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Music reviewer and photojournalist Ricky Ricardo describes his work from the last 35 years

Ricky Richardson, better known as Ricky Ricardo, is one of those important figures who should be taken notice of for his significant contribution to Latin music, even if it is often not quite appreciated by the public. The Tampa-born photographer, writer, and music reviewer has honoured us by talking about his career and experience covering events related to Latin culture and music, so we invite our readers in the beginning of the year to enjoy the revelations of our talented guest.

Ricky Richardson at the festival — Ricky Richardson at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival entrance

How Ricky got started in the coverage and review to Latin music and cultural events

First of all, Ricky thanked us for the interview and went on to tell us that he started as a photographer for a local newspaper called California Crusader News. Over time, his superiors asked him to start writing articles to accompany his photographic work, resulting in music reviews based on his attendance at numerous events and festivals throughout Los Angeles and beyond.

His work also included meetings with newspaper and magazine publishers who were always searching for content for their own publications, which led Ricky to send reviews and photos to all kinds of publications.

Major publications Ricky has worked with

Among the most important publications Ricky has collaborated with is Latin Beat, which was the main means of communication related to Afro-Cuban music. The photographer met Rudy and Yvette Mangual many times at various concerts and festivals. They met backstage at the Hollywood Bowl during the Blue Note Jazz Festival, an event he covered just like all the artists who performed there.

He also covered events in other parts of the United States, such as the New Orleans & Jazz Heritage Festival and the French Quarter Fest.

Kathy, Lázaro, and Nelson. Photo by Ricky — Kathy “La Rumbera” Diaz, Lázaro Galarraga and Nelson Rodriguez (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

In the case of Vidasalsera, Ricky first heard that name coming out of a musician’s mouth at a Puerto Rican festival in Long Beach, where he often ran into Cal Sakaniwa, the photographer and videographer for this media outlet. That is when he reached out to the webmistress of Vidasalsera.com Dena Burroughs and began providing photo galleries for her website, even though they have never met in person.

What made Ricky fall in love with Afro-Cuban music

During his childhood and youth in Tampa, Ricky was very exposed to Latin music due to the large Cuban population living in the Ybor City area, and he and several of his friends used to frequent many places and stores where this music was played.

When the young man heard Afro-Cuban music for the first time on radio stations KACE and KKGO (nowadays known as KJAZZ) was a point of no return for him. His love for this kind of music was greatly strengthened by radio programs such as Alma Del Barrio, Jazz on the Latin Side, Canto Tropical, Groove Time, and Canto Sin Fronteras. Not to mention that many international artists were constantly giving concerts at venues and festivals.

Events covered by Ricky to date

Throughout his career as a photographer, Ricky covered a huge number of events, including the Long Beach Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, Central Avenue Jazz Festival, Los Angeles Street Scene, San Diego Street Scene, Simon Rodia Watts Towers Jazz Festival, Watts Towers Day of The Drum Festival, Cuban-American Festival, Puerto Rican Festival, and many others.

When we wanted to know more about his experiences at these events, he replied that he felt very honored to have been able to share with established and emerging artists over the past 35 years. He also feels very lucky to have been able to witness such wonderful performances by artists who always greet him and spend warm smiles at him whenever they meet him.

Dionne, Monica, and James. Photo by Ricky — Councilwoman Dionne Faulk, Monica Bracho, Mayor James T. Butts Jr., Councilwoman, and Brendt Stallings, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Investment Officer-Inglewood Park Cemetery (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

Alma Del Barrio Fest 2025

Ricky told us that he had the honor of attending the first and second iteration of the Alma Del Barrio Salsa Festival, which took place at different locations at Loyola Marymount University. Future attendees got really excited about the current venue chosen by the organization to host the event, which is Lawton Plaza with its amphitheater, seating arrangement, abundance of grass, and the dance floor.

“I love the fact that many people get to meet and greet some of Alma Del Barrio Program Hosts (DJ’s) in person. I like the fact that Alma Del Barrio Salsa Festival attracts several generations of salseros, that are diverse, multi-cultural, and from all walks of life.,” Ricky said on the subject.

