban pianist and composer, Juan Bruno Tarraza, of whom Benny sang the bolero “It’s already twelve o’clock”.

Benny participates in many films and upon his return to Cuba, he was already certain that he had to be counted on.

The nostalgia for his family, friends, for the Homeland, and the desire to obtain laurels on his Island, where he considered that he was not known enough, made him return to his beloved Lajas at the end of the year 50. The ‘sonero mayor’ was definitely in Cuba, where he had left behind comforts, material and spiritual satisfactions, friends and even the loves that the successful do not usually lack.

During the following two years he acted by contract for a program called “De fiesta con Bacardí”, which was aired by the Eastern radio station with the orchestra of Mariano Mercerón, and the singers Fernando Álvarez Pacho Alonso.

Benny Moré
Benny Moré

As Benny Moré was an exclusive artist of RCA Víctor, this firm claimed his presence in Havana to make different recordings. In order to fulfill this commitment he gave alternative trips to Havana and thus maintained his responsibility with the eastern radio station.

After the commitment at Casa Bacardí and maestro Mercerón, in 1952 Benny Moré returned to Havana.

Certainly, Benny concluded an era, closed a chapter of Cuban musical life, that stage of nightlife that was already declining.

Benny’s life was related to a world that has already disappeared. Then everything became myths and legends … Benny kept on singing, but now it would be on scratch discs, which were digitized.

The “oidores” (listeners) will be transported in time, imagine the bars of the Havana port full of curious tourists. From Chinese restaurants selling “complete” to poor people who passed their hats, after singing through the streets of Havana – Cuba.

Benny Moré in concert
Benny Moré in concert

Jerry Ferrao says in salsa key: “My life is a drum”.

With a lifetime dedicated to folk music, singer-songwriter Jerry Ferrao has been bringing us some good salsa for some time now. With seven recordings to his credit; Restauración, Esto sí es Navidad, Paisajes de mi Negrura, Puertorican Folkloric Jazz, Tiempo al Tiempo, De Guerreros y Batallas and Desafío, it is clear that the salsa path he decided to take a couple of years ago brought a lot of musical experience, and a very tasty one at that.

Jerry Ferrao afirma en clave de salsa “Mi vida es un tambor”
Jerry Ferrao afirma en clave de salsa “Mi vida es un tambor”

I invite you to listen to his latest single ‘Mi vida es un tambor’, also available on YouTube:

The track -whose musical arrangement is by Jerry Ferrao and John Rivera Rosa- features the participation of great recording studio musicians, such as: Efraín Hernández on bass; Juan Gómez on piano; Angie Machado, Jaimar Vázquez and Javier Meléndez on trumpets; Benny Marín, Víctor Román and Noel Abel on saxophones; Pedro Dueño on bongo; plus a parade of top-notch guests: Endel Dueño on timbal, Kachiro Thompson on tumbadoras and Luis Aquino, in a masterful trumpet solo.  Backing up Jerry Ferrao’s lead vocals, we hear the voices of Flor Angel Guilbe, Wiki Gonzalez and Nandy “El Sinsonte” on backing vocals.

“I do it first out of a desire to explore new horizons. I’ve been in the bomba and plena for many years. I was with La Familia Cepeda for more than 20 years and with Los Hermanos Ayala from the town of Loíza for six to seven years. I was a disciple of the great masters: Don Rafael Cepeda Atiles, Marcial Reyes Arvelo and Tomás Flores, among others. The time has come for me, I am a composer! I have composed songs for several orchestras and folklore groups, it was time to write for myself! I said to myself, I am a composer and singer and I am going to design my own music,” he said.

He lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina while studying cinematography. There, Ferrao sang with the salsa orchestra La Clave Genética. It may have been there that the definitive leap to salsa was conceived.

Following the scourge of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico (2017), Jerry dedicated a salsa track titled ‘Retoñando’ (available on YouTube) to the memory of all his compueblanos who left in the aftermath of the hurricane.

