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Sonora Ponceña and her 1982 álbum “Determination”

A production that placed “Yambeque” on its first song

Enrique Arsenio Lucca Quiñones (Ponce, Puerto Rico, April 10, 1946), known as Papo Lucca, is a pianist and multi-instrumentalist of salsa and Latin jazz.

An arranger and virtuoso of his instrument, he was co-founder with his father, Enrique “Quique” Lucca Caraballo, of La Sonora Ponceña. He has also performed and recorded with the Fania All-Stars, Willie Colón, Celia Cruz, Johnny Pacheco, Bobby Valentin, Ismael Quintana, Gloria Estefan, Adalberto Santiago, Andy Montañez, Pablo Milanés and Rubén Blades.

La Sonora Ponceña is a Puerto Rican orchestra of Afro-Caribbean music founded by “Quique” Lucca in 1954.

Directed by the son of “Quique”, Papo Lucca, it is one of the most important groups of the musical genre

This time we highlight the album “Determination” from 1982, a production that placed “Yambeque” on its first song

Sonora de Ponce, Papo Lucca, Los Gigantes del Sur, Determination
Sonora Ponceña and their 1982 album “Determination”.

A melody from Regla de Ocha to the orishas that brings a rumba within its particular style of salsa and excelling in a solo he “little” Johnny Rivero and the interpretation “Toñito” Ledee.

On the song “Soledad,” it was Yolanda Rivera‘s turn, along with Miguelito Ortiz and Toñito Ledee, where they sing about loneliness and its peculiarities and dangers.

In “Creo en ti,” the arrangement of the ninths and suspended chords on the trumpet harmonies stood out, very well complemented by Yolanda Rivera’s interpretation of this bolero.

The song “Herida cerrada en falso”, lyrics and interpretation provided by Toñito Ledee, where we enjoy the vocal style of this great singer.

The melody that followed on this album was “Date cuenta“: a call to young people who go around playing with hearts.

In “Si la ven”, where the piano solo turned the main line of the melody into a Classical Music Minuet and where we enjoyed the harmonies that were used in the trumpets and flute horn by Juancito Torres.

In “Joldo” Maestro Papo Lucca makes Jazz taking this melody to a more accentuated Latin plane.

In “Aunque te quiero” Songo with Salsa was employed for a sense of harmony and dance-driving, where this melody reflects the heart of the true and full romantic lover, who regrets the love that does not return to him.

In this production we have wanted specially to detail that we counted on Enrique Quique Lucca like Musical Director; to Enrique Papo Lucca like Producer, Arranger, choir and piano; vocalists to Yolanda Rivera, Miguelito Ortiz and Toñito Ledee; in the choir to Edwin Rosas and like guest also in choirs Mr. Adalberto Santiago.

We were fortunate and honored to have lyrics by Adalberto Alvarez, Jose A. Mendez, Toñito Ledee, Francisco Alvarado, Roberto Anglero, Joseito Gonzalez and one with DRA.

This album continued to mark the musical line that we brought and continued to have the privilege of the favor and acceptance of each of our fans, who to this day continue to fully enjoy each of the melodies present in this production.

We say goodbye to you and thank you for your attention, and we will return soon with another release for all of you.

Facebook: Sonora Ponceña

Yambeque

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Meet Liz Castillo in our report for this May 2021 edition

 

In the Caribbean there is a group of islands that attract many tourists all year round for its warm beaches, music, history and / or culture, one of the most visited is the beautiful island of Cuba, where tropical tourism is excellent for tourists. , one of the provinces that stands out for being a land of beautiful landscapes and hospitable people who preserve their traditions is Pinar del Rio which is located in the westernmost part of Cuba, it highlights its extraordinary natural charms such as its caves and Pinar del Rio parks, its beaches are bathed by two waters “the Atlantic and the Caribbean” which you can see with the naked eye when you go there and having this great diversity and beauty, you can explore the seabed as there is great tourism ecological and practicing water sports, it also has green gardens, the mogotes of Viñales and its guano houses where tobacco leaves are dried, there is an impressive Mural of Prehistory, a huge cave painting g burned on the surface of a mogote where its tropical and exuberant colors allow it to be distinguished from afar.

This time we have the Cuban singer Marielys Castillo Prietos also known by the stage name Liz Castillo, who was born in this beautiful city Pinar del Rio, Cuba on September 20, 1985, tells us with affection the place where she was born and is the perfect description that we mentioned at the beginning of this article; currently she lives in Havana to better develop her musical career.