Why Ricky retired last year

Last year, Ricky finally made the decision to retire from music critics and photography after covering the Latin music scene for so many years in order to allow new generations of talented journalists to take over and keep Afro-Cuban music alive.

He is currently looking for opportunities to work in public relations and marketing for sporting events that will be held in the next three years such as the NBA All-Star Weekend, the FIFA Worzld Cup, the Super Bowl, and the Olympic Games.

The Cajón throughout history

The main artists who put on a show always get the lead on stage, but nothing much is being said about the instruments accompanying them, which are a fundamental part of music as we know and enjoy it. One of these is the cajón, which has a most interesting and a little bit controversial origin, so there are certain considerations to express this regard.

This is the cajón — This is how the cajón looks today

What is the cajón?

The cajón, also known as the Paruvian cajón or flamenco cajón, is a percussion instrument consisting of a wooden box on which the musician sits and taps with his fingers and palms to produce the desired sounds, whether bass or treble. On certain occasions, it is used as a substitute for the drum kit and has gained popularity in jazz, flamenco, and some Latin genres.

One reason it is so popular is because of its versatility, transportability, and ease to be played, even if the musician does not have much experience. Therefore, many prefer it to the drum kit, which is bigger and more cumbersome in certain cases.

Origins of the cajón

What is known about the origin of the cajón is that by the end of Spanish colonization, African slaves bound for America were not allowed to use their drums because the Catholic Church saw them as sinful and pagan tools. Not to mention that these prisoners also used these drums to communicate with each other, which is why the Spanish nicknamed them “talking drums.”

This led to the aforementioned instruments and several of their musicians being burned. Not to mention that slavers wanted to ban black songs that sent messages about slavery through their melodies.

By the early 1800s, there was absolutely no record that the drum had existed in what we now know as Peru, and any viceregal document mentioning it disappeared. However, there is evidence of the existence of the cajón from 1840, and it is believed that the first to use it were Afro-Peruvians.

fiesta de amancaes with the cajón — Painting by the German Painter Mauricio Rugendas on the occasion of the “Fiesta de Amancaes”

Afro-Peruvians encompass a collection of African ethnic groups who, unable to express themselves through music as they did before, had no choice but to find other instruments with which they could do so. They then saw wooden crates used to transport goods as a way to do percussion and thus continue to practice their sacred rites and play their music.

Initially, the cajones were used to play coastal and traditional dances to central and north Peru, which gradually popularized them. They also began to be used to play the “Fiesta de Amancaes,” which is a Limean festival held during the time of the Viceroyalty. This event usually brought together horse breeders, artisans, and bohemian musicians from the north and center of the country.

The arrival of the cajón in Spain

Many years later, specifically the year 1977, the cajón arrived in Europe. It was Spanish flamenco composer and guitarist Paco de Lucía who discovered the instrument during a tour of Latin America when he attended a reception hosted by the Spanish ambassador at the time. On that occasion, Paco heard Brazilian musician Rubem Dantas play it during a show by singer-songwriter Chabuca Granda, and he instantly realized that those sounds combined very well with flamenco percussion, which was always done with the palms, although it was not as consistent and precise as required. The cajón achieved this without a hitch.

It is for this that Paco decided to take the cajón to his country and only added some inner strings to adapt it and tinge its sounds, thus becoming one of the most important elements of a flamenco show today. Both Paco and Rubem decided to release it at an open-air concert at the Parque de Atracciones de Madrid of the Casa de Campo, and the Peruvian instrument was a resounding success, marking the beginning of its addition to flamenco guitarists’ shows.

At the time, Paco said that this contribution to flamenco culture in his country made him very proud and with good reason, as it was a great revolution that continues to bear fruit.

The cajón today

Today, the flamenco cajón has three screws that allow the musician to adjust the tone and a system of strings that gives the Peruvian version a different resonance and offers a range of many different sounds in which the musician’s body plays a very important role. The Peruvian version remains the most traditional of all because it gets no strings and its sounds are deeper, while the Spanish version incorporates strings or bourdons in order to make more tearing and vibrant sounds.

