Search Results for: Sonora+Matancera

Papo Lucca. The Giant of the South

Latin America / Puerto Rico

Papo Lucca born in Ponce, Puerto Rico on April 2, 1946, Enrique ‘Papo’ Lucca began playing the piano at age 11 with his father’s orchestra. Initially, La Ponceña played versions of tropical hits of the moment by bands like Cortijo y su Combo and La Sonora Matancera.

In the late 1960s, Papo became the orchestra’s musical director, beginning a profound transformation that would eventually establish la Ponceña as one of the most progressive groups in the history of Afro-Caribbean music. Papo’s orchestrations were bold, experimenting with elements of jazz, rock, and Brazilian music. Representing the authentic spirit of Puerto Rican salsa, his piano solos were velvety, displaying elegance, restraint, and infinite swing.

During the mid-’70s, La Ponceña began to enjoy unprecedented success with critics and the public. The band recorded for the Inca label, which eventually became part of the Fania empire. Papo was invited to arrange and play on sessions for the company’s biggest artists, including Johnny Pacheco, Celia Cruz and Cheo Feliciano. He also recorded and toured with the Fania All Stars.

This compilation pays tribute to the art of Papo Lucca through 14 classic songs recorded between 1967 and 1981. Although Lucca has recorded as a solo artist and also collaborated with a multitude of salsa stars, it is his work with La Ponceña that best expresses the clarity of his vision.

The music we make has to make people happy, as well as make them dance. That’s what it’s all about, says Lucca from her home in Puerto Rico. When the public can dance, no matter how complicated the music is. The first theme that this genre had was to divulge the things that happened in the different communities, as if it were a newspaper.

Our journey begins with two fiery songs from the beginnings of La Ponceña: “Hachero Pa’Un Palo” and “Fuego En El 23” are versions of songs by Cuban Arsenio Rodríguez. La Ponceña always had a soft spot for Puerto Rican folklore, but she also found inspiration in the golden age of Cuban music.

The precise moment in which La Ponceña becomes a mature orchestra in total control of its aesthetics can be found in the six songs from the Musical Conquest/Conquista Musical and El Gigante Del Sur albums. Launched on the market in 1976 and 1977 respectively, they represent the pinnacle of the salsa movement.

These songs combine a musical skill that approaches virtuosity with deep lyrics and a generous sense of humor. “Ñáñara Caí” is a hilarious narrative of pure magical realism, describing a world where everything is turned upside down (my favorite phrase: I saw a cow/Hit with Pacheco). Also included in Musical Conquest, “El Pío Pío” achieves the perfect cross between Afro-Cuban rhythm and contagious pop. This hit is a mandatory part of all La Ponceña concerts.

The opening theme of the El Gigante Del Sur album, “Boranda” seems to offer a salsa version of progressive rock. Its lyrics contain an important sociopolitical message, and the sophistication of its arrangement is a slap in the face for all those who believe that this music is only for dancing. “Soy Tan Feliz” combines bolero climates with an electric piano solo that recalls the psychedelic sound of jazz-rock from the ’70s. “Noche Como Boca ‘E Lobo” creates a tasty collision between salsa fever and Brazilian rhythms.

Lucca was not alone in his mission to reinvent the rules of Puerto Rican dance music. It was also benefited by the prowess of some of the best instrumentalists on the island. Furthermore, his instinct for choosing singers was always irreproachable.

Some of the vocalists of la Ponceña that appear here are Tito Gómez, who would later find fame with the Grupo Niche de Colombia; the inimitable Luigi Texidor, who gave a sense of placidity to all the songs he performed; and Yolanda Rivera, who added variety to the band’s sound with her unique timbre.

One of Rivera’s happiest moments is included here: Coming from 1980’s Unchained Force, Johnny Ortiz’s “Borinquen” is a soulful anthem to Puerto Rico, blessed with a sinuous melody and subtle instrumental arrangement–one of Rivera’s happiest moments. transcendental within the Ponceña canon.

The golden days of salsa are a distant memory in the new millennium, but Papo Lucca hasn’t stopped shining. Perhaps precisely because he continues to record new music, he refuses to idealize the past when I ask him what his favorite album with “La Ponceña.”

The last one, the most recent, he explained in his characteristically introverted tone. All the albums are very important in the career of the orchestra. They all fulfilled their mission at the time, which was to reaffirm the previous one. That’s the way to maintain a pool after 50 years.

