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Search Results for: Son

Bella Martinez, the irreverent Salsa writer

Life is fun. Dare to live it

Bella Martínez was born in Puerto Rico. She is a graduate of Natural Sciences from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. She lived in the state of North Dakota as a member of the United States Air Force. She completed her master’s in Health Services Administration and Quantitative Methods at Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

In 2016 she published Schizophrenic: Imaginary Episodes from a Different Life. In 2020 she wrote Insurrecta: Schizophrenic Chronicles of an Indomitable Life from Ediciones Scriba NYC. She maintains contact with her followers through the blog Life is beautiful, dare to live it. 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, including: Divina, la mujer en twenty voices by Ediciones Scriba NYC -awarded at the International Latino Book Awards 2019, in Los Angeles, California- and in various editions of the poetry book Siglema 575, of minimalist poetry, Ediciones Scriba NYC. If you want to know more about Bella, you can do so by visiting Bellamartinezescribe.com or through her pages on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest.

Bella Martinez led a pretty fun life
Bella Martinez, the irreverent Salsa writer

Bella Martinez I lead a pretty funny, sometimes complicated life; although I try every day to simplify it. I’ve even thought that one day I could be a minimalist…. Sure, in my own way; like everything else. I almost forgot to mention that I’m a vegan and a salsa dancer who dances until she collapses.

I should add that I love music that allows me to dance and express what is otherwise impossible to write or draw. In short; I dance salsa, I cook, I write and I dare to face whatever life brings me.

My mission is to inspire Spanish-speaking people around the world to dare to live a unique life because as I titled my blog: “La vida es bella…. Dare to live it”; I believe that life is to be lived the way you want it to be lived, doing good without looking out for others. I invite you to take a look at my blog .

I post about dance, music, beauty, fashion, vegan cooking, literature and everything else I can think of. Well, at least that’s the intention.

As for my narrative; and according to my great friend of always, Dr. Lopez Feliciano: “Through humor, and the narrative of the transgenerational transmission of the tribe, core values such as freedom, truth, integrity and fidelity are exposed.

The schizophrenic chronicles unveil an imaginary world in which cats, heifers, lice, mice are personified; and shoes, brooms, cars, keys and paper dolls are animated. The approach to reality is fantastic spun with ideas of references that are only experienced by an untamed life.”

And I say, “I expose in my memoirs through wacky stories and mocking the harsh daily reality of an ordinary routine; visiting stamps of my memories and nostalgically longing for the peasant activities of my ancestors whom I remember daily. You can’t help but fall in love with my picturesque narrative…”

The memories of Jimmie Morales comes to us from the pen of Puerto Rican writer Bella Martínez. In this new proposal by Martinez, she herself reported that: “it details the memoirs of the conga player who made his way into the world of salsa to become one of the most influential percussionists in the genre he has dedicated his life.”

From the pen of Puerto Rican writer Bella Martínez comes: A Conguero for History, The Memoirs of Jimmie Morales.
Bella Martinez, the irreverent Salsa writer
Life is fun. Dare to live it

The official launch of this daring text in which the author stresses the importance of our music and the influence that Puerto Rican performers have had throughout the history of salsa beyond our shores was on Thursday 19 November 19 2020.

This launch coincided with Puerto Rican’s Day. The list of contributors Bella counted on during drafting included the maestro Willie Rosario, who wrote the prologue, and the most prolific soloist of commercial salsa: Gilberto Santa Rosa, who wrote the introduction and the back-cover text. The virtual presentation of Un conguero para la historia was sponsored and streamed through the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña.

The text is available in paper form through the following links:

Amazon.com – Global:

Un conguero para la historia: Las memorias de Jimmie Morales (Paperback).

Walmart.com:

Un conguero para la historia, Las memorias de Jimmie Morales (Hardcover).

The book is also available at:  – Fundación Nacional para la Cultura Popular, Old San Juan – Puerto Rico.