In 2000, he began his musical career where he joined the movement of amateur artists of “Casa de Cultura”, a place that belongs to the network of cultural institutions that make up the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Cuba. where there is concerted cultural development between the community and state entities, aimed at the preservation, transmission and promotion of artistic and cultural samples of the community, there were workshops where visual arts, dance, music are taught … was able to present singing songs for both children and adults; which obtained several prizes in the diverse Contests.

During these 5 years he dedicated himself to recording his album called “Cosas Contigo” with full authorship, his songs have a great variety of musical genres such as Bachata, Salsa, Vallenato, among others in order to have a great musical enrichment and in turn achieve a greater reach to your audience.

Cosa Contigo - Liz Prieto
Cover of Marielys Castillo Prietos – Cosa Contigo

In 2004, she graduated from Elementary Level in Singing Specialty, and jointly received Popular Singing classes in Havana with her teacher Robertina Morales Silva, who is someone very important to her since she mentions that she owes her musical career to him. because during his beginnings, he was born with the concern and doubt of being a musician and she was the one who showed him his path and what is correct or not; When he received his classes with her, he discovered and obtained the answers to his concerns in his musical career, even today they keep in contact supporting her.

She begins to work on the composition of the songs of her authorship, where until today she has more than 25 works registered in the National Copyright Center, performed by recognized Orchestras and Soloists and by herself.

The emotion and inspiration to create his songs is “Love”, the most sincere and most sincere feeling there is, it is also inspired by its derivatives such as heartbreak, life and lived experiences; This is one of the ways that you express what you feel, what you like and what you don’t like and what you want to send to your audience.

A year later (2005), he joined the Ebano y Marfil group and the Ireme Group. On this same date the Polyphonic Choir of Pinar del Río was integrated, these were the first groups with which I worked instead of working as a soloist, it was a new world where he does not deny that for those who start in group music and with experience it is scary because they do not know if they will measure up or not (their own insecurities), if your desire to move forward and progress is stronger it will be appeased by gaining experience and more security, as happened to her, who is a person characterized by a person who never backs down and moves on, to catch up and strive to defend himself for which he has fought, since she herself knew what would happen by studying it, thought and assumed in his future, making this a wonderful and great experience.

Live- Liz Castillo
Photo of Marielys Castillo Prietos and her musical group

What better happiness and personal reward than listening to your musical themes on the street and expanding to radio stations and the internet, this is the best happiness that a musician has.

After 4 years he retired from the musical group to go to Havana (2009) to train more as an artist for a year at the Mariana de Gonitch Singing Academy, directed by Maestro Hugo Ósle, a very prestigious teacher from Havana, he is known As the director of the group that bears the name of the famous internationally renowned Russian singer and pedagogue, who preferred to live in Cuba and was in charge of preparing young talents, there Liz Castillo had her lyrical and popular singing classes and above all they took you to to do shows and concerts in all the theaters of Havana either as a soloist or in a group, thus cultivating in his career and to have a more accurate criterion in a few words he was covering a wide repertoire and varied musical genres from Folklor A; upon graduating he continued working and always asking his teacher Robertina Morales Silva for support.

She mentions that during the COVID-19 pandemic, she did not see the bad things but the positive things, it has been for her during that difficult year, very prosperous in her career since she has been able to get 2 singles that were previously in process or paused, 2 salsa songs ʺCanción sin Rostroʺ which is currently coming out these days with its video clip and soon ʺWhere our Love is bornʺ … the pandemic has paralyzed many things but we must take advantage of this time at home and she did it promoting herself and obtaining a greater reach through the internet platform using social networks.

“For live music to be heard by the public, that they like it and identify with it and to achieve at this time is through communications especially the internet and social networks”

“Canción sin Rostro” is a musical theme that aired recently, it tells us that during its creation it was not called that, but “De que vale”, because that change arose, it was a theme related to an unrequited love and at the end of the song was a happier ending instead of the sadness it had at the beginning, it is like for example seeing the dark side of life comes at the end to see the light, the most beautiful part of life.

Liz Castillo - Cosas Contigo
Musical themes by Liz Castillo

To the new talent that is currently emerging, Liz Castillo mentions that currently many people want to be a fast and famous artist, but the truth is… “the person who is going to be an artist is because they have it in their soul, mind and it is written in Life will go on and overcome its obstacles, no matter how difficult … the artist is born with that quality, those who are not will not be able to continue even with all the support in the world “…” the artist’s work is not for himself, but for others, respecting his audience with respect to his lyrics, a clear message without many complicated words ”

If you want to know more about her, listen to her songs or contact her:

Spotify

  • https://open.spotify.com/artist/0FMLrFYvhu14ITV7ecMHpx?si=9_e5Ru99QBqn_kWvZ3U7EA

Pleylist

  • https://open.spotify.com/artist/0FMLrFYvhu14ITV7ecMHpx?si=9uUH-GunTUKJ3R2DvPsibg

 

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Gerson Aranda “La Tabla de Caracas”.