The teacher was a little more direct when I asked him about his favorite concert of all time.

It was my first concert with the Fania All Stars at Madison Square Garden, back in 1974, he said. All the stars of the Fania were still alive. A few years later we played in front of 47,000 people in Cali. My knees always shake before I go on stage, but this time they shook a little more.

Alfredo “Chocolate” Armenteros: The Golden Legacy of the Cuban Trumpet

The history of Latin music cannot be written without mentioning the metallic brilliance and elegant phrasing of Alfredo “Chocolate” Armenteros.

Regarded by musicologists and peers as the “Latin Louis Armstrong,” Armenteros was more than just a trumpet virtuoso; he was a sonic architect who bridged the gap between traditional Cuban son, New York jazz, and the high-energy explosion of salsa.

Chocolate Armenteros🇨🇺fue una leyenda excelsa de la música cubana

Born on April 4, 1928, in Las Villas, Cuba, Armenteros carried the soul of his homeland to the world’s most prestigious stages.

His nickname, which became a hallmark of artistic quality, originated from a curious anecdote the musician shared in 2013: a young woman had mistaken him for the famous boxer “Kid Chocolate.”

What began as a case of mistaken identity ultimately became the name of a legend who would deliver his “knockouts” not with fists, but with perfect notes.

The Forging of a Master: From Arsenio Rodríguez to the “Bárbaro del Ritmo”

The career of Chocolate Armenteros serves as a detailed roadmap of the Golden Age of Cuban music. In 1950, he joined the ensemble of the “Blind Marvel,” Arsenio Rodríguez.

Alfredo Chocolate Armenteros el Legado de Oro de la Trompeta Cubana

Under Rodríguez’s tutelage, he recorded essential pieces of the Caribbean songbook such as “Deuda,” “Tengo que olvidarte,” and the iconic “La vida es un sueño.”

This period was vital in defining his style: a fusion of technical discipline and a gift for organic improvisation.

His rise was meteoric. By 1953, he was already a member of Sonora Matancera, the island’s most influential musical institution. That same year, he participated in a historic milestone: the founding of the band led by his cousin, the great Benny Moré.

Alfredo Chocolate Armenteros, Lino Frias, Carlos Patato Valdez y el Negro Vivar 1973

The sound of Chocolate’s trumpet was a key gear in the machinery of Moré’s “Tribu,” cementing his status as the most sought-after instrumentalist of his generation.

Conquering New York and the Global Stage

In November 1958, Armenteros’ destiny changed forever. He traveled to New York with the Fajardo y sus Estrellas orchestra for a private performance at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

The event carried high-level political weight: it was a gala for the presidential campaign of then-candidate John F. Kennedy. Following this encounter with the Big Apple, the trumpeter decided to settle permanently in the city, becoming an ambassador for Caribbean rhythms at the epicenter of jazz.

In New York, his talent flowed through the most influential groups of the era:

The Machito Orchestra (1963): Where he fused Cubop with Afro-Cuban jazz.
Eddie Palmieri (70s): Contributing his power to the experimental sound of salsa brava.
Tico-Alegre All Stars (1975): Sharing the stage with giants like Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Ismael Rivera, and Cachao.

An Endless and Eternal Style

In the late 70s and early 80s, Armenteros not only returned to collaborate with Sonora Matancera but also took the definitive step as a bandleader.

Under his own direction, he left behind memorable productions such as Chocolate Dice (1982) and Estrellas de Chocolate (1987), proving that his creative well never ran dry.The most admirable aspect of Armenteros was his artistic longevity. He remained active in festivals and concerts well into his 80s, preserving a privileged embouchure and a sense of timing that seemed to defy the laws of physics.

Alfredo Chocolate Armenteros y Eddie Moltalvo

Today, nearly a century after his birth, Alfredo “Chocolate” Armenteros remains the gold standard for trumpeters. His life was a testament to elegance, his music a bridge between nations, and his trumpet an eternal echo of Cuban identity that continues to resonate in every jazz descarga and every salsa step around the world.

Also Read: Larry Harlow and Ismael Miranda: The birth of “Arsenian Salsa,” a tribute to the music of Arsenio Rodríguez the creator of Son Montuno and the “King of Guaguancó.”

Rafaelito and his career between Munich and New York

We had a very personable and honest conversation with Rafael Pareja Ibañez, who via WhatsApp has given us a few minutes of his busy schedule to tell us a bit about his fascinating career to date and the group he currently leads, Rafaelito Y Su Tumbao.