– El Candil Library, Ponce – Puerto Rico

– Laberinto Library, Old San Juan – Puerto Rico

– Pure Sound, Bayamón – Puerto Rico

– RZayas Music, Juana Días – Puerto Rico

– The Bookmark, San Patricio Plaza – Puerto Rico

In the following text, fro-Antillean music researcher and Colombian journalist Robert Téllez Moreno, who is a biographer of Ray Barretto and Willie Rosario, summarizes what the reader will find in the memoirs that the conga player Jimmie Morales shares with his followers through the voice of Bella Martínez:

Percussionist Jimmie Morales was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The son of Puerto Rican parents and owner of a natural talent, he developed an interest in music when as a child he listened to groups such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

As from 1967, Jimmie and his family settled in Puerto Rico, from where his connection with Afro-Caribbean music emerged, after having listened to various Cuban, Puerto Rican and New York conga players such as Ray Barretto, Patato Valdez, Candido Camero, Mongo Santamaria, Johnny ‘Dandy’ Rodriguez, Milton Cardona and Eddie Montalvo, among others.

His first approach to the instrument occurred when his neighbor, Rubén Beltrán allowed him to play congas at his home. Later, he joined the youth group ‘La Justicia’ , with which he began to work permanently, while having his own instrument given away by his father.

After three years of work with ‘La Justicia’, Jimmie Morales joined Beto Tirado’s ‘La Predilecta’, in which he remained until he joined Tito Allen’s orchestra to work as a conga player until 1978, when he received an invitation from the maestro Willie Rosario, ‘Míster Afinque’, to join his orchestra in place of Papo Pepín.

According to Jimmie Morales, during those eight consecutive years, he lived his most formative stage, and what he considers his “formal training in the music industry”. This happened when he was a member of Willie Rosario’s orchestra, which was one of the greatest institutions of the salsa movement.

With Willie Rosario’s orchestra Jimmie Morales participated in the productions: ‘El Rey del ritmo’, ‘El de a 20 de Willie’, ‘The Portrait of a Salsa Man’, ‘Atízame el fogón’, ‘The Salsa Machine’, ‘Nuevos Horizontes’, ‘Afincando’ and ‘Nueva Cosecha’.

In 1986, Jimmie Morales joined Gilberto Santa Rosa’s nascent orchestra ‘El Caballero de la Salsa’, participating in multiple recordings and traveling the world.

At the same time, Morales began an impressive career as a top-level studio musician. He received credit for hundreds of recordings of such artists as: Lalo Rodríguez, Oscar León, Paquito Guzmán, Eddie Santiago, David Pabón, Héctor Tricoche, Edgard Joel, Marvin Santiago, Tito Rojas, Rey Ruiz, Ismael Miranda and Frankie Ruiz, the latter, with this latter he participated in all his solo albums.

As an accompanying musician, Jimmie Morales has appeared as an accompanying musician on hundred of recordings of great figures such as: Willie Colón, Ismael Miranda, Juan Luis Guerra, Tito Nieves and Jerry Rivera, among many others.

In 2010, as a leader of his own proyect, Jimmie Morales released ‘El Tumbao’ with the songs “Píntate Los Labios María” popularized by Cuban guitarist of the Buena Vista Social Club Elíades Ochoa and arranged Louis Cruz, who was Ray Barretto’s pianist in the 70s. The recording also includs “The Continental”, a jazz standard, arranged by seasoned José Madera, who was percussionist and arranger for Tito Puente’s orchestra for more than 30 years.

Recently, Jimmie Morales has contributed with his talent to the recordings: ’40… y contando en vivo desde Puerto Rico’ by Gilberto Santa Rosa, an album that captures one of the most emotional nights of the recent tour of the ‘Caballero de la Salsa’ and ‘Opus’, the eighth album by singer Marc Anthony, and recorded at Art House Society and Criteria Studios in Miami under the direction of multi-Grammy Award winning pianist and producer Sergio George.

Jimmie Morales, continues his commitment to music, from the area of pedagogy, sharing his experience and knowledge through workshops and clinics provided to young people from different countries, who have a genuine interest in music.

Bella Martínez: Amazon

Bella Martinez, the irreverent Salsa writer

 

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Understanding the music business

By: Eduardo Guilarte.

Why are so many artists broke

The mystifying extravagant language of music disseminates passions in a land the written word has never known.  Music fulfills two major human needs, the need for self-identity, and to be accepted, to belong.  Freud- “adopting the model of another is the psychological process of Self-Identity”. That T-shirt with “Rolling Stones,” is broadcasting “these are my values” does anyone out there feel the same?

