Search Results for: Puerto Rico

Businessman, producer and broadcaster Jimmy Castro promotes his Ritmo Caribe Promotions Radio

Jimmy Castro and his radio station Ritmo Caribe Promotions Radio

We had the pleasure of interviewing businessman, producer and broadcaster Jimmy Castro, who started his radio show “El Toque Latino” on radio station WTCY 1400 AM from 1998 to 2002 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He then worked as a producer on “The Latin Jazz & Salsa Show” in Richmond, Virginia on station WCLM 1340 AM between the years 2008-2014. He eventually launched his own online Radio station Ritmo Caribe Promotions Radio in 2018 through the link www.ritmocaribepromotionsradio.com. Here, listeners can find salsa, Latin jazz and Afro-Cuban music.

Producer, promoter, and broadcaster Jimmy Castro

Here is our conversation:

You founded Ritmo Caribe Promotions in 1998. What made you found this company and why focus on setting up festivals and concerts?

I started the company as a DJ Record Pool called Caribbean Rhythms Record Pool in 1996 in Harrisburg Pennsylvania. I began meeting many of the artists that I was receiving music from, who began asking me if I would bring them to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to perform. That’s when I changed the company name to Ritmo Caribe Promotions, and produced many concerts and festivals there featuring artists to include Larry Harlow, Tito Puente, Cano Estremera, Hector Tricoche, Van Lester, Miosotis, Edgar Joel, Yomo Toro, Eddie Palmieri, and more.

Why focus specifically on salsa, Latin jazz and Afro-Cuban music?

I used to promote more genres when I began such as Merengue, Bachata, Reggaeton, and Mexican but as the years went on it began getting more difficult because I was receiving so much music but I had a limited staff to and wouldn’t be able to focus on so many artists. I decided to limit it to the genres I had the most experience in.

Jimmy Castro while leading his old show “El Toque Latino”

I knew that Ritmo Caribe Promotions has co-produced songs by several well-known artists. Let’s talk a bit about your role as producer and record label.

Throughout the years, I have always dreamed of producing a Salsa song with my company. In 2020, I had the opportunity to co-produce my first Salsa song with JA Creations entitled “Mariana” by Colombian Salsa vocalist Jaime Andres featuring Frankie Vazquez “El Sonero del Barrio!” Since then I have co-produced 3 more Salsa tunes, “Nuestro Camino” by Leonardo Garcia featuring country vocalist Cat Beach, Max Rosado, and special guest Nestor Torres, “Mi Motivo” by Leonardo Garcia featuring Grammy nominated Miss YaYa, and “Lo Afortunado Que Soy” by William Mendoza’s Latin Heartbeat Orchestra featuring Cuban vocalist Amauri Menocal. Finally, on August 15, 2022 I will be releasing my first Salsa tune as Executive Producer entitled “Historia de Un Amor” featuring a vocalist from The Netherlands, Julie Huard.

What leads you to launch your own online radio station in 2018?

I started in radio broadcasting in 1997 with my own radio show called “El Toque Latino” on a commercial radio station, WTCY 1400 AM in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I was on the air for 5 years. I then moved to Richmond, Virginia where I worked as a producer on The Latin Jazz & Salsa Show on WCLM 1450 AM / WHAP 1340 AM for 8 years. I was also the entertainment producer for 10 years for the annual Latin Jazz & Salsa Festival, with The 15th Annual Latin Jazz & Salsa Festival scheduled this year on August 27th, in which I will be bringing headline artist Herman Olivera.

Finally, in 2018, I no longer was interested in working on everybody else’s radio station, and decided to launch my own 24/7 internet radio station, Ritmo Caribe Promotions Radio, where I am able to program exactly the way I want to. www.ritmocaribepromotionsradio.com.

Jimmy Castro with the “King of Timbales” Tito Puente

You have also produced theatrical plays and film productions. Give us more details about that.

The play I am most proud of was produced by my company Ritmo Caribe Promotions and Yamile Music (Los Angeles) entitled “Melena: A Cultural & Musical Journey into my Afro-Cuban Roots” which was the true story of Afro-Cuban latina percussionist Melena, and her journey from Cuba and becoming one of the best female percussionist in the world. You could check out the play in 3 parts on YouTube by searching for “Melena: A Cultural & Musical Journey into my Afro-Cuban Roots (Part 1, 2, and 3).”