The artist, born in Lima, Peru, has a huge love for music and remains intact to date, so he says it is a pleasure to share the story of how he came to pursue it professionally, no matter how many times he tells it.

Rafael’s beginnings in music

Rafael was first inspired by the artists his parents used to listen to at home, including La Sonora Matancera, Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, and many others. Family social gatherings always featured iconic songs by these stars, so he could not help but be interested in music at the early age of 10.

It all started when his father caught him beating some paint buckets to make it look like he was playing a drum set on the roof of their house, which led him to enroll his child in a music school to take guitar lessons. While it is true that this was the first instrument he learned to play, he also plays the baby bass in salsa and the piano together with all the percussion instruments.

At that time, what the young man played the most was rock and pop because the radio and other media left little room for Latin music. In fact, Rafael formed his first rock band at 16, as this was the genre with which young people identified the most in the 1980s.

Move to Germany

At 20 years of age, Rafael decided to move to Germany, specifically to Munich, where he lived for more than 27 years. It was there that he came into contact with people of other nationalities and had far more access to Latin music, especially Peruvian music, which surprised him greatly. He also got to listen to international stars such as Eddie Palmieri, Miguelito Cuní, and Arsenio Rodríguez.

Rafaelito and Nicky Marrero — American Latin jazz percussionist Nicky Marrero and Rafaelito at Mamajuana Cafe in the Bronx

It was also in Munich where he began to have his first professional experience together with major musical groups from there such as the Sexteto Melaza, where he played alongside musicians from different parts of the world. At a student barbecue, Rafael was hanging out with many Latinos, and they began to sing and play instruments together, leading them to form a group, which they named Melaza. During that time, he dedicated himself to play salsa, guaracha, son, bolero, and cha-cha-cha in a sextet format.

The group featured a guitarist, a bassist, a conga player, a timbalero, a bongo player, and a singer. This sums up his first musical experience in Germany, which lasted about a year and a half. It also helped him draw the attention of other musicians in the city’s music scene, who convinced him to join other projects that were being created.

Another of those projects included a trio of young musicians called Madera Limpia which was founded in 2005, when rap, reggaeton, reggae, and many other genres mixed with Latin rhythms such as changüí or kiribá were super trendy. It turns out that a Romanian couple traveled to Cuba, produced a film called “Paraíso,” and went on a concert tour through Europe and North Asia. Therefore, they needed to hire many musicians, including the members of Madera Limpia, who contacted Rafael through connections and asked him to be their bassist. The Peruvian accepted the offer and toured all those places with these musicians, an experience he talks about with great affection.

Back in Munich, he met Lou Bega, the creator of the hugely popular swing-pop cover of Pérez Prado’s “Mambo No. 5,” which stayed at number one for 36 consecutive weeks in the United States. When his producer wanted to find a band to accompany him, there were very few Latin musicians in the city and Rafael was one of them. Obviously, they called him and his colleagues to work on some demos featuring Bega’s vocals and trumpet samples. After being selected, he became the director of his live band and accompanied him on many concerts in Europe between 2007 and 2008.

El Canario and Rafaelito — José Alberto ”El Canario” and Rafaelito

Rafaelito Y Su Tumbao

Right there in Munich, Rafael finally made up his mind and formed his own musical group, Rafaelito Y Su Tumbao, which currently has branches in Munich, Lima, and New York, where the artist currently resides. Rafael arrived in this city as early as 2020, which is when he got to perform with stars such as Charlie Aponte, Andy Montañez, Jose Alberto “El Canario,” Hildemaro, and many others. When he saw how good the human material was in his new place of residence, he also founded Rafaelito Y Su Tumbao in New York with musicians from there.

What is striking about his move to New York is that it was motivated by Rafael’s reunion with his childhood sweetheart in Peru, whom he reconnected with in 2019. It turns out that his partner was living in New York, so he jumped on this new opportunity that life offered him and made the romantic decision to cross the Atlantic again and marry her. This radically changed his life both personally and professionally, but he’s glad he did.