Music identifies and defines our values. When music is sold, there’s a lot more being sold.  Your values are what is sold. Your musical selection makes you predictable.  Madison Avenue advertising was excited, with needs there are opportunities. Not much different than “sex sells.”  Well, music sells.

The merchants learned the art & science of anchoring. Take the Pepsi / Michael Jackson commercial.  Story says, that Pepsi offered Michael $15 million dollars for a commercial.  However, Michael set conditions.  He refused to tell people to drink Pepsi, wouldn’t hold the product in his hands, the product could not appear in the same frame as Michael.  Pepsi agreed to all the conditions.  Michael appeared performing, followed by series of fade in and out.  Michael never appeared in the same frame with Pepsi.  The commercial was a resounding success, shot with Michael Jackson performing, then a series of fades-in/out.

Technology is changing music

Technology is constantly changing industry and the world.  Look at taxis.  A New York taxi medallion was selling for $250,00 to $500,000, then Uber happened.  An application with a better formula.  Uber gave better security, women could work as drivers, no exchange of money, work the hours you choose, response time greatly reduced, and a great contributor to the reduction of unemployment.

Another example of technology at work are applications like Shazam, Sound hound, Hound, Spot search.  You hear a song playing and you want to know the name and artists.  Apart from giving you the information for free, what it is really doing is gathering data for the industry.  These apps are really telling the industry who and what is popular with the people.  It’s a guide to very current trends.

The dot com era revolutionized the music industry. In 1999, Shawn Fanning and Sean Parker, developed MP3 file sharing. Napster, with 80 million users taught a new way of consuming music. Universal, Warner and Sony who control 80% of western music were furious.  Lawsuits were filed, arguing copyright infringement and pirating. Although a 9th circuit Federal judge blocked Napster, the door was now open.  Through that door entered Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Deezer, You Tube Music, Pandora, Google Music and others with music streaming services.

First equipment for entertainment
record player, television and radio

There has always been a music industry.  The 20th century invention of the radio, television and record player redefined the industry.  Those inventions became the start of what we call today the music industry. A multi-billion-dollar industry. Commercializing music is very different from being a minstrel.  Two very different animals.

The world’s leading contemporary music institution, recommends that if you want to go into the music business, you take a year off and study the “business.”   ICE, Institute for Creative Entrepreneurship at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, offers online or on campus programs to learn the business. Berklee College phone +1617 266-1400.

It’s an understatement when they say that “how the music industry works and how the money is distributed, is very hard to understand.”  Publications on the subject are:

  1. All you need to know about the Music Business by Donald S Passman, top music attorney Harvard Law. Reputed to know his business but he doesn’t go into music streaming which is what happens now.
  2. Music Money and Success by Jeffrey Brabec & Todd Brabec, twins, tracs the flow of money, using real examples. Not an easy read but it goes in depth.  Todd was executive VP for ASCAP for more than 30 years
  3. Artist Management for the music business by Paul Allen, as the importance of labels diminishes, the manager’s role is more important.
  4. Hit Men: Power Brokers and Fast Money Inside the Music Business by Fredaic Dannen, it has become the unofficial history of the pop music business. Journalist who investigated the behind-the-scenes activity of the major labels in the 70’s and 80’s.  Reporting excess, greed, ruthless practices, struggle for money and power and bitter rivalries between biggest labels at the height of the industry.  However, he is heavily criticked by former CBS head Walter Yetnikoff.

The first order of business is understanding the elements that go into making a song.  Author of the lyrics, composer of the music. A trademark is not a copyright.  Examples of what you can copyright are novels, poems, photographs, movies, lyrics to a song, musical compositions in the form of sheet music, sound recordings, paintings and more, like software code for a website or code for an application.

Once the work is created you acquire rights, often referred to as the bundle of rights. They are the right to:

  1. To reproduce including phonorecords, physical or digital format
  2. Prepare derivative works based on the original
  3. Distribute and sell copies of the work, or rent, lease or transfer ownership.
  4. To perform the work
  5. To display
  6. Audio transmission publicly or digital

These rights are yours regardless of filing a copyright.  However, you should copyright the song.   17 U.S. Code §106 is where you will find the copyright law that talks about the bundle of rights that the bill gives to copyright owners.  At www.Copyright.gov you can create an online account and register your song. A publisher promotes the song, gets it added to musical libraries, pitches it film, radio, television, etc.