There are also more modern versions that include the use of drumsticks and pedals to expand their sound range a lot further.

Oscar D’ León. Confessions by Oswaldo Ponte by William Briceño Part II

Latin America / Venezuela / Caracas

“Continuing the musical biography of Oscar D’ León. He moved on to new horizons, new learnings, difficult experiences, and decisions, as life always holds a wide variety of surprises over time. One of those changes was his breakup with Dimensión Latina due to various internal group problems.

Photo 1: Oscar D' León — Photo 1: Oscar D’ León

Oscar’s departure caused issues for the group, as several of their scheduled performances in other countries were canceled, and over time, they lost audience, leading most of their members to split up and leave. Nevertheless, the group managed to carry on successfully but without the unique touch or ‘sazón’ that Oscar D’ León provided.

After leaving Dimensión Latina, Oscar ingeniously created La Salsa Mayor in 1976 and was able to release his first discography with his new group, thanks to the record label TH, which provided it because they were very interested in his new project, naming it ‘Con bajo y to’.’ From that moment, Oscar knew that he could consolidate himself with this group or any other, as his exceptional and unparalleled talents, so much originality, had never been witnessed”

“In any generation of Venezuelan artists. He also created another group called ‘La Crítica’ with the purpose that if any member of the Salsa Mayor Group was absent, one of them would substitute. However, the orchestra ‘La Salsa Mayor’ lasted only 4 years due to a strong disagreement Oscar had with his band on stage because the songs played during those two performances ‘were not accepted,’ leading to the closure of ‘Salsa Mayor.’ From that moment, he began to practice with his orchestra ‘La Crítica’ before his performances in Curaçao, where his songs, ‘Suavecito,’ ‘No ha pasado nada,’ served as a way to allude that everything had been overcome.”

“With this group, he achieved significant success. From that era, Oscar D’ León was known as the leading artistic figure in the country and on the American continent, with his music being heard in various homes in Venezuela and other Latin American countries. During that time, he traveled throughout the Latin American continent, the Caribbean islands, and the United States. From that moment, he leveraged his figure as he ventured into artistic promotion. He did so with Daniel Santos, Héctor Lavoe, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, and Celia Cruz.

If we have to mention which country Oscar liked or idolized the most, it was Cuba, because ever since he was very young, he loved the music played there, which over the years underwent various transformations in different stages, such as ‘La inmortal guaracha Celia Cruz’ which brought glory to the island; ‘la sonora Matancera’ carried the name of Martí’s land around the world; ‘Dámaso Pérez Prado,’ among other artists who contributed to the origin of Cuban music.”

“When Oscar D’ León first visited Cuba, it was an unforgettable experience and held extraordinary significance not only for the young artist but for the country itself. Its magnitude was such that, first and foremost, the ministers of culture and foreign affairs welcomed him, and every time he performed, large numbers of fans awaited to see and hear him. The respect and admiration for him were immense. In fact, this book mentions that ‘Cuban music,’ among other things, made Oscar D’ León’s existence as an artistic figure and as a person possible.”

Photo 2: Oscar D' León presenting his bibliography — cccc

“For Cubans, Oscar D’ León’s arrival had a profound effect; it was the rebirth of existing music. In short, he rescued it, causing Cuban music, ‘son,’ the central show, and entertainment venues to become their activities for relaxation and fun.

Oswaldo Ponte, in his research, mentions that when he looked for everything related to Oscar D’ León, there was immense admiration for him. Everyone he interviewed, even if they knew he was his manager and his biographer accompanied him, always said incredible things about Oscar. He not only rescued Cuban ‘son’ but also taught them to dance Cuban music, opening the minds and perspectives of Cubans, as Cuban ‘son’ continued to be known internationally. Everyone mentions what a good musician he is, that they can’t believe he isn’t Cuban and has that ‘sazón’ (flavor/charisma).

