North America / USA / California
Spanish Harlem Salsa Gallery & Johnny Cruz: ¡Que viva la Salsa!
A private collection that was built over four decades has opened its doors to the public in El Barrio, New York, becoming the only permanent exhibition dedicated to salsa and its heritage
By Carmen Mercedes Aular
With the magic and passion of Johnny Cruz as host, Spanish Harlem Salsa Gallery opened its doors to the New York community and the world a year ago, after 5 years of starting as a private gallery for an exclusive audience.
In this extraordinary place are exhibited 40 years of music, experiences and memories that now everyone can relive and consequently know the history behind each instrument, behind each object that rests in this immaculate space and carefully organized by Cruz. The collection includes instruments, pictures, newspapers, clothing and several gadgets donated by great musicians of Latin music.
Must share the good things
The initiative to bring the VIP experience to more people was conceived by Johnny Cruz to realize the positive impact that the gallery would have on the community of El Barrio and the way in which, through it, he could get more involved with schools from the neighborhood. The goal is to continue teaching children and adults the history of Latin music and show them how music is part of history and culture, and how it’s also part of El Barrio.
Cruz hopes to tell the story of each element of the gallery to anyone who wants to listen, and continue to increase the collection with donations from the stars of Latin music. Anyone interested in the history of music can learn something new and continue to share this information with other people so that the successes of these artists are never forgotten and kept alive in the collective memory.
In the near future, they hope to carry the information from the gallery to schools and universities in New York. In addition, they are working to collect resources to expand the collection and preserve exposure in the best and safest way possible, and become a source of employment for the community.
What awaits you at SpaHa Salsa Gallery?
At 1708 Lexington Ave NYC, you can find a wide variety of instruments, costumes, and other items from top artists of Latin music. One of the pieces of more recent data is the costume used by Sophy from Puerto Rico, in the tribute concert to Rafael Hernández at the Center for Fine Arts of Puerto Rico.
The great Eric Vélez supported the gallery by donating the congas that are in the permanent exhibition. You can also appreciate the tuxedo that Adalberto Santiago used in his 55th anniversary concert and a Bobby Cruz costume. A piece that you definitely have to watch is the colorful and vibrant Celia Cruz’s dress. Mike Rodriguez donated his güiro, maracas and tamboril. Willie Álvarez’s trombone also rests in this exposition.
Tourists and locals can learn about the history of objects belonging to musicians of La Fania All Stars or La Sonora Ponceña, the shoes of Héctor Casanova perched on the congas of Eddie Montalvo and numerous pieces full of anecdotes that will always, very gladly, share their host. The commitment of the gallery, and Johnny Cruz, is reaffirmed every day with donations of great glories that have a single purpose: to keep the music alive.
Soon, you will have access to the membership of the SpaHa Salsa Gallery, with which you will get information about the events before the general public and discounts in a wide network of restaurants in town, among other benefits, as a way to promote the gallery and obtain funds for its expansion and maintenance.
Within the gallery’s events programming for this month is Pablito Rosario and Cachete Maldonado’s visit, a celebration for Governor Andrew Cuomo for his triumph in the primaries vote in the state of New York, and another for Assemblyman Roberto Rodríguez, who has the support of the Latino community in the area where SpaHa Salsa Gallery lives. Moreover, Nicky Marrero, musician of the Fania All Stars, will donate the timbales he used recently in a tribute to Celia Cruz, so you can meet him in the gallery; on that day, he will be signing the instrument to formally deliver it to the collection.
The gallery is open to the public from Wednesday to Friday from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, and Saturdays from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm at 1708 Lexington Ave. NY 10029 (El Barrio).
You can get more information about events, membership and donations by calling 917-747-8505.
About the precursor of the initiative
Johnny Cruz has a history of 40 years in the world of Latin music, during which he has been collecting musical instruments. In the last 5 years he created Spaha Salsa Gallery in El Barrio in New York City and a year ago he shares it with friends, contacts, tourists and the community.
He has been a percussionist for the last 40 years and is passionate about music, singing it, producing it, composing it, telling it, living it today and keeping it alive forever. He has worked closely with some of the most outstanding Latin musicians in the business throughout his career and has been honored with a variety of awards over the years.
At this time, he produces a public access television program for mnn.org called The Windows of Latin America. The program has been on the air weekly for 20 years, and it is the only TV space in New York where salsa is broadcast.
In a few days he will be premiering a collaborative production with Adalberto Santiago, with songs that recap his musical career of more than six decades and have the admiration and gratitude of Cruz. Within the framework of this launch, there will be an event in which great Latin music personalities will meet again at the Spanish Harlem Salsa Gallery to share a fun time with fans and friends.
Since the beginning of this trip, his desire has been to create a space for the community. Sharing these artifacts is their way of giving back to a community that they have had the pleasure of being part of for many years, a bit of their culture and their heritage for the world.
