Search Results for: Salsa music

Ray Santos ¨ The last of the Mambo Kings ¨

He was the last surviving member of the glory days of mambo preceding what we know today as salsa.

Ray Santos was a Latin musician, was born to Puerto Rican parents on December 28, 1928, in New York City, attended the Juilliard School of Music where he studied saxophone.

He was a Professor at the City University of New York (City College), where he teaches a Band or ¨performance¨ course.

Ray Santos ¨The last of the Mambo Kings¨

He was a musician in the orchestras of Machito, Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez. He was also was an arranger and musical director for recordings of Tommy Olivencia, Junior Toledo, Willie Rosario, Lalo Rodriguez, and Rudy Victorino and an Oscar winner in 1992, for the music of the film “The Mambo Kings” starring Armand.

Maestro Santos is a Puerto Rican man who has made significant contributions to Latin music as an arranger, bandleader, and musician.

Ray Santos was a Latin musician, born on December 28, 1928 in New York City to Puerto Rican parents. — Ray Santos ¨ The last of the Mambo Kings ¨

However, beyond the circles of mambo lovers and Latin music big bands of yesteryear, not much is known about his distinguished professional career in Puerto Rico.

Part of it, happens because of the nature of Ray Santos himself. This is a literate person but with an amiable and accessible character, totally devoid of vanity, presumption, or ostentation exhibited by other music personalities with attainments less than him.

For instance, unless he is asked directly, Ray Santos is not going to say that he participated with three arrangements on the compact disc “Palo Pa’ Rumba” CD of Eddie Palmieri, which received a Grammy Award from the Recording Academy in 1985.

Nor will he say that he also arranged for Eddie Palmieri and Tito Puente on the CD “Obra Maestra” which received a Grammy Award in 2001.

For Linda Rondstat he wrote all the arrangements and was the conductor for her CD “Frenesí”, which received a Grammy Award in 1993.

He was a musician in the orchestras of Machito, Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez, also was as arranger and musical director for record productions of: Tommy Olivencia, Junior Toledo, Willie Rosario, Lalo Rodriguez and Rudy Victorino and winner of an Oscar Award in 1992, for the music of the movie "The Mambo Kings", protragonized by Armad. — Cynthia DeCure y Ray Santos

In the movie “Mambo Kings” he was a mambo director and arranger, including the arrangement of “Beautiful Maria of my Soul”, a song that was nominated for an “Oscar®” as “Best Song from a Motion Picture” at the 65th Academy Awards® of the Academy of Picture Arts and Sciences.

In other words, this is a person who has reached a seat of honor in the world of Latin music, is Puerto Rican, and is practically unknown by his countrymen.

On the one hand, the album “Mi Luz Mayor” celebrates the legacy of Machito, Puente, and Rodriguez. And on the other, The great contribution of Ray Santos to Afro-Caribbean dance music.

We would like to present the outstanding professional career of Maestro Ray Santos after he suffered a recent health problem.

Ray Santos passed away at his home died on October 17, 2019, at the age of 90.

Facebook: Ray Santos

Sources:

By Ewin Martinez Torre

[email protected]

Latin Heritage Contributor

San Juan – Puerto Rico

Jaime Torres Torres

National Foundation for Popular Culture

El eterno ‘swing’ de Ray Santos

Articles of Interest: Ralph Irrizary, a well-known percussionist, is considered one of the most “Swing” timbaleros in the world

Víctor Porfirio Baloa Díaz, more commonly known as Porfi Baloa

He is a Venezuelan musician, composer, producer, and arranger. Creator of the group Adolecent’s Orquesta.

His work as a pianist, arranger, and director in the orchestra has been intense, but his compositions have been the base for the triumph. He has been nominated for New York City’s star award a total of 11 times, the ACE, winning 7 of them. Apart from the prices already won in different places of America and Europe.

About 39 songs of his own composition came in first place in the Record Report, which was unique to a Venezuelan composer and a musical group (Los Adolescentes).

Porfi Baloa Creator of the group Adolecent's Orquesta. — Porfi Baloa is a Venezuelan musician, composer, producer and arranger.

Personal life and beginning of Porfi Baloa

He was born on September 19 in the city of Caracas. At age 8, he was already playing the bass with matchless skills, knowing his talent as a composer at that young age.

He started very young in the world of music, having been a pianist for groups such as Las Vibraciones and Dimensión Latina.

He was the creator of the youth orchestra Salserin, being both its owner and musical producer.

Musical career

Since then, he decided to create an orchestra with a different concept, being born La Adolescent’s Orquesta, better known as “Orquesta Los Adolescentes”, so that all the songs of his four musical productions were in top positions of the national and international charts.