He was famous not only in Cuba but also in other countries. An example of this was Oscar’s participation in the Rome Festival when he sang a song by Adalberto. Mr. Adalberto Álvarez passed backstage and commented: ‘Cuba will never be able to repay Oscar for what he has done for Cuban music. He has kept it alive; if it hadn’t been for him, for Johnny Pacheco, for Celia Cruz, for La Sonora Ponceña and others who took it upon themselves to keep ‘son’ alive outside our country’… ‘and of all of them, the fundamental leader was Oscar D’ León because he is the most connected to authentic Cuban musical roots.'”

“In short, every time Oscar goes out to sing and dance, he is representing Cubans. For Cubans, dancing is almost a ritual. In 1950, they danced ‘son,’ ‘danzón,’ ‘mambo,’ ‘chachachá,’ ‘rumba,’ and other dances, some of which lasted a very short time, such as ‘dengue,’ ‘monzambique,’ ‘pilón,’ ‘carioca’; and others transcended time, like ‘conga’ and ‘rumba.’ Salsa is the continuation of, or the same as, ‘son,’ which can be danced with the same style or with different styles.

Photo 3: Oscar D' León in concert — Photo 3: Oscar D’ León in concert

Oswaldo Ponte began his promoter plan by hiring figures, among whom was Oscar D’ León. Becoming a serious entertainment promoter, he took the risk of doing it internationally (outside Venezuela) where he bought a contract from Guillermo Arena to present Celia Cruz with La Sonora Matancera. He also partnered with Juan Caravallo and managed to present the biggest show in Higuerote, Venezuela; with this great step, he was becoming a potential successful entrepreneur in international shows.”

“In 1983, he hired Oscar for 3 performances with ‘Roberto Blades,’ two at the Ávila Hotel and one at San Jacinto Park (both in Venezuela). At that time, Oscar was returning from Cuba, and with a new event, Oswaldo, upon seeing the show, pondered the difference between the two artists.

The Panamanian star was well-managed by his team. However, when it came to judging which was the better show, it was Oscar D’ León’s. When Ponte went to talk with him, he proposed becoming his manager on the condition that Oscar follow his instructions, as he always directed everything, which Oscar accepted. From that moment, many things changed not only artistically but also personally, offering the public not just Oscar D’ León and his orchestra, but Oscar D’ León himself, giving more charm and charisma to his audience.

One of the challenges he had to face was a stagnation in record sales. His new record productions weren’t taking off, so he decided to rely on television. Venezuela was both a recipient and a transmitter country, so his performances were broadcast on different television channels that gave great musical importance, such as ‘Siempre en Domingo,’ which covered the center and north of the American continent, and ‘Sábado Gigante,’ which covered South America, thus giving him international exposure.

One of his best and most unforgettable collaborations was with singer Celia Cruz, who was a great friend of Oscar’s. They participated in many events, one of which was in 1993, where Ralph Mercado did what he called ‘The Perfect Combination,’ which consisted of combining stars for public performances.

Participants included Oscar D’ León, Celia Cruz, Marc Anthony, La India from New York, Tito Nieves, Tony Vega, Cheo Feliciano, José Alberto El Canario, and Domingo Quiñones, of which the most recommended songs were ‘El Son de Celia y Oscar’ and ‘Vivir lo nuestro’ by Marc Anthony and La India. At that time, Oscar had left the TH label and was now with Ralph Mercado; his colleagues were Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Sergio George, Cheo Feliciano, Tito Nieves, La India, José Alberto El Canario, and other significant stars.

There are many other details and more events up to the present day, but it would be too much to explain in one article. What is very clear is that Oscar D’ León has conquered countless goals in his life, and we can all do the same in the different areas in which we operate, if we set our minds to it with determination and an iron will.

Photo 4: Oscar D' León and his bibliography — Photo 4: Oscar D’ León and his bibliography

To learn more about this, we recommend reading ‘Oscar D’ León, Confesiones De Oswaldo Ponte’ by William Briceño, published by Fundación Simón Bolívar.”

Dámaso Pérez Prado and the Succession of the “Mambo King”

Dámaso Pérez Prado was a Cuban musician, composer, arranger, and orchestra conductor, known worldwide as the “Mambo King.”