Members of Rafaelito Y Su Tumbao in New York
Line Up :
Rafael Pareja – Baby Bass
Ray Cabrera – Piano
Andres Garces – Vocal
Karla Olivo Moreno – Vocal
Dennis Hernandez – Trumpet
Christian Gomez – Trumpet
Jimmy Bosch – Trombone
Andre Carpio – Timbal
Hector “ Jereto “ Ferreyra – Congas
Chuito Quintero – Bongo

Leader of K’ndela Salsa Band Eric Cabanilla and all his entertainment company has to offer

We are very pleased to be able to talk to the leader of K’ndela Salsa Band, a salsa group which has been gaining ground in New Jersey despite the great competition it faces.

Eric Cabanilla is a talented musician who, in addition to founding a successful band, has also managed to build an entertainment company with a solid team that has put its talents at the service of large audiences eager to enjoy a quality show. The artist has told us some of the most important details of his career, and we bring them here for all of you.

Eric Cabanilla posing for the amera — Leader of K’ndela Salsa Band Eric Cabanilla posing for the camera at an event

How Eric started to like music

Eric started his story saying that he and his siblings listened to the music their mother played as she cleaned the house and her children helped her with household duties. Back then, there were many romantic artists and groups such as Los Iracundos and La Sonora Matancera. These melodies helped him understand his love for salsa today.

One important thing to mention is that there were no musicians in his family to teach him about the professional part of this craft, so it can be said that he was the first to make this his way of life till today. His first impulse in this regard was to start writing poems at school, and he even won some poetry contests, which awoke in him the taste for putting words together to create pleasant sounds for others.

It was his great friend and musician Mike Pérez who encouraged him to put these compositions to songs, so he took those poems and rhymes he had created and added music to them. He worked alongside Mike for about seven years singing backup for the Orquesta Swing Combo until his sudden passing, which led to the dissolution of the group. Fortunately, the musicians were not left unprotected and could get a job in a new orchestra with new sound.

During this time, he had the opportunity to learn a lot about how the music biz works, as his responsibilities included institutionalizing the orchestra and formalizing its schedule through emails, business cards, written contracts, and that sort of thing.

Angel Peguero, Eric Cabanilla, and Stephany Moore — Dancer Angel Peguero, Eric Cabanilla, and dancer Stephany Moore

Thanks to all this acquired knowledge, once Swing Combo broke up, Eric already had an accurate idea of what to do when creating his own orchestra and how to manage it, so he jumped into action from there.

K’ndela Salsa Band

After all the experience he had gained, Eric finally decided to build something of his own, as he felt ready to take on such a challenge.

One of the first people he counted on was maestro Jimmy Bosch, “El Trombón Criollo,” who has a 50-year career and his own orchestra, Salsa Masters. He is always traveling the world with his orchestra, but whenever he is required to play with Eric and K’ndela Salsa Band, he makes an appearance without hesitation. He describes Bosch as a very professional man, to the point that he is the first to arrive and the last to leave at any rehearsal.

Together with Eric and Bosch, K’ndela also leverages the talent of other great musicians like bassist Edgar “Danny” Rosado, pianist Ray “El Loco” Cabrera, Xabi “El Chamo” Estrada, Eric Pizza, Brian ‘Tibiri’ Pozo, Jimmy “El Nene” Feliciano, and Daniel “El Gato” Arboleda.

This orchestra project was his first professional goal, but once he made it, he did not want to be confined to that. He also wanted to offer a complete package that offers more comprehensive entertainment than just playing and singing. That is when he took advantage of their closeness to a dance school where he sometimes performed to be in touch with dancers who wanted to join their shows.

Eric and the rest of the band — From left to right Ray “El Loco” Cabrera, Danny Rosado, Eric Cabanilla, Xavi “El Chamo” Estrada, Erik Piza, Brian “Tibiri” Pozo, Jimmy “El Nene” Feliciano, Daniel “El Gato” Arboleda and Jimmy “El Trombón Criollo” Bosch

Additionally, he hired a relative who worked as a mariachi, who in turn introduced him to other artists who did the same thing so he could hire them. Over time, he also included DJs who would liven up all kinds of events with their diverse mixes.

Something Eric wanted to clear up is that all these professionals are permanent workers in his company. He has a very good relationship with many dance schools in New Jersey, to which he offers his packages, and there is always a very generous group of its dancers that accepts the proposal. Whenever Eric is involved in a festival or private event, he never has any problem finding talent in the field of dance to accompany him thanks to his reliability, professionalism, and great respect for the work of others.