Jerry Ferrao relates that he began receiving suggestions for him to record salsa because his voice excelled in that sound. “That must be because I have been listening to salsa, enjoying and appreciating it since I was a child. I have a family of well-known musicians, particularly because they are percussionists, timbaleros, congueros, bongoseros,” he said.

Con toda una vida dedicada a la música folclórica, el cantautor Jerry Ferrao ha estado trayéndonos salsa de la buena
Con toda una vida dedicada a la música folclórica, el cantautor Jerry Ferrao ha estado trayéndonos salsa de la buena

In 2012 he published what could be considered the most important documentary on the history of the Puerto Rican bomba, Ayeres de la Bomba. This document has been praised by prestigious ethnomusicologists, anthropologists, sociologists and researchers specializing in Puerto Rico’s black history. I add with certainty, that our Jerry Ferrao must be considered as the authority on our folkloric rhythms.

Since he was a child, he was influenced by the art of Afro-Antillean roots music, especially salsa and guaguancó. With uncles like percussionists Pedro Dueño, Ángel Dueño and Endel Dueño, nicknamed “Los Hermanos Dueño” in the popular artistic scene, who have been recognized in different parts of the world, mainly by salsa and Latin jazz lovers, it should come as no surprise that Ferrao has grown up immersed in the rhythm and flavor that continues to dictate his creativity.

Determined to focus on salsa, he affirms that his contribution to Borikua folklore was also his musical foundation. “Yes, it is something that lives with me and I will continue to cultivate it in some way. Who knows if in the future I will do my own little things for the public, that I will sneak in some bomba or plena between salsa and salsa. I have been in folklore since I was about eight years old”, Ferrao said shortly before affirming that with the album Desafío (2022), which contains 12 songs of his inspiration, he made his formal entry into salsa. Jerry Ferrao bets on salsa, and salsa fans bet on Jerry. His efforts have not gone unnoticed and as a salsa artist, the excellence with which he has produced his musical deliveries is striking. “I swear it was a tremendous challenge to do all this. For different reasons, the production took about three or four years. All the songs and arrangements are my own, and I don’t even play guitar, although I would love to!” he shared.

The images are by Kali Torres

Bella Martinez Puerto Rico

 

 

 

Also Read: ¡Attack Sergio! Unbreakable: A fun read because of the contradictory content

Phil Robinson Sonero, composer and performer bandleader

North America / USA / New York

Phil Robinson born in S. Bronx, New York, of Dominican and Puerto Rican parents, lived his early years up-bringing in the Dominican Republic, surrounded by music and close family members that sang, recited poetry and performed.

At the age of five, Phil Robinson already sang songs from well known Spaniel child, singer, ‘Joselito’ and was singing and reciting poetry in school recitals and shows, literately, showing his natural talent as a singer and performer.

Phil Robinson
Phil Robinson

Phil Robinson began his professional career in 1973, when he began his musical journey as a lead singer for Orquesta Yare, in Vineland New Jersey.

Phil Robinson relocated to Los Angeles where he was noticed for his charisma, voice range and singing style often compared with Puerto Rican salsa singer Tito Allen, as he evolved, he became lead for Henry Mora and the LA Salsa All Star Salsa Orquestra, he collaborated with many of the local groups, from there on he became lead vocals  for Eric Matos and Orquesta La Caliente, Papo Rodriguez and La Sorpresa, recording two original songs composed by Nelson Montalvo title Fantasia and Mi Regalo, included in his 2005 CD, ‘Oye Salsa Sabor y Clave’.

During the time Phil Robinson was with Papo Rodriguez, Panamanian singer Camilo Azuquita, strolled into town and La Sorpresa became ‘Azuquita y su Melao’, Phil became Azuquita’s back up lead for a number of years, performing in many well-known venues such as Hollywood Palladium and with many renowned artists such as the late Celia Cruz.