Adolescent`s Orquesta, a group formed by young Venezuelans between the ages of 19 and 23, was consolidated in 1995 with the support of Luis Francisco “El Negro” Mendoza and the label of Korta Record.

The band’s innovative style of performing the salsa genre rapidly earned hundreds of fans who made the release a success at home and abroad in a few weeks.

The passion for music and the creative magic in lyrics took Porfi Baloa to compose infinities of music hits, which, along with his Adolescentes, has managed to show and take to the 4 continents.

Porfi Baloa is the winner of approximately 87 awards, 4 Billboard Awards nominations, and 3 lo Nuestro Awards nominations, and has a record of 60 first places in the Venezuelan Hit parade.

Around 39 songs of his authorship have been positioned in the first place of the Record Report, being a unique case for a Venezuelan composer and a Venezuelan musical group (Los Adolescentes). — Víctor Porfirio Baloa Díaz, better known as Porfi Baloa

The high degree of expertise in his arrangements and compositions, coupled with the playing of the piano, bass, congas, bongo, timbal, and trombone have made him a well-rounded musician and composer in his genre.

He went inside of the hearts of the public thanks to the records made by his group such as: “Reclamando nuestro espacio”, “Persona ideal”, “La misma pluma”, “Ahora más que nunca”, “Búscame”, “Sellos de mi ADN”, including his other groups such as “Chiky Salsa” and “El Klan de Porfi”.

Songs like Persona ideal (me Tengo que ir), Virgen, Me negó, Aquel Lugar, Anhelo, among others, have had great commercial success at both national and international levels.

After 20 years of artistic career, he returns in 2016 with a new single, Bésame, which spent 17 weeks in the musical bill and rises to the post of honor to become the 61st hit that Porfi Baloa obtains as First Place in the Record Report.

Porfi Baloa y sus Adolescentes will be performing this coming Saturday October 2, 2021 at Dominic Hall Event Center in Miami FL.

Facebook: Porfi Baloa y sus Adolescentes

Article of Interest: Yolanda Rivera The Lady of Salsa and the Sonera of Ponce

“Big Band Máquina” Latest Production from Angel Meléndez released by Gia Fu

International Salsa Magazine from Silicon Valley presents the album “Big Band Máquina” a production of Angel Melendez and Gia Fu, a real musical gem with 12 melodies of rhythm and flavor dedicated to the dancer, music lover, and collector of the world of Salsa.

Undoubtedly, this record production made between Hong Kong and Puerto Rico will be immortalized as one of the most important albums of the XXI century.

International Salsa Magazine from Silicon Valley presents the album "Big Band Máquina", an authentic musical jewel with 12 melodies of rhythm and flavor dedicated to the dancer, music lover and collector of the Salsa world. Undoubtedly, this record production made between Hong Kong and Puerto Rico will be immortalized as one of the most important albums of the 21st century. — “Big Band Máquina” Latest Production from Angel Meléndez released by Gia Fu

Grammy-nominated Angel Meléndez reappears on the scene with his latest album, Big Band Máquina, which will be available starting Saturday, September 18, 2021.

This production has the particularity of having the talented artist and producer, Gia Fu.

Gia releases this production through the independent label Kong Records Limited.

Angel Meléndez, Latin artist based in the United States, delivers a new and refreshing chapter in his musical career, after the success of his album, Angel Meléndez & the 911 Mambo Orchestra. — Ángel Meléndez y Gia Fu

Angel Melendez, a Latin artist, based in the United States, gives us a new and refreshing chapter in his musical career after his album, Angel Melendez & the 911 Mambo Orchestra. Big Band Máquina album consists of eleven songs and a Bonus Track.

The Big Band Máquina project was directed by Ralph Riley. Ralph, Angel, Gia, and other magnificent professionals such as Juan Picorelli and Rolando Alejandro, completed the complicated feat of organizing the 30 artists’ work collaborated on the project.

The recording of the songs took place in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, at the well-known Rolo’s Studio.

Gia Fu, Ángel Meléndez y Ralph Riley en Rolo’s Studio, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico

The Team of collaborating artists on this album comprises a quite heterogeneous combination of generations of musicians. Some of the excellent members of the Team were: Tito Allen, Primi Cruz, Hermán Olivera, Rico Walker, Carlos García, Willie Otero, Jorge Yadiel Santos, and Gerardo Rivas.

In addition, Big Band Máquina gives us the presence of a group of musical stars such as Richie Bastar, Gilbérto “PULPO” Colón Jr, Jan Duclerc, Sammy García, Luis Marin, Pedro Pérez, and, especially, Angel Meléndez.