You also receive music in mp3 format from the audience to place on the station. What basis do you have for choosing between the tracks you receive?

I accept music from artists from around the world, again Salsa, Latin Jazz, and Afro-Cuban music, and I listen to all the music I receive and focus on the quality of the production, ensuring I receive mp3/wave along with the album cover image, and last but not least the music has to be GOOD! I also send it to many Salsa dancers who I am connected with to get their opinion on the tune.

What you can say about your show “El Toque Latino”? How has this show changed with the passage of time?

I mentioned “El Toque Latino” in a question above, however, this show is no longer on the air. Now, it is only “Ritmo Caribe Promotions Radio” 24/7 at www.ritmocaribepromotionsradio.com.

Jimmy Castro with Puerto Rican salsa singer Cano Estremera

Home

North America – June 2022

What’s Happening in London?

Five Salsa & Latin Jazz Events To Be Held In The UK Capital That You Can’t-Miss

The United Kingdom has removed essential restrictions against Covid-19 and its Omicron variant after battling weeks with the new wave of infections in the country since the end of last year.

The British executive has provided the relaxation of the restrictive measures due to the low numbers of infected people and deaths. This relaxation seeks to initiate the return to complete normality.

The new measures that are no longer mandatory are the use of masks (it will be at personal discretion, however, they must wear them if the site is crowded with unknown people or it is a closed space), and Covid passports are no longer a legal requirement to enter to the establishment.

For these reasons, we bring you a range of options in the Salsa & Latin Jazz genres in the country this month that you will be excited to see, and that you will not want to miss any detail. Here, we go…

latin woman with orange dress dancing in gabeto restaurant / bar — Gabeto offers Cuban, Colombian, and Puerto Rican Salsa style, classes

We open this poster of options with the Gabeto Camden Restaurant/Bar. This Cuban gem north of the city has two floors, a Latin atmosphere, and an outdoor terrace. They serve genuine Latin dishes, modern British drinks with Afro-Caribbean twists, and have a wide variety of nightly events throughout the week.

On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays you will live the Salsa experience with the instructor Ramiro Zapata (from Bolivia) with more than 20 years of experience in Salsa. Ramiro teaches his Cross Body style with a mix of Cuban, Colombian, and Puerto Rican Salsa, as well as a strong focus on Cali (Colombia) style footwork, male body movement, and female style. The cost of the lessons varies depending on the length of instruction; one hour is £10 while two hours cost £12. Lessons start at 7:30 PM and end at 9:30 PM except on Sundays with Rumba Pa’ Ti classes which are from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. The Cuban spirit is found in Gabeto, located at Camden Market, The Stables Market, Chalk Farm Road, a few minutes from Camden Town and Chalk Farm stations. Only people over 18 can attend and for more details, visit their website.

pink flyer with the event of San valentine in Salsa Temple Bar — Sundays at the Salsa Temple Bar are 9 continuous hours of Salsa

We continue with the Salsa Temple Bar. Every Sunday they are explosively Salseros. DJs Jorge Andre & DJ Jlatino mix the most recognized songs of yesterday and today from Timba, Salsa, Cubaton, and Bachata. Beginner Salsa Classes start at 6 PM, Bachata lessons at 7 PM, and Cuban Salsa instruction is at 8 PM. The cost for admission is £5 and on February 14^th, they will offer the Valentine’s Night Fuego event.

Starting this month Salsa Temple Bar with Rhythm & Vibes Dance Co and The Latin Collective will make Monday nights the biggest Afro-Latin party in the country appearing in the Latin Room (Second Room) Salsa, Bachata, and Reggaeton. In addition to this, there will be Salsa and Bachata classes for one session (1 hour) for £7 and two sessions (2 hours) for £10.

Bar Salsa Temple is located at Temple Station WC2R 2PH. Join and experience the Sabor in detail on its official website.

Roberto Plas playing the Timbal — Roberto Pla is the Colombian percussionist known as the “Father of Latin Music” in the UK

As a third option, we bring you the concert of Roberto Pla’s Latino ensemble on Friday, February 4^th at Pizza Express – Holborn. This Latin Jazz concert led by Colombian percussionist Roberto Pla is made up of a 12-piece band of saxophones, trumpets, trombones plus a powerful layered percussion section with Roberto on timbales and the powerful voice of Graciela Rodríguez.