Logo copyright
Copyritht

Anyone who uses your work, including streaming, must pay mechanical royalties.  So, who will collect the royalties for you? Performance Rights Organizations/Societies are tasked with getting you your money.  ASCAP, BMI, PRS, SOUND EXCHANGE, Descarga.com, Kobalt Music are some of the PRO’s.

In the United States the government has predetermined mechanically the royalties.  Any artist can record your song under the law of “compulsory licenses.”  They must put the author on notice of intent and pay the royalties.  As an example Simon Diaz wrote and composed “Caballo Viejo.” Many artists recorded their own versions, like Roberto Torres, Celia Cruz, Ray Conniff, Ruben Blades, and Placido Domingo. Simon Diaz

The power of the major labels usually dictated who became a star and who got sent home. Not always though, we hear that Shakira auditioned for Sony and was told to go home, that she didn’t know how to sing.  They also passed on “The Beatles” losing an incredible fortune.  It was common for artists to throw themselves at the feet of the labels signing predatory contracts.

We hear of advance money being paid if the artist signed.  These were contracts that indicated 15% of the record sales to the artist and the other 85% to the label.  However, the contracts had clauses in which the artist sold the ownership copyrights, and agreed to pay many costs, which resulted in the 15% being reduced beyond zero, resulting in an artist in debt.

How money moves in contracts
Flow Chart

Historically Major Labels have had the funds to commercialize new talent and pay advances.  Yet, technology is again making changes and opening new doors to the artists. Artists are using Social Media to create a following for their music. Kobalt is the world’s leading independent music services company.  Founded by Swedish musician Willard Ahdritz, Founder & CEO who says that old model is on the way out.  Kobalt was ahead with its technology.  In 2017 it reported representing over 25,000 songwriters, 600 publishers, and 20,000 independent artists.  On average over 40% of the top 100 songs both in US and UK. Kobalt’s global technology platform is uniquely able to track and collect royalties for the billions of micro-payments per song in digital music today  [email protected]

 

 

 

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The Latest on New York’s situation

There’s a lot going on in New York in relation to the musical world, specifically the world of salsa. The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has impacted particularly on our city, but fortunately, we are gradually returning to the normality that we desire so much.

A few weeks ago, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the opening of bars and restaurants at 35% of capacity to avoid contagions as much as possible. Then, another 35% would be announced depending on how things progress in the localities. Similarly, there have been plenty of owners of all kinds of music venues, restaurants and bars that declared themself ready to serve 35% of their usual clientele without risk to any of those involved.

It was also known that theaters will begin opening their doors from 5 March and musical groups can already begin to make their performances the length and breadth of the city, but the lifting of restrictions will continue depending on the evolution of the pandemic in each locality.

In addition to the reopening of stablishments, we cannot fail to mention certain events that have occurred in New York City in the previous days.

Donation of Cocco Peña’s tuxedo to the Spanish Harlem Salsa Gallery Museum

Cocco Peña donates his iconic tuxedo to the Spanish Harlem Salsa Gallery Museum. For all of you who don’t know him, Peña is a well-regarded figure in the music world and has worked as a musical director, producer, composer and arranger. This important musician has worked with artists such as Olga Tañon, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Chayanne, Ricky Martin, Luis Fonsi, among others. Despite the differences in style between all the artists, Peña always knows what they need to achieve stunning results.

Johnny Rivero and the cover of his new album
Johnny Rivero – Golpe Duro

His work has earned him a colossal acknowlodgement at national and international level and has made him a very important figure to the music industry inside and outside New York. That is why the donation of such an iconic garment has made those charged with the museum very happy, which is now ready to resume its activities little by little. They are only waiting for government instructions to do so. The establishment will reopen for free and is waiting for its visitors.

The newest release from Johnny Rivero

In other news, the famous percussionist Johnny Rivero and his group El Cartel de Nueva York released their third album entitled Golpe Duro, in which they are accompanied by vocalist Anthony Colmenares.

The first song of the album entitled Quien te ha dicho, which was released in digital format on October 9 last year, benefits from the talent of violinists Raúl Roa and Laura Pérez. Likewise, the song includes a conga solo featuring Johnny himself, which provides a very interesting contrast of rhythms and sounds.