Read also: The Cajón throughout history

Oscar D’ León confessions of Oswaldo Ponte by William Briceño

Latinoamerica / Venezuela / Caracas

Part 1

This book narrates the story of the famous singer Oscar D’ León from his birth and his life’s progress to who he is today; it also mentions how the era evolved, not only at a musical level but also regarding the situation of the country, both in Venezuela and other nations.

Before beginning to comment on the biography written by his manager, Oswaldo Ponte: biographies do not only try to remember great men who extend beyond their era. In this way, through this biography, the goal is to spread an idea about the work of the well-known artist “Oscar D’ León,” who has brought greatness to the country, crossing the line of his horizon and extending it toward other latitudes. One could say it is like a novel that not only speaks of successes or already known events, but also tells us about the reality of his life and not just what acquaintances or representatives of the artist think.

Photo1: Oscar D' León — Photo1: Oscar D’ León

The biography begins with the birth of Oscar Emilio León Simosa on July 11, 1943, in Caracas, Venezuela; where not only his family but other friends were present, one of whom ironically mentioned that in the future “he would be a great singer” since his crying was like a symphony. According to his mother, “Carmen Dionisia,” the midwife told her that he was born “enmantillado” (born with a caul), which meant the baby could have a multitude of gifts that he could take advantage of in the future.

It is worth mentioning that at an early age, he had more passion for music than for his studies, and he came to the conclusion that studies were not the best thing for his future; therefore, he dedicated himself to helping at his parents’ business to contribute to the household.

Since he was very young, he enjoyed listening to “Sonora Matancera” in a corner at night, which was the musical group of the era, and he would follow the percussion with his throat. He also listened to jazz orchestras, which led him to the conclusion that music would be his vocation; he was fascinated by listening to his mother hum the hits of 1953 by the Orquesta Aragón and Dámaso Pérez Prado.

Oscar D' León - Photo 1 — Oscar D’ León – Photo 1

Fortunately for the future singer, his family was passionate about music and had close relationships with musicians, singers, and players of all types of instruments even if they were not professionals. This warm, joyful, and above all, musical atmosphere embraced Oscar from the moment he was born. It was even shown that at an early age he had a certain interest in any object that emitted a musical sound, and he longed to learn how to use musical instruments. Despite having a humble family, Oscar himself managed to use various objects to create something that generated a musical sound and to discover his own rhythm, which he enjoyed at that time.

Oscar D' León - Photo 2 — Oscar D’ León – Photo 2

Simosa, which was on July 11, 1943, in Caracas, Venezuela; where not only his family but other friends were present, and ironically one of them mentioned that in the future “he would be a great singer” because his crying was like a symphony. According to his mother, “Carmen Dionisia,” the midwife told her that at birth he was “born with a veil” (enmantillado), which meant the baby could have a multitude of gifts that he could take advantage of in the future.

During his adolescence in Venezuela, many significant political changes were occurring for the population; however, they did not stop celebrating festive seasons with his family even in difficult times. Many “parrandas” (parties) were held, something that Oscar enjoyed very much.

In 1958, he mentions that a phenomenon was occurring with the musical style of “Dámaso Pérez Prado’s Mambo”; also, at the Club Las Fuentes, the Sonora Matancera resonated with “Celia Cruz” alternating with the “Caracas Swing Boys”. A movement of orchestras influenced by foreign rhythms that thrilled Venezuelans began to be observed on a national level, such as Billo’s, which won the precious title of the most popular orchestra in Venezuela. Oscar was not interested in societal events, except for events in Cuba, since Cuban music was what fascinated him.

Photo: Oscar D' León confessions of Oswaldo Ponte by William Briceño — Photo: Oscar D’ León confessions of Oswaldo Ponte by William Briceño

Starting in 1962, he became a father, and marveled by his new life and his firstborn, he dedicated himself to his role as a father, keeping his family supported by working; this caused him to step away from music, and his maturity can be witnessed despite his age.

By the age of 23, he already knew how to sing and play the bass; over time, he met friends who would influence great changes in his future life. In 1966, he met Kiko Pacheco, who invited him to the group “Los Junior,” where he would begin his professional career. During that same year, salsa was taking off in Venezuela, as it was heard on all the country’s radio stations.

During that era, life was expensive, so he worked hard both in clubs and discotheques or as a taxi driver. On one occasion, Kiko Pacheco asked Oscar to sing in the “Quinteto Los Junior” because their vocalist had to leave; this allowed Oscar to demonstrate his talent, and from that moment on, everyone was enchanted upon hearing him, and his musical profession began. Later, “La Dimensión Latina” was created, which at that time was known as “Dimensión Seis,” founded by Oscar D’ León and Cesar Monge.