On December 3, 1983, Pantaleón Pérez Prado, an excellent bass player and composer, passed away in Milan, Italy. He was born on December 27, 1926, in Matanzas, Cuba.

Pantaleón’s Beginnings and Career

Pantaleón followed in the footsteps of his famous older brother, Dámaso Pérez Prado. At age 18, he formed his first orchestra, which he left in 1950 to join Dámaso’s group as a double bassist, accompanying him for several years.

He also played for a short time in Havana with the Laito Castro Orchestra. In the mid-1950s, Pantaleón Pérez Prado went independent and traveled to Europe, where he led an orchestra of Cuban musicians. This group achieved great success performing the songs that Dámaso had popularized.

Dámaso Pérez Prado and the Succession of the King of Mambo

The Legal Dispute

In 1956, a dispute between Dámaso Pérez Prado and his younger brother, Pantaleón (1926–1983), led to an unusual legal conflict. Dámaso sued his brother for $500,000, accusing him of impersonation.

In Hispanic culture, it is common for children to receive both parents’ surnames. In this case, the brothers’ birth names were Dámaso Pérez Prado and Pantaleón Pérez Prado, respectively, with Pérez being the father’s surname and Prado the mother’s.

In Portugal, the song Pantaleón performed, “Mambo del Estudiante” (Student’s Mambo), became the “official anthem” of the University of Coimbra. He also succeeded in Spain, France, and Italy, where he was introduced as “Pérez Prado, Rey del Mambo” (King of Mambo), which produced intentional confusion with his brother Dámaso.

Dámaso initiated legal action that concluded with Pantaleón being prohibited from using the title “Mambo King,” while also being required to use his full name. Some suggest that, beyond the lawsuit, there was a tacit agreement between the two brothers, based on the fact that Dámaso visited Europe infrequently, focusing his activities in the Americas, while Pantaleón permanently settled in Milan.

Name Confusion and The Conflict’s Revival

Originally, RCA credited the recordings to Dámaso Pérez Prado. However, when his records began appearing in the US, the record company shortened his name to the more alliterative Pérez Prado. In 1955, Dámaso dropped his full name and legally changed it to Pérez Prado.

Around that time, Pantaleón, who played bass with his own group, appeared at the Alhambra theater in Paris under the name “Pérez Prado, el Rey del Mambo.” Pantaleón was subsequently restricted by court order from passing himself off as Pérez.

However, hostilities resumed when an angry French visitor called the Hollywood Palladium, where Pérez Prado was performing, and yelled at the management for featuring an “imposter,” claiming he had danced with the “real” Prado (actually Pantaleón) in Deauville a few weeks prior.

Dámaso Pérez Prado fue un músico, compositor, arreglista y director de orquesta cubano, conocido mundialmente como el Rey del Mambo.

The ensuing lawsuit effectively put Pantaleón out of commission, but the younger brother had a form of posthumous revenge. When Pantaleón died in 1983, a widely circulated obituary was headlined “Mambo King Dies in Milan,” leading many people to (erroneously) believe it was Dámaso who had passed away.

Pantaleón’s Career and Legacy

Pantaleón Pérez Prado performed in Greece and traveled to Iran at the invitation of the Shah himself and his wife, Princess Soraya. He remained active until shortly before his death in 1983.

Dámaso Pérez Prado’s Notable Hits

Dámaso Pérez Prado’s best-known songs include:

“Mambo No. 5”
“Qué rico el mambo” (also known as “Mambo Jambo”)
“Mambo No. 8”
“Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White,” which was a number one hit in the United States.
“Patricia,” which was a worldwide hit and was included in Federico Fellini’s film La Dolce Vita.

Legacy: In addition to his recordings, Dámaso Pérez Prado participated as an actor and musician in several Mexican films. His music was key to the international popularization of the mambo, and his style remains influential in Latin music and jazz.