The music video for this same song was released in November and here you can see the musicians involved playing this incredible song thanks to the technology that has made it possible to create a lot of projects without the artists having to share the same physical space.

And just as we talk about themusicians who are doing their best to get ahear despite the current health crisis, we cannot fail to remember those who are no longer with us. Of course, we are talking about the great Johnny Pacheco, who left us on February 15 this year.

Remembering the Great Maestro 

In The Johnny Cruz Show, we remember the life and work of one of the most transcendental figures of the salsa world, Johnny Pacheco, who passed away two weeks ago.

In memory of Johnny Pacheco
The Jhonny Cruz Show

During the program, we remembered the most important achievements of the acclaimed musician and details about his private and professional life. Undoubtedly, this glory of Latin music leaves an awful hole both in the music industry and in the hearts of his fans.

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César Tafur “Rocoto” an excellent Peruano illustrator

César Tafur “Rocoto” is a Peruvian illustrator, who does truly impressive vector portraits.

Illustrator Cesar Tafur “Rocoto” is Today with us in International Salsa Magazine / www.SalsaGoogle.com.

What a tremendous honor and pleasure to tremendous to be interviewed. Thank you very much for the consideration and appreciation for my work.

César Tafur "Rocoto" is a Peruvian illustrator, who makes some really impressive vector portraits.
César Tafur “Rocoto”

Let’s begin with the first question: How would you describe your illustration style? 

They are 100% vector illustrations marked by an obsession with the details and the follow-up on a realist tendency. Agile strokes with varying thicknesses. The painting is mostly based on plain colors, trying not to use many gradients.

 At what point in your life did you start liking the world of illustration? 

Since I was a very young child. My parents say I spent a lot of time scribbling on everything I found.

The freedom I got from them contributed a lot since they never reproached me for scratching everything: photos, walls, t-shirts, etc. (laugh)

What did you study, César? Where and what did you learn there? 

My dream of youth was to be an architect. I studied Graphic Design, as a consolation at not being able to enter the university. Unfortunately, my training as a designer was not the best one. But all clouds have a silver lining. I met and learned a lot from people who loved drawing and strongly influenced me in this institute. They taught me the proper use of drawing tools and materials.

My tendencies to drawing started to increase. I also learned the software (Adobe illustrator) that I could use to do what I do now.

How were your beginnings in the world of digital illustration? 

At the beginning, it was a bit frustrating. I had already seen the work of some illustrators, and by comparing them with mine, well… the difference was catastrophic. What impotence! But the practice is everything. I’m self-taught, nobody taught me how to do what I do now. It is gratifying.

What were you thinking of making illustrations of famous people? 

César Tafur "Rocoto"
Tito Rojas 1955 – 2020
César Tafur “Rocoto”

I always try to mix things that I like and make me happy. The characters I draw are mainly characterized by two things: they are either salseros or Football players. Salsa (music) and football (even though I am really bad at football) are things that fascinate me. Besides, when drawing famous people, I test the quality of my work because, this being a public figure, it will be easier for others to identify. If it is not, it is not well-illustrated, and that, for me, is a failure.

Can you enumerate some of the famous people you have drawn? Singers, athletes, musicians… 

The list is quite long. Singers like Celia Cruz, Rubén Blades, Héctor Lavoe, Lennon, Paul McCartney, Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger, Pavarotti, etc. Sportsmen: Ronaldinho, Zidane, Messi, Ronaldo, Buffon, Rafael Nadal, Jordan, Pirlo, The Rock, etc. Some, I have even drawn on more than one occasion, such as Ruben Blades, Messi, or Roberto Carlos, just to cite some.

Which illustration or illustrations are you most proud of and why? 

César Tafur "Rocoto"
Eddie Palmieri By César Tafur “Rocoto”

Not so much proud. I could tell you about the illustrations that make me the happiest. One of them is the one I made of Maestro Eddie Palmieri ho was a salsa legend. It was so well received in the salsa world that many of those spoken to on this subject congratulated me because it was a good image. But the thing that moved me the most was that Maestro Palmieri himself posted this illustration to his Instagram account. Wow! Another one that makes me feel very happy and for which I received many congratulations is the one I made for my mom on her birthday.