The most recent presentations of the Latin Ensemble orchestra have been the Brecon Jazz Festival, Expo Festival Lisbon, Canada Square Festival, Under the Stars Festival, among many others.

Admission to enjoy this live performance is £25 and starts at 8:00 PM. The venue is Pizza Express Jazz Club located at 99 High Holborn since 2017. This Jazz Club is considered one of the best clubs of its kind in Britain with an international reputation. Performances by Grammy winners such as Gregory Porter and Amy Winehouse have been seen here.

Trumpeter with beige suit on Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club — The Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club presents every Friday of the month “Viva Cuba Live”

We continue with the most important and historic jazz club in the world founded in 1959, Ronnie Scott’s. In addition to the main club, there is the bar known as Upstairs @ Ronnie’s, it is highly regarded as an elegant and luxurious venue recreating the atmosphere of the ’50s, ideal for spending the night in style.

As part of the new Jazz club policy, they are expanding their program of Latin events at Upstairs @ Ronnie’s. Below I detail the events that will be held on Fridays from 6 PM during this month.

Jesús Cutiño Band + DJ Gavin (February 4^th). Jesús Cutiño is a Cuban singer-songwriter recognized as one of the best Tres players in Europe (the Tres is the Cuban guitar that forms one of the pillars of the Cuban Son sound).

Sarabanda + DJ Rico (February 11^th). With this band, you will listen to arrangements of classic and contemporary Cuban songs.

Son Yambu + DJ Jim (February 18^th). This group plays the authentic Cuban Son that originated in the streets of eastern Cuba at the beginning of the last century and later gave rise to modern Salsa. Most of the members come from Cuba and have the experience of a lifetime playing the genre, as well as being passionate about maintaining the traditions of Cuban Son.

Havana Latin Fun + DJ Alex (February 25^th). This five-piece band led by piano/vocals René Álvarez presents Cuban melodies with amazing rhythms.

Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club is located at 47 Frith St, London W1D 4HT, and you can find out more by clicking here.

Bishopsgate institute with green flag — The Latin and Ballroom Dance course for beginners will be held in person

We close this list of Latin events in London with the Latin and ballroom dance lessons for beginners next Saturday, February 12^th. With this one-day course, you will learn how to perform the basic steps, footwork and move around the floor with the correct dance line. The hours will be between 11 AM and 4 PM, and the price is £25. The maximum limit is 30 students. The venue is the Bishopsgate Institute located at 230 Bishopsgate EC2M 4QH. An institution was erected for the benefit of the public in 1894 with the motto “I never stop learning”.

You Can Also Read: 6 Clubs To Dance Salsa In London

North America – December 2021

ISM: Fanny Almanera better known as La Sonera del Callao

On this occasion we have the opportunity to interview the Peruvian Sonera called Fanny Almanera also known as La Sonera del Callao, her nickname comes from her native country El Callao, Peru.

She was born on January 23 and is the 9th daughter of her parents (Don Héctor Almenara and Carmen Barreto), from a very young age she knew and learned many things about the music of both parents; in the lyrical genre thanks to his mother and his best teacher Dona Ana María Parodi and with respect to his father who is / was a collector of the best exponents of Salsa (especially Cuban and Puerto Rican music), both listened almost all the time to Justo Betancourt, La Lupe, Candido Fabre, Benny More, Ismael Rivera, Los Papines, Irakere, Luis “Perico” Ortiz, among others.

When she turned 16, she realized that she was passionately and in love with the dynamic salsa genre and made the decision to leave the choir and classical music, since her love and her taste is for the salsa musical, thanking her father greatly for showing her , show him and listen to the best collection of salsa music to date … “Music is like medicine … it fills the soul and innovates over time” and over time, while gaining his experience, his own audience would give him their nickname La Sonera del Callao and with the favor of God take his parents, especially his father, to Cuba.

Tribute to Omara Portuondo Living Legend of Cuba — Memory of the brave Sonero Cano

She also had the honor of participating for the first time in the choir to Junior Gonzales and alternate Grandes with Peruvian Orchestra such as Peru Salsa by Beto Villena, Las Estrellas de la Maquina by Boris Gomez, La Nueva Generación by Franco Covetto, during that time chosen as the best nobel voice of the salsa genre for the 80s; and at the same time he made several recordings for different groups, likewise he recorded an unpublished song of his own entitled “Yo Te Espero”.