Restarting again our usual reviews, this time we return with a special guest, the virtuous and spectacular Venezuelan percussionist Gerson Aranda, who kindly gave us this interview from the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he is currently based.

 

Gerson Aranda Rodil was born on March 8, 1973, in the Concepción Palacios maternity hospital in the parish of San Juan, Caracas.

He is the son of Pedro Aranda and Ana Teresa Rodil. Gerson, welcome to the salsa column that is currently at the forefront of Afro-Caribbean music worldwide and in which our Venezuelan musicians make themselves known, project themselves and share their artistic life with our regular readers.

To begin with, we want to know how did you get started in music and who were your mentors? -Thank you Professor Carlos Colmenárez for this opportunity that you give me to share with my dear brothers from my country and other countries around the world. Well, I have been a musician since I can remember, thanks to my parents, brothers, cousins and uncles.

Since I was very young, my father Pedro Aranda, was the founder of the Sonero Clasico del Caribe, who recorded the first two productions of this famous group, which celebrated my birthday, since my father always brought them to my house.

I was raised in the parish of Catia, in Cútira and well, the whole neighborhood would come into my home to listen to the famous Sonero Clásico, and they would listen to the songs: Carmelina, Papá Montero, El enterrador and many more.

Well, since I was a child I had an interest in music, because at home they used to play those rumbas and I had the desire to play the congas and bongo.

Gerson Aranda Rodil was born on March 8, 1973, at the Concepción Palacios maternity hospital in the parish of San Juan, Caracas.
Gerson Aranda “La Tabla de Caracas”

But there was a tres player, a great friend of the family, who met a lot with my father, who was also a tres player, bassist and guitarist; then he saw my interest in percussion and took me to the Sarría school of the maestro Orlando Poleo, who saw me playing despite my young age, he told the tres player René Zambrano, let him always come, because he has interest and conditions and that’s when things started.

At that time those greats like Gerardo Rosales, José Martínez Viruta, Willian Troconis, Wladimir Rivero, Miguelito Urbina were studying and well in that concern I began to study theory and solfeggio with Professor Carlos Ramírez, in the “Tucosan” school and then I studied percussion with Professor Jesús Blanco, known as “El Totoño”. From there my musical career practically began and at the age of 13 I started playing professionally with “El Trabuco Venezolano”, Swing y Color, Magia Caribeña, Hildemaro, Trina Medina, Grupo Repicao, Los Incorregibles, Pasión Juvenil, Grupo Mango and many more orchestras.

Gerson, I understand that you accompanied Soledad Bravo musically and performed advertising jingles? Indeed Professor Carlos, I had the joy of playing with her and toured the world and let me tell you that at that time I did advertising jingles for products on television and radio.

-Gerson, you are known as “La Tabla”, referring also to your hard hands to play the tumbadoras with very accurate hits.

I was raised in the parish of Catia, in Cútira, and well, the whole neighborhood would come into my home to listen to the famous Sonero Clásico, and they would listen to the songs: Carmelina, Papá Montero, El enterrador and many others.
Gerson, you are known as “La Tabla”, referring also to your hard hands to execute the tumbadoras with very accurate blows.

Now then, tell us, which international artists have you accompanied? Well my friend Carlos, I had the honor of accompanying Celia Cruz, Cheo Feliciano, Luigi Texidor, Junior González, Larry Harlow, Marvin Santiago, Willie Colón; among many; thanks to the fact that Naty and his Orchestra and Magia Caribeña, were the base orchestras for those artists.

I also played with Silva and Guerra, of Mauricio and Manuel. Hey Carlos, I also accompanied Justo Betancourt, Adalberto Santiago, Ismael Miranda, Andy Montañez, Jhonny Pacheco y Casanova, Pete Conde Rodríguez and others.

Gerson, what are your current projects in Argentina? -Carlitos, in Argentina I am well thank God, because I have a big band called “La Salsa Brava”, I play a lot and now with the problems with the COVID-19, everything is paralyzed, but I have been very active for three years in all the “boliches”, name given to the night clubs and I have accompanied Los Adolescentes, Rey Ruiz, Charlie Sepúlveda, Jimmy El León, Charlie Aponte, among many others.

My band is made up of Venezuelan, Argentinean, Colombian and Cuban musicians. I have earned respect and they call me “maestro”; I am also giving classes to advanced percussionists, with techniques of different genres and rhythms, unknown to them, since here what is known is the Cuban timba and salsa brava.