Collaboration:

Los Mejores Salseros del Mundo

Dj. Augusto Felibertt

Also Read: Israel “Cachao” López, a Cuban musician and composer, has been hailed as “the Inventor of Mambo

Raúl Eliza: from the army barracks to the stage and recording studios

It is increasingly common to find Puerto Rican artists who have had something to do with the United States Army, and our guest today is yet another example of how the music scene is not entirely separate from the military world. Bandleader and drummer Raúl Eliza has told us his fascinating story, focusing on his most important facets: military and art.

Puerto Rican bandleader and drummer Raúl Eliza playing live at Christmas

Adolescent musical tastes and the beginning of military life

In the 1980s, Raúl was a young resident of the Fairview neighborhood, located between the city of San Juan and Trujillo Alto, who was an obsessive fan of rock music. Of course, that was until he turned 19, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army in search of his purpose in life.

According to his own tale, his poor academic performance and lack of interest in other disciplines led him to join the navy, where he would love his profession shortly after. At first, he and a group of friends joined up to opt for a different alternative to the one they had, move forward from the stalemate, and be able to travel the world, but in his case, he ended up in love with this world.

In fact, a short time after entering military service, he was involved in the Gulf War, which consisted of the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait and its subsequent liberation by a US military coalition. During those days, Raúl realized that he was into something greater than himself and that the shallowing mindset with which he chose that life could turn into something bigger.

So, the then-soldier dedicated himself to doing his work as good as possible, bringing with it rewards like the opportunity to go to college, become an officer, receive medals, and much more.

Introduction to salsa

After three or four months of enlisting, he started to feel a wave of nostalgia for his country. He wanted to see his family and missed the music and food of his homeland. Then his sister sent him a package with two cassettes, one by Frankie Ruiz and the other by Eddie Santiago, which he says changed his life completely. He used to listen to them on old-fashioned players with headsets while cleaning the boat or doing the rest of his other assigned tasks.

Raúl Eliza in his uniform — Raúl Eliza in his service dress uniform

Subsequently, his brothers sent him cassettes by La Fania, Alex D’ Castro, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Cano Estremera, and many others. This made him reconnect with his roots and realize that he wanted a career in music at some point, which he would end up doing years later.

Raúl’s role as the United States representative for the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe

As the end of his military career approached, Raúl was designated as the United States representative for the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (military wing of NATO) during President Donald Trump’s first term.

This was a tough stage of his service, as the president had a lot of run-ins with other member countries due to the excessive economic and armament burden borne solely by the United States. For this reason, every time he made some sort of announcement about that, Raúl received thousand calls from representatives of other countries asking him for explanations. He had his own office and received orders directly from the Pentagon.

Thanks to his position, he had a lot of freedom, so he always played salsa music in the background, and when his officers got into his office, they laughed and danced along with the tunes Raúl was listening to at that moment. Everyone knew that when he was in charge, there was always salsa music playing in the room.

Raúl in front of a tank — Raúl Eliza in front of an army tank while on duty

The beginning of his musical career

Finally in 2018, Raúl retired from military service, but already in 2017, he was making arrangements to devote himself to music once his duty with the army had been fulfilled. Specifically, he was in talks with Puerto Rican artists who were sending him samples and demos based on original songs that he had previously sent them. He was also writing his own lyrics and taking bass lessons to get ready for the future.

Once in Puerto Rico in 2018, he released his first single with his orchestra Conciencia Clásica, which is so named because his music was intended to raise awareness to his fans on social issues such as war, the injury suffered by the civilian population during periods of armed conflict, post-traumatic stress in soldiers, and racism, to name a few.

Artists he has collaborated with

Throughout his short career, Raúl has been blessed to count on the support and collaboration of music greats like Andy Montañez, Willito Otero, Jerry Medina, Carlos Esteban Fonseca, Medina Carrión, among others. While it is true that they all had much to contribute to the Puerto Rican artist at the level of knowledge, Montañez wrote him a song he dedicated to his Dominican wife called “Quisquellana,” which he is enormously thankful for.

He also has songs with Choco Orta and those already mentioned above. Raúl came into contact with these figures thanks to his music producer Manolo Navarro, who was the guy who introduced them to the project and managed to get them to collaborate.