The members who formed “La Dimensión Latina” were Oscar de León, Cesar Monge “Albóndiga,” and José Rojas “Rojita” on trombones; José Rodríguez “Joseíto” and Elio Pacheco on percussion; and Enrique “Culebra” Iriarte on piano. A significant event for Oscar was that, during their first rehearsals, he had a premonition of his success when they found the rhythm he wanted to hear and share with the rest of the musical world. This was proven during their first performance, which was a total success, leaving everyone who heard them stunned.

Oscar D' León singing — Oscar D’ León singing

From that moment on, with the debut of La Dimensión Latina, a new concept emerged that would change the landscape of popular Venezuelan music and make history both nationally and internationally with the rise of the legend Oscar D’ León. They began playing for five months at “La Distinción” from Friday to Saturday. On Sundays, after finishing there, they would go to El Junquito to continue the party, gaining so much popularity that some felt they should launch an international career. During that time, singer-songwriter Mireya Delgado hired them after being impressed by seeing them perform on stage.

They played on a cruise ship during a one-week tour through different Caribbean islands and achieved great success despite the inconveniences they faced. They paid these no mind, as they dedicated themselves wholeheartedly to playing for their audience. This caused venues to become packed, captivating their fans who idolized them. From that point forward, many people began wanting to hire them for various events.

Here is the translation of the text into American English:

In that same year, 1972, a dizzying and unstoppable recording career began. This was based on the fact that executive representatives from the TH label heard two tracks: one was “Oye mi canto,” which was a hit for Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, and the other was “Te voy a cortar las patas” by Oscar D’ León. Because this made a great impact and created absolute conviction among the executives that they were witnessing a success, the promoter Mesone, upon hearing them, agreed to carry out a recording. This recording was shared with the Víctor Mendoza Orchestra, one of the TH producers in Venezuela: El Clan de Víctor.

The album featured three tracks by Oscar; he recorded two of them with Dimensión Latina and the other with El Clan de Víctor. However, he does not appear as the author in the credits. The same thing happened with an album in 1991 when recording the album Auténtico. Among the 80 tracks that Oscar wrote, two of them are his immortal classics and of his authorship: “Llorarás” and “Detalles”.

For the first time in Venezuela, Salsa festivals were held that moved everyone. From that moment on, a true proliferation of salsa was witnessed in the country, all thanks to “Pensando en ti,” which had a major impact on the history of Venezuelan popular music.

After the success of his new discography—which contains “La comprita,” “Barranquilla,” and “Barranquilla y Quiéreme,” among others—three important international contracts were signed. Oscar and Dimensión Latina would go to Curaçao, Aruba, and Bonaire; that same year, they would also go to Colombia and Santo Domingo. However, it is worth noting that the period from “Pensando en ti” to “Que bailen to’s” covered the stage that catapulted him internationally.

Here is the translation of the text into American English:

The production of Dimensión Latina’s 1975 discography was the one that left an eternal mark, whose immortality was glimpsed from the very moment of its appearance. Its tracks focused on themes of romantic heartbreak. However, the rhythmic conception of “Llorarás” was the most important conception and structure of Oscar D’ León and Dimensión Latina; in fact, the song “Llorarás” marked the rupture of the old dance empire represented by Billo’s, and Dimensión came to be considered the “Billo’s of Salsa”.

An important subject in the world of music tells us in this book that: “salsa singers used phrases worn out by the use of previous generations who popularized them; in contrast, Oscar projected original modifications created by him”.

Oscar D' León in concert — Oscar D’ León in concert

When they traveled to New York, Oscar was very excited by the different stories he had experienced in the music world, and they were even happier to perform for the first time in the impressive metropolis. It was there where that musical genre that transformed them into idols, “Salsa,” was projected.

As time passes, Oscar manages to establish his own style and never changed it while climbing the steps of popularity and fame; the same happened with Dimensión Latina, though without achieving the countless triumphs Oscar D’ León obtained until his departure.

If you wish to know more about the history of Oscar D’ León, we recommend reading “Oscar D’ León: Confessions of Oswaldo Ponte by William Briceño, Editorial Fundación Simón Bolívar” to learn about the continuation, as it is a very broad topic to describe in this first part; likewise, in our next edition, we will conclude our final thoughts on this interesting and extensive biography.