What has been the most successful illustration? 

That of Maestro Eddie Palmieri, thanks to it I made a lot of friends who love salsa.

What illustration required the most from you? 

The one I made of a Harley Davidson motorcycle, ufff, you have no idea the trouble I had making that illustration. The idea of discarding it crossed my mind because of the complexity of its details twice, but I decided to continue it and then… I think it worked out in the end. I love that illustration.

What commissions have you done in the world of illustration? 

I made some drawings for a friend who was a promoter of salsa events, with which he promoted his events. I’ve also done some for other friends as a token of appreciation. I do this more for a hobby than generating income.

What material, tools, and programs do you use to make your drawings? 

I use a graphic tablet (Wacom Intuos Pro). All my illustrations are made in Adobe Illustrator. I also use Photoshop to modify the image to be illustrated if necessary.

We have seen that anyone who wants to get an illustration with your style, can you tell us about the steps to follow to order you an illustration?

I merely ask one thing: Send me an image with good resolution to my email: [email protected]. The rest is on me.

How far would you like to go in the world of illustration? 

I haven’t thought about that. Like I told you already, I do this like a hobby. I feel happy doing this, it pleases me and it fulfills me.

Although (it may sound a bit arrogant) I would like my style to get marked and above all recognizable.

We have seen that all your works are signed with the name “Rocoto”, where did this artistic name come from? 

«Rocoto»
“Rocoto” is a nickname that I have had for as long as I can remember. Rocoto, is a chili bell pepper, very spicy.

It’s a nickname I’ve had as far as I can remember. Rocoto is a pepper (chilli) very spicy. It turns out that my physical characteristics (according to my father) were similar to those of that fruit of nature in my first days of birth. He made that comparison in front of his friends (which aroused laughter and guffaws) and I stayed with that nickname still today.

What future commissions or illustrations do you intend to do? 

Many things go through my head. One of them is to create collections of characters based on characteristics in common with others. For example: World champions, musical legends, sporting legends, etc. Each collection has different graphic styles, but I still keep my illustration style.

What does César do on a normal day? 

I try not to be a man of habit, but most of the time, that desire is not realized. Many factors adversely affect. Luckily my job allows me to do stuff I like: drawing and reading. However, I’m surely in front of my PC sketching or planning what to draw in the afternoon.

What are your hobbies? What do you like to do besides illustration? 

Another of the things I love the most is reading and doing crossword puzzles. And if there’s a salsa concert in the capital, I’m always going there no matter what! I am passionate about live music.

Many people say that everyone draws according to his personality, do you think your drawings are looked like the way you are? 

In some aspects. I think the simplicity of the final drawing resembles the way I am: clear and simple. I consider myself a detail-oriented person (it sounds a bit kitschy hahahaha, but it is the truth) and this is something related to my illustration style: I have an obsession with details in my work.

Could you tell us about other illustrators or artists you admire, know or follow consistently? 

I follow many illustrators and cartoonists (I would give anything to make cartoons). If I had to mention just one name, I would choose Cristiano Siqueira, a MASTER of vector illustration. My style arose precisely thank to some of his work. In the world of caricatures, I have a homeboy of mine called Walter Toscano and Jean-Marc Borot as references, two real geniuses, I admire (and envy) them very much!

And someone you admire outside the world of illustration? 

I admire many, but I’m a fan of is Rubén Blades. A Panamanian singer-songwriter that is considered a reference in Latin music. It seems to me that think the lyrics of his songs are fabulous.

What music do you listen to? 

I’m a music lover and I listen to a little bit of everything, depending on the context. But I love Salsa. When I draw, I listen to romantic salsa and ballads. When I’m with my friends while sharing moments between drinks, I listen to hard salsa and cumbia.

What are your favorite movies or series? 

I am not fond of the seventh art. Regarding the series, I love and enjoy La Familia P. Luche, which is a Mexican comic series by comedian Eugenio Derbéz.

Any book that you have read lately, or one that you especially liked.

I really liked these two novels: The Boys From Brazil (Ira Levin) and Le Solitaire (Guy des Cars). I recommend them to everyone!

Any person you would like to thank especially for what he/she has given you in the world of illustration.