Phil Robinson
Phil Robinson

In 1993 he joined Orlando Lopez Mazacote recording his first published cd project under the Fonovisa Record label Salsa Para El Mundo Entero, as the band lead vocals he performed many corporate events, concerts as LA Cinco De Mayo Festival, traveling to Ensenada Mexico, sharing stage with Willie Chirino and Andy Montañez to name a few. He also recorded it additional songs under OLM records Salsa Bravisima.

Phil Robinson paused his career for a bit and continue to collaborate with different local bands and returned to the stage with his band performing well-known places such as San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino, Oxnard Festival, Fiesta Alegre Festival, private events and LA salsa venues, Conga Room, Rumba Room, Mama Juana, El Floridita, Santa Monica Monsoons and many other popular LA Salsa Venues

Phil Robinson has shared the stage with Adalberto Santiago, Tony Vega, Herman Olivera, Yolanda Rivera, Menique, Luigi Texidor, Wichy Camacho, Cuban singer Franco, Willie Chirino, Celia Cruz, and the list goes on.

After seven years Phil Robinson completed and published his new musical project, produced by Arturo Solar “Between Two Worlds ” a project that encompasses classical compositions from Armando Manzanero, Ted Koehler / Harold Arlen, Virgilio and Homero Exposito, Enrique Benitez, Vicente Garrido Calderon, Jesus Alejandro and originals composed by Phil.

Throughout 2017 Phil Robinson has continued to perform frequently in San Manuel Casino, Granda LA, the new Rumba Room, Granada LA, Cafe Sevilla, Granada LA, Oxnard Festival and Fiestalegre Fundraiser for Puerto Rico Huracane Maria.

Phil Robinson
Phil Robinson

2018 continues to be a year of success as we see it for Phil, many surprises will arise, follow the man with a unique stage presence, charisma y mucho sabor.

Phil Robinson thank you for your continued support and may God bless you all.

The Lehman Center Performing Arts Series Presents Andy Montañez’s 55TH Anniversary

North America / USA / New York

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts Presents Andy Montañez:

Enjoy this Puerto Rican star recognized as one of the best and most influential singer in Latin America in a Special Show with special guests: Victoria Sanabria, El Trio Ideal and Johnny Olivo & Herencia de Plena

Date: Saturday, May 11th

Show: 8:00PM

Cost: $65 – $100

Venue: 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West Bronx, New York 10468

 

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts is proud to present the Latin GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Andy Montañez as he celebrates his 55th Anniversary with special guest: Victoria Sanabria on Saturday, May 11th. In addition to this, enjoy EL TRIO IDEAL and the exciting dance rhythms of JOHNNY OLIVO Jr. & HERENCIA DE PLENA’s performance of their afro-rich folkloric musical traditions of Puerto Rican Bomba and Plena in a Salsero Show never before seen in New York City.

 

BIO: The Andy Montañez ’s beginnings go back to 1962 with the orchestra: El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. It was 15 years of success. El Niño de Trastalleres recorded 37 LP’S with this great Latin orchestra. There he created and sealed the luggage that would accompany him always: “El Barbero Loco”, “Julia”, “Guaguanco del Gran Combo”, Un Verano en Nueva York”, “Vagabundo”, “Milonga Sentimental”, “Las Hojas Blancas”, “La Soledad” and the now classic “A mí manera”, a song that he recorded with Paquito Guzmán and with Pellín Rodríguez originally.

 

In 1977, Andy Montañez decided accepts the irresistible offer made by the popular Venezuelan orchestra “La Dimensión Latina” to replace Oscar D’ León. With this important orchestra, Andy Montañez recorded eight LPs that placed the Venezuelan band at the popularity top and sales. The first album with Dimension Latina marked big hits, such as: “El Eco Del Tambor”, “Mujer Impura”, “Ritmos Cubanos”.  Then, the triumphs continued with the themes: “Las Perlas de tu Boca”, “Como Canto Yo “, “Nuestra Tierra”, “Vuelve”, “Rumberos de Ayer”, “Son del Bohío”, “Ave María Lola”, “Mi Son Oriental”, “Cantante Errante”, and others.