Excellent Gerson, apart from the full band, do you have other smaller formats? Yes, I have a sextet called “La Crisis”, because when there is not much money, we make it available and play music by Joe Cuba, Conjunto Libre and others. With “Salsa Brava” I am about to record my production, which I suspended due to my accident before coming to Buenos Aires and the other thing is that my comadre Indira Velasquez came over there and I made a Sonora Matancera format, which is called “Sonora Consoltura” and we have made several presentations and people are very happy with that genre, since they are getting to know what a pachanga, a danzón, among others, is.

Apart from that, I am also doing advertising jingles again. What can you tell us about the Tributo Orchestra and El Guajeo? -The thing about Tributo and Cheo, is that since I was very young I had the fortune that before Tributo and Bailatino existed, we formed the group “Repicao”, which was a school band formed by: Édgar Dolor Quijada, Tuky Torres, José Soto Mortadelo, Prisco Oropeza, Manuel Barrios, Cheo Navarro, Catú Rodríguez and myself, which we played emblematic themes and from here begins the affinity with Cheo and from there, then he arms Tributo and tells me to conform his staff, which was integrated by: Alberto Crespo, José Soto Mortadelo, Jhonny Rivero, Javier Vivas, Johán Muñoz, Eliel Rivero, Osquita, Marcial Istúriz, Édgar Dolor Quijada, Gonzalo Díaz, Rónald Gómez and my substitute is Miguel Urbina and we recorded several albums. They are my friends and we are still in contact, and with “El Guajeo”, the experience was wonderful with the great Alfredo Naranjo. Professor Carlos, I tell you in all honesty that the musical level in Venezuela is very superior and out of this world, with all due respect.

a tres player, a great friend of the family, who used to meet a lot with my father, who was also a tres player, bass player and guitarist.
Gerson Aranda “La Tabla de Caracas”

-Gerson, who are the members of your band of musicians in Argentina? Professor Carlos, it is made up of A Barquisimetana named Lauremys Vanesa on trombone, Catalina Keiti (trombone), Luis Sulbarán (trumpet), Bruno Espinola (trumpet), Ángel Vargas (piano), Bernardo Vásquez (bass), Esteban Leandro “El Puca” (singer), Felipe Figueroa (singer), Deiby Bandre (bongo), Martín Barrera (congas) and me on timbales; It’s my orchestra called “La Salsa Brava”, here in Buenos Aires.

Your social networks? My social networks are: [email protected]. Instagram: Orquesta La Salsa Brava. Facebook: Gelson Aranda Musician. Cell: +54 911 36244963.

Well friend Gerson, for me it was a pleasure to have had you as the protagonist of this installment of Salsa Escrita “La Columna Salsera de Barquisimeto”, through International Salsa Magazine, www.salsagoogle.com and at the same time we wish you the greatest success and continue to represent us worthily outside our borders, giving “tabla” to percussion. Thank you professor and friend Carlos Colmenárez for this opportunity that you give to all the artists of Afro-Caribbean music to project us worldwide in your prestigious salsa column and may God bless and protect you greatly and you know that you count on your brother Gerson Aranda.

Gerson Aranda “La Tabla de Caracas”
Gerson Aranda “La Tabla de Caracas” y su Sexteto

By: Professor MSc. Carlos Colmenárez  Correspondent in Venezuela for International Salsa Magazine

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“Cuando se acaba el amor”, Stefany Castillo’s new theme song

“CUANDO SE ACABA EL AMOR”

 

Stefany Castillo – La Sonerita del Callao

Peru, one of the South American countries known for its variety and impressive ecosystems, overflowing landscapes, beautiful cities full of history, culture, traditions, beaches, fauna, flora… and, of course, its delicious and famous gastronomy.

This time we have Stefany Castillo, a Peruvian singer who was born and educated in the Barrio Estibadores del Callao, near Callao, a port city located in the constitutional province of Callao, in the center-west of Peru, is known for being the port of Callao, the largest and first maritime port in Peru, through which 90% of the import and export cargo of the Andean country moves.

The Buenos Aires musical influence would push her into the musical world and six years ago, trying her luck in some local groups and daring to sing on stage; Three years later, he developed his project, first in digital format which he called “La Sonerita del Callao” and then with the company surrounded by eleven musicians he formed an orchestra, known as “La Sonerita del Callao 4 Orquesta”.