Many people influenced and encouraged my love of drawing, it is difficult to mention just a few. Friends from the neighborhood, from high school, my parents, I feel a deep and sincere gratitude for all of them.

Is there any person who is special to you and who to thank in life in general?

Infinite thanks to the person who motivates and gives meaning to my life: Trinidad Callirgos, my mother.

To conclude, We would like you to tell us how we can see your work on the internet. What social networks do you use?

I have accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Behance. There you can visualize all my illustrations.

Apart from my work, you can also see one or another post of my social life on Facebook.

Date of birth: August 3, 1989

Place of birth: Chiclayo, Peru

Facebook: Facebook.com/cesarangel.tafurcallirgos

Instagram: Instagram.com/cesar.tafur_rocoto

Behance: Behance.net/cs_leo200450ad

Source:

Legal Authorization: César Tafur “Rocoto”.

César Tafur "Rocoto"
Larry Harlow By César Tafur “Rocoto”

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Willie Colon’s in Concert – Mexico City, Mexico 2021

The 50th anniversary of Willie Colón’s musical career will be celebrated in the National Auditorium in Mexico City.

William Anthony Colón Colón Román, better known as Willie Colón, was born in New York City, United States on April 28, 1950, his passion and dedication were highlighted in the salsa genre, being a salsa musician, singer, American composer of Puerto Rican origin which gives him a special touch, since salsa is characterized by the abundant use of percussion (clave, maracas, conga, bongo, tambora, cowbell, among others). This is inherited from the African musical influence mixed with jazz, which permeated the Latin American Caribbean since the colonial times and gained high popularity in 1960 for being the novelty of the moment in the lowest and highest society, starting in New York with Dominican singer Johnny Pacheco.

In the case of Willie Colón as a musician, he has been characterized by the fusion of rhythms such as son, mambo, guaracha, cha cha cha, guajira, Colombian cumbia, rumba, Venezuelan joropo, among others; He was also known as the master trombonist, blended various Caribbean African, and urban rhythms, formed one of the most important teams of Latin music of the seventies with vocalist Hector Lavoe and is considered one of the pioneers in the development of the genuine salsa movement in the late sixties and the early seventies.

His music, which has been a great influence on modern Latin Jazz, because it reflects a traditional lyrical rhythm and generates the goodbye and the hope as he was forced to leave his country to settle in the United States, and during his musical career, he got 11 Grammy nominations and received 15 gold and 5 platinum records.

It is worth mentioning that Willie Colón is one of the few artists who have worked with several well-known artists on the international scene in his entire career, some of them are: Hector Lavoe, Ray Barretto, Bobby Valentin, Reynaldo Jorge, Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, and David Byrne.

With the arrival of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) in late 2019, the world changed drastically everyone, including artists of which many have remained quarantined and others have been promoted on social networks or online events to avoid catching this dangerous virus. Now in 2021, the quarantine has relaxed and we have managed to keep a highly effective biosecurity system to be able to do certain witnessing activities such as events and/or musical concerts.

Willie Colon's at the National Auditorium of Mexico
Willie Colon’s Flyer at the National Auditorium of Mexico

So if you want to do something different during this quarantine, buy your ticket for the Willie Colon concert to be held on June 18, 2021, which promises to be a unique spectacle at the National Auditorium in Mexico City to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his career in the world of music.

The National Auditorium is known for being an entertainment center located on Paseo de la Reforma Avenue in Colonia Chapultepec (a neighborhood in Mexico City) where a variety of musical events are held to promote musical talent in general and to be an appealing tourist point for culture.

the organizers that boast the salsa event confirmed to us that “With his retirement still far from his list of priorities, Willie Colón is ready to go to Mexico again.” And if you want any news, we inform you that the artist is also currently engaged in writing his memoirs and producing emerging salsa groups, so we will be able to delight in the knowledge acquired by the salsa master Willie Colon soon.

Buy your ticket through the various websites:

  • https://www.songkick.com/concerts/39730937-willie-colon-at-auditorio-nacional?utm_source=53907&utm_medium=partner
  • https://www.stubhub.com.mx/boletos-willie-colon-mexico/ev1103843

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International Salsa Magazine (ISM) is a monthly publication about Salsa activities around the world, that has been publishing since 2007. It is a world network of volunteers coordinated by ISM Magazine. We are working to strengthen all the events by working together.