Unlike other musicians, Fanny Almanera during this season met and currently has friends of renowned musicians, who interacted with her and her family, even before becoming a singer.

Memory of Ray Barreto and singing Adalberto Santiago de Fannia — Ray Barreto and singing Adalberto Santiago de Fannia

Between the 70s and 80s, Las Leyendas Latinas arrived in Peru with Ray Barreto and Adalberto Santiago, who gave him the great opportunity to sing with them “Quitate La Máscara”, then with Linda Caballero (La India), the song “Mi Primera Rumba ”, Then with the salsa pharaoh Oscar de León with the song“ Toro Mata ”and also with the great Lebrón Brothers with the song“ Sin Negro no hay Guaguancó ”. With the Owner of the Soneo Carlos “El Cano” ESTREMERA the song “Amame en Camara Lenta”, with Frankie Vazquez “El Cuarto de Tula”, with Yolanda Rivera the song “Rumba en el Patio”, Vity Ruiz brother of Frankie Ruiz the song “La Cura”, with Aldalbeto Santiago on the song “Nadie se Salva de la Rumba”.

In all these golden opportunities, he managed to ask her many questions to perfect her singing, including knowing more about how to rhyme the phrases and after a while with her imposing voice, Fanny captured the attention of the greats of salsa, representing Callao and for which the Chalaco people named it “La Sonera Del Callao”.

Souvenir of Linda Caballero best known India and Fanny La Sonera del Callao — Singing with Linda Caballero, the best known India and Fanny La Sonera del Callao

She tells us that she is very happy with this great experience acquired, especially that she met many internationally recognized artists, many met them in person and others thanks to social networks, expressed by many who have a very beautiful voice, which is why she sang many songs musical expressing that at the time of singing he likes it because it is his passion with all his steps (vocalization, expression, movement).

During the Covid-19 pandemic it affected her like the rest of the world, in her case the recordings of her musical themes could not be made as before since the recording studio did not work as before, she had to sing with a smaller group of people, they couldn’t get together to practice; Although he was on a halt due to the pandemic, he was able to record a challenger “El Virus Se Mata Con Musica”, invited by a Cuban musician which was also recorded by Cuban artists, which was successful as it was heard in different parts of the world.

Thank God, despite all the complications that arose regarding her musical career, she achieved many things during this pandemic and also remained active thanks to social networks and is currently activating social activities in clubs, where They work in small groups live or online.

Fanny Almenara, continues with her impeccable musical career, loving music and recording a song entitled “Amor de mis Amores”, a salsa version with the Orquesta NG del Callao Director Franco Crovetto.

For her vast artistic career, she was awarded by different musical associations and by the company Pinsen Callao, Asocosalsa Peru (Ceremony Tite Curet, Busto Hector Lavoe, Charlie Palmieri and 25 Anniversary of Artistic Life (Okonkolo Association) and a few days ago she received the award The Miami Radio Salsa Superior Award Director Richard Roman (“La Dama De La Salsa” Award)

Fanny La Sonera del Callao 2021 — Fanny La Sonera del Callao the Los Award award from Radio Salsa Superior of Miami Director Richard Roman

After his voice reached Cuban pages like the page “Benny More”, “Un Millón De Adalsoneros” and “Al Son Del Pinar Del Rio” She was invited to the day of Son 8 de mayo led by the gentleman of son Adalberto Álvarez, later I also record a song authored by the Reyna del merengue Milly Quezada “Gracias A Ti” dedicated to those who are always in the front line such as doctors and nurses in Covid 19 and the latest that the production of the song La Sitiera Tributo has recorded to the Cuban diva Omara Portuondo in which Nelson Gonzales participated in the tres, Eddie Montalvo on the congas, Nohelia Zambrano from Colombia on the violin and Luis Perico Ortiz on the Trumpet

For more information:

Tik Tok: @fannyalmenara

Search Results for: Puerto Rico

Jimmy Castro and his radio station Ritmo Caribe Promotions Radio

Five Salsa & Latin Jazz Events To Be Held In The UK Capital That You Can’t-Miss

You Can Also Read: 6 Clubs To Dance Salsa In London

On this occasion we have the opportunity to interview the Peruvian Sonera called Fanny Almanera also known as La Sonera del Callao, her nickname comes from her native country El Callao, Peru.