Who is Angel Melendez?

Angel Melendez is a Puerto Rican artist based in the city of Chicago, United States. Angel has had an impressive musical career in the world of Latin music, primarily Salsa.

Melendez had the opportunity to study at VanderCook College of Music, which provided the foundation for his experience as a producer, trombonist, arranger, and music director.

His valuable performance has led him to become an artist nominated for the “Best Tropical Music” category at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards. This nomination was due to his previous album, Angel Melendez & the 911 Mambo Orchestra. Later he was honored with the award in “Best Latin Album” 4th Annual Independent Music Awards 2005.

Angel has had the opportunity to collaborate directly with internationally renowned artists such as Tito Puente, Tito Rodriguez, Andy Montañez, Ismael Miranda, Adalberto Santiago, Cheo Feliciano, The Singers of the Apollo Sounds, Frankie Ruiz, Eddie Santiago, Hector Tricoche, Tito Allen, Johnny Rivera and the Fania All Starr Records.

References & Reviews:

“As one of the most recognized musicians in Chicago, he leads the most popular Latin bands locally. The 20 piece 911 Mambo Orchestra and Tributo Lavoe are widely recognized and move people to the dance floor. Angel’s bands play an array of Latin music from the modern tropical sounds of today to the most traditional hard hitting Mambo of the 50’s”.

https://martyrslive.com/

“Whenever a big band can produce great blasts of sound without sacrificing technical detail, audiences are in for a thrilling ride.”

Facebook: Gia Fu(昭盈)

Tito Allen, Gia Fu, Rico Walker, Nino Segarra, Herman Olivera y Primi Cruz

Article of Interest: Ayumi “Azucar” Suzuki, she plays Latin percussion, Classic percussion, Marimba & Vibraphone

Now You Can Enjoy Tromboranga In Concert

The Orchestra With The Purest Essence Of Hard Salsa Performs Live On October 11th-12th In Valencia (Spain)

The members of Tromboranga with black shirts — Their world tour began in 2019 with almost 20,000 people at their first concert in Ecuador.

As part of the reactivation of local events in Spain, Tromboranga continues with the series of concerts scheduled for 2021. Two will be the concerts that will take place this October 11^th and 12^th at the Sala Madison Massanassa located in the port city of Valencia on the southeast coast of the European country.

This Concert Hall is located on the outskirts of the city and is less than 10 minutes from the center in the town of Massanassa. You can access it through public transport: train with a nearby stop of 400 meters and by bus (800 meters).

This orchestra made up of ten Latin and European musicians residing in Barcelona will present their unmistakable rhythm of the Salsa brava, which maintains the influences of the 60s – 70s and mixes them with the original sound and danceable discharge to the sound of their trombones, the solid percussion, and the rescue of the soneo (voice improvisation between choirs).

Tromboranga cataloged as one of the new generations of independent Salsero artists will perform their greatest hits such as Humildad, Palo Pa’ La Campana, Ah Caraj, and Mi China Colombiana that have positioned themselves as number one on the main radio and Latin dance charts in the world for the current plot of his lyrics with which surely anyone feels identified.

Black and white African American woman illustration from Tromboranga album cover — Songs like “Un Extraterrestre” and “La Moda” are now very popular with Salsa dancers and DJs in Europe

Also, in this celebration of the tenth anniversary of Tromboranga, you will sing along to the songs from his most recent album Te Voy a Contar recorded between Barcelona, Puerto Rico, and Japan.

This record production was released to the music market in March 2019 and contains nine tracks including Te Perdono in collaboration with Jimmy Bosch performing the Trombone solo, Un Extraterrestre to the rhythm of guaracha, and Huracán No Me Tumbas whose special guest is Ismael Miranda.

Start Time: 9:00 PM

End Time: 3:00 AM

Capacity: 816 people

General Ticket: 25 €

You Can Keep Reading: Don’t Think About Not Attend The Alocubano Salsa Festival

Learn More About Tromboranga

The members of Tromboranga taking a selfie on stage — Joaquín Arteaga (Director, Timbal, and Composer-Venezuela), Diego Coppinger (Sonero-Cuba), Freddy Ramos (Singer-Venezuela), Rafael “Madagascar” Arciniegas (Piano and Arrangements-Colombia), Lorenzo “El diablo” Barriendos (Bass-Venezuela), Trombone Section: Vladimir Peña (Venezuela), Albert Costa (Catalunya), and Miguel Moises (Spain), Oriol Martínez (Conga), and Climent Campa (Bongo)

Tromboranga released their first studio album in April 2012 titled “Salsa Dura” ranked by DJs, dancers, and bloggers specialized in Salsa among the top ten record productions of that year.