Album of " La Sonerita del Callao "
Cuando se acaba el amor – Stefany Castillo

Currently Stefany Castillo has surrounded himself with a team of professionals and connoisseurs of the Afro-Caribbean, Antillean and Latin sound, and he has periodically been publishing successful singles that have allowed him to become a recognized name and place on local and international circuits. “Mal Hombre”, “You Desire” and “La Sonerita Llegó” are his musical letters of introduction to the salsa flock that have arrived thanks to the opportunity that radios and platforms around the world have given him.

Regarding the new cut in promotion of the title “When Love Ends”, he makes it known that it is from the signature of Eddie Villanueva, a chalaco (Callao, Peru) resident in Switzerland, Road Manager of the Mercadonegro Orchestra, representative of La Sonerita Del Callao and pleasant revelation in the composition. The arrangement of the song has been entrusted to the renowned Venezuelan trumpet musician, arranger and producer Oscar “Chucky” Codero who lives in Holland; And, to round off the task, the musicians listed below have been summoned to become the special musical framework for the characteristic and heartfelt performance of Stefany Castillo, La Sonerita Del Callao:

Author: Eddie Villanueva Chininín
Arrangement: Óscar “Chucky” Cordero
Lead Vocal: Stefany Castillo, La Sonerita Del Callao
Timbal, Bongo, Tumbadoras, Maracas, Giiro: Rodrigo Rodríguez
Bass: Dimitris Christopoulos
Trombones: Johan Alexis Escalante H.
Backing vocals: Robert “El Chamo” Marcano $ Rodrigo Rodríguez
Trumpets: Óscar “Chucky” Cordero
Piano: Óscar Iván Lozano (OILO)
Vocal Coach: Óscar Huaranga (Bambú Records, Lima – Peru)
Sound and Mix Engineer: José Mendoza
Mastering: 440 Studios By Fernando Álvarez (Madrid – Spain)
Recorded at: Go Studio (Zurich – Switzerland)
Musical Producer: Rodrigo Rodríguez Puerta
Executive Producer: Eddie Villanueva Chininín
APR: Eddie Villanueva and Rodrigo Rodriguez
General Coordination: Serafín Castillo
General Production: Eddie Villanueva

SWING LATINO PRODUCTIONS

If you want more contact information, access the following links below:

 

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Tribute to Adalberto Santiago for his musical career

Well-deserved tribute

 

After many years of musical career, singer and co-founder of FANIA, Adalberto Santiago has been honored with an official recognition given by Mayor of Ciales, Puerto Rico, something which was revealed on social media and various means of communication that followed the big news. Such recognition was manifested with the renaming of the Municipal Theater, which is going to be called as the artist in his honor.

This event was made known thanks to his great friend and director of the Abran Paso orchestra, Luisito Figueroa, who was in charge of carrying out all the necessary steps for Santiago to receive this great tribute. By 2019, Figueroa was working on the recognition through a group of visits he carried out to the Municipal Legislature, an entity in which he would submit the formal request that would finally be applied this year. After a comprehensive analysis of the evidence provided by the artist, this request was unanimously approved in recognition of the working years and the intense artistic life of Santiago. The glorification of Ciales around the world had its effect.

This event will take place in the theater which will bear the name of the artist in June, the month in which the festivities of Ciales will take place and people will be able to enjoy such an amazing event.

Adalberto Santiago and his tribute for his musical career
Adalberto Santiago will be honored for his musical career

Who is Adalberto Santiago?

In case you do not know who he is or the reason for so much admiration and tributes, he is a successful Puerto Rican singer whose trajectory speaks for itself. Alberto Santiago Berrios was born on April 23, 1937 in Ciales, a place we have already mentioned as the main stage of the recognition the artist will receive.

One of the biggest attractions of the interpreter is his prodigious lyric voice, which classifies him as one of the greatest names in Afro-Caribbean music and similar rhythms, even being compared to stars such as Benny Moré, Miguelito Cuní, and so many others that have left the Latin rhythms in a high position in the world. Among the many achievements of his extensive musical career, we cannot fail to mention his involvement with the world-renowned Cuban group La Sonora Matancera, with whom he recorded the album entitled De Nuevo, which was recorded in Mexico.

 

It should be noted that Santiago has written a great variety of songs for many albums where he has played a leading role, both as a soloist or a conductor. Likewise, he has written songs for many other artists, who have put their trust in the talent of the singer as a composer.

The interpreter has experimented with a wide range of musical genres that have allowed him to become known in much of the world, such as pachanga, Guaracha, cumbia, Bolero, Merengue, and so on. This versatility with regard to musical rhythms and vocal technique has allowed him to gain a respectable space in the industry and in the hearts of his large and loyal fan base. Even today, he is still considered one of the greatest exponents of Latin music and its derivatives.

By: Johnny Cruz correspondent of International Salsa Magazine in New York City, New York

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