Andy Montañez
Andy Montañez

For 1980, Andy Montañez recorded with the group “Puerto Rico All Stars” three LPs that were the prelude to his return to Puerto Rico. “Reunión en la Cima”, “Isla Bonita”, “Homenaje al Mesías” dedicated to Eddie Palmieri, outlined the growth process in which the Salsero still remains.

Returning Puerto Rico, Andy Montañez forms his own orchestra. By 1981, he recorded his first solo LP titled “Salsa con Caché” with record label LAD (TH Rodven’s subsidiary). His third LP “Simplemente Andy Montañez” rang with the hits: “Dulce Veneno” and “Payaso”. This album stayed 30 weeks in the magazine, Bilboard, inside its pages Tropical Music with five themes.

For 1998, he finally created his first independent production as a Salsero artist. Guided by his feelings, his proven experience and his artistic spontaneity was released the album: “Soy Como Soy”. This production is a tribute to his people to whom Andy Montañez responds with commitment of national pride wherever he goes.

In 2002, this worldwide multifaceted artist sees the support of his people materialized by filling the Centro de Bellas Artes’ Festival Hall for three consecutive days, where he captivated three generations with an unforgettable musical tour in which El Bolero, la Música de Tríos, La Salsa and La Plena harmonized that unparalleled Salsa experience. For more details, please, visit him through http://www.andymontanez.net

BIO: Victoria Sanabria was born on October 6, 1976 in Guayama (Puerto Rico). This woman with a sublime voice who carries in her throat all the essence of singing peasant, is one of the most impressive talents that has given the Trova Jíbara of the island of enchantment.

In 1992, she won the third prize in the category of singing in the competitions “Juventud Vibra”. The following year she won first place in the Troubadour Contest of the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, becoming the national troubadour per excellence. Later, Victoria was part of the Choir of the University of Puerto Rico, Ponce Campus.

Continuing her ascending path in the arts, in December (1995) she made her debut in Bellas Artes with the Puerto Rico’s Symphonic Orchestra. That same year this talented artist managed to be crowned as the first female to win the Bacardí Troubadour Contest, proving to be the best improviser of Puerto Rico at the end of the century.

Andy Montañez
Victoria Sanabria

Her first album as a soloist, Cánticos de Serrania, was recorded in 1999, and in the next eight years she released three more in Puerto Rico including 2008’s Celebra Conmigo that featured Andy Montañez and Andrés Jiménez as guest artists. That same year, she joined the world-wide Tribute to Hector Lavoe concert tour.

In December 2009, Sanabria released her international breakthrough album Criollo Con Salsa, in which she had combined Puerto Rican folk music with salsa. The album contained several hits including “10 Dias”, “No Lavo, No Plancho, Ni Cocino”, “Jibara Natural” that featured Luis “Perico” Ortiz, and “No Te Quiero” sung with reggaeton star Ivy Queen. 2011 saw the release of the highly successful album Boleros which established Victoria as a major singer, and a year later she followed up with the release of Boleros II, which is now considered a classic.

The Sanabria’s most recent releases are her live concert album Trayectoria that was recorded in Santurce in 2012, and 2016’s Música Mía. In addition to her own recordings, Victoria has been featured as a guest on works by Domingo Quiñónez, Olga Tañon, Richie Ray, Bobby Cruz, Gilberto Santa Rosa, El Gran Combo, Danny Rivera, Charlie Aponte, and Willie Colon, among others.

 

Purchase your Tickets NOW at:

https://lehmancenter.org/ANDY-MONTANEZ-VICTORIA-SANABRIA/

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