In 2013, they recorded “Al Mal Tiempo Buena Salsa” rewarding them with the first international tour that took them to visit France, Belgium, Switzerland, Holland, Tunisia, Germany, and Colombia. That same year (November 2013) they released a Special Edition Vinyl for only 300 people called “Solo para coleccionistas Vol. 1”.

Likewise, they were invited to the biggest Salsa festivals including the Cali Fair with sold-out crowds and in the following years. Since then, they have created a community known as the “Salseros Tromborangueros”.

The orchestra has recorded six albums in consecutive years: Como La Marea (2014), Sangre, Sudor Y Salsa (2015), Golpe Con Melodía (2015), Tumbando fronteras (2017), Una Noche En Bankok (2018), and Te Voy a Contar (2019).

Nowadays, the songs “Agua Que Va Caer”, “Te Provoca”, “Mama Calunga”, “Amigo El Ratón”, and “Boogaloo Marilu” among others, are being danced on the dance floors of Salsoteca, dance schools, parties, and festivals Salsa worldwide.

Ray Barretto Giant Force y A Conguero’s Conguero

Finalists in the 23rd edition of the Latino Book Awards, October 2021.

In Puerto Rico this past September 17, 2021, Bella Martinez announced that two of the publications produced in 2020 under the imprint ‘Be more by BME’ are in the finals of the International Latino Book Awards, the most important award for Latino cultural focus in the United States. The awards ceremony for the 23rd edition of the International Latino Book Awards will be held on October 16 and 17, 2021. It will be virtual via www.LatinoBookAwards.org. Finalists are from the United States, Puerto Rico, and 19 other countries.

Positive Impact

The awards are produced by Empowering Latino Futures (ELF), a non-profit organization established in 1997 by Edward James Olmos and Kirk Whisler. Other ELF programs include the Latino Book and Family Festival. The International Society of Latino Authors.

‘Education Begins in the Home’ has provided books to more than 155,000 young readers. 182,000 students have utilized the Latino and American Indian Scholarship Directory. More than 80 episodes of the Latino Reads Podcast have aired. ELF programs have reached more than one million people. 350 volunteers annually donate more than 14,000 hours of service.

Sponsors of this effort are AALES, AARP, American Library Association, Atria Publishing, Book Expo America, California State University System, California State University Dominguez Hills, California State University San Bernardino, Entravision, Independent Book Publishers Association, Las Comadres para las Americas, Libros Publishing, Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles Community College District, MAAC, MAOF, MiraCosta College, Piping Industry Progress & Education Trust Fund, REFORMA, Scholastic Books and Visa. ELF has recently received grants from Amazon, LULAC, SDGE, and SBA.

Availability

Both books are available through the links below: Ray Barretto, Giant Force or A Conguero’s Conguero, A Memoir of Jimmie Morales as told to Bella Martinez.

Since 2016, ‘Be more by BME’ has been offering solutions focused on cultural dissemination through literature.

‘Be more by BME’, A Conguero’s Conguero, and Ray Barretto, Giant Force are trademarks of ”Be more by BME’ in the U.S. and other countries.

The names and brands of the companies and products mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective owners.

For more information, press only:

Bella Martinez

7874248868

[email protected]

For more information about the books:

bellamartinezescribe.com

Bella Martínez was born in Puerto Rico. She is a graduate of Natural Sciences from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus.

She lived in the state of North Dakota as a member of the United States Air Force. She completed her master’s degree in Health Services Administration and Quantitative Methods at Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

In 2016 she published Schizophrenic: Imaginary Episodes of a Different Life. In 2020 she wrote Insurrecta: Schizophrenic Chronicles of an Untamed Life from Scriba Editions NYC.

She maintains contact with her followers through the blog La Vida es Bella, atrévete a vivirla. Her mission is to inspire Spanish-speaking people around the world to live life to the fullest. Her writings have been published in several international literary anthologies, among them: Divina, la Mujer en veinte voces by Ediciones Scriba NYC -awarded at the International Latino Book Awards 2019, in Los Angeles, California- and in several editions of the poetry collection Siglema 575, of minimalist poetry, Ediciones Scriba NYC.

If you would like to learn more about Bella, you can do so by visiting Bellamartinezescribe.com or through her pages on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest.

Articles of Interest:

Jimmie Morales a conguero for the history of Afro-Caribbean music

Bella Martínez: Amazon

By: Bella Martinez “The Irreverent Salsa Writer”

Puerto Rico