Search Results for: Tito Nieves

Is a commitment to music and his people

Percussionist, Flautist, Arranger, Composer and Director of the Orchestra “La Masacre” Julio Castro López was born on April 30th in Santurse, Puerto Rico.

He was also percussionist with legends such as Eddie Palmieri, Héctor Lavoe, Tito Puente, Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz and Tommy Olivencia.

Born in Santurce, but raised in the town of Bayamon, Julio Castro López is rapidly approaching five decades as a musician.

From 17 years old, he is a professional musician since the age of 17 as well as being a percussionist with Rafael Cortijo, Mario Ortiz, and the Orchestra of Babó Jiménez.

He has fond memories of his trips abroad with maestro Cortijo in the 1960s.

In salsa, there are artists who, despite their importance, are largely unknown to the general public, even the most avid supporters of the movement.

However, this apparent indifference is not consistent with the respect and consideration their fellow musicians have for them, as was the case of conguero and flutist Julio Castro, especially when he is associated with La Masacre, a project he founded in 1979.

Julio Castro & La Masacre New Generation Orchestra 1979

In any event, the dream of having his own orchestra came true. In the case of Castro, as the natural culmination of the many experiences in the salsa ambiance, which led him to lead one of the most interesting bands to the late ’70s.

At the beginning in Puerto Rico, we find Julio Castro as a member of the orchestra led by the pianist Fernando Ojeda, which was a group whose vocal part was in charge of Sammy Marrero, long before this singer was part of Raphy Leavitt and his Selecta Orchestra.

Subsequently, he was in the La Única Orchestra for a short while at the beginning of the salsa boom in the city of skyscrapers and met Junior Córdova, later the vocalist for La Compañía of saxophonist Bobby Rodríguez. As a fun fact, it should be pointed out that Córdova would later write “Dolor, esquina, miseria”, one of first hits of Julio Castro as a soloist with his group La Masacre.

Julio Castro Y Orquesta La Masacre Mamey 1980

His first album brought eight songs that are still reminded by the followers of the expression.

Lyrics with an experiential content, not without social burden, made such an impression on the general public. Two examples, we must mention “Las Amistades” and, above all, “Dolor, esquina, miseria” composed by Junior Córdova, who was a partner of Julio Castro since the days of the La Unica Orchestra as we mention before.

Given the factors outlined previously, it is necessary to highlight Humberto ‘Tito’ Nieves’s participation in the vocal part. Tito, who came from recording with Johnny Ortiz and Taiborí, was emerging as a singer who worked in the highest registers at that time, a certainly innovative trend which was emerging in the pathway chalked out by vocalists of the stature of Lalo Rodríguez and Néstor Sánchez.

Julio Castro & his La Orqueta la Masacre,Vocals: Nestor Sanchez  1984

However, the stay of Nieves in La Masacre was brief. A few months later, he became part of the Conjunto Clásico, a project that Ramon Rodriguez had been pondering since the days he was a backup singer for Johnny Pacheco and his Tumbao.

Rodríguez, who is an outstanding composer before being a choirboy, joined forces with Raymond Castro to create this ensemble in which the vocal part of Tito Nieves was its hallmark.

Nevertheless, being part of the Clásico, Tito was still known as “El Pregonero” in allusion to the first hit he imposed with La Masacre.

La Masacre was a musical concept that, in the format oJulio Castrof the conjunto or expanded soundtrack, brought together diverse musicians with common aesthetic music interests. This idea led by , his testimony is the commitment with his music and his people.

Facebook: Julio Castro y su Orquesta La Masacre

 

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The percussionist christened by Bobby CruzStone Hand.

Alexandra Albán is the daughter of José Vicente Albán and María del Carmen Illera. She remembers the musical variety of her city of birth, Pasto. She admires the playing of Giovanni Hidalgo and Ray Barreto. He has recorded with José Aguirre’s group Kema, with flutist Néstor Torres, with Charlie Cardona, with Tony Sucar, with Bobby Cruz, with Alberto Barros in his Tribute to Colombian Salsa and recently recorded for Aymé Nuviola.

Born in the city of Pasto, Colombia, even as a little girl her musical talent started to show as she started her career as a trumpet player for different musical groups in her home city. Soon she was also singing and participation in national level competitions in which she obtained numerous awards.

On the other hand, when she decided to travel to the city of Cali, she began her career as a percussionist, where she began to be part of different groups, thus strengthening her musical talent especially as a percussionist, Alexandra has had the opportunity to participate with artists such as Puerto Rican flutist Nestor Torres in his Latin jazz album which was nominated for a Grammy and Latin Grammy for best album in its genre, also participated in the song “Agua para beber” by Bobby Cruz.

In 2016 she was invited to be part of the jury at the salsa world cup in Cali, Colombia.

In 2018, Maestro Milton Salcedo invites her to record one of the songs (Sombrero de Yarey) of his album Swing 80, where she recorded all the percussion and was also nominated for a Latin Grammy.

In 2019 the master Mario Ortiz invites her to record in his production “50 Aniversario” in the theme (Budo) which was also nominated for the Latin Grammy, and the singer Albita Rodriguez also invites her to record in one of the themes of her album “Acústico” nominated for the Latin Grammy.

In 2020 she was called by the renowned producer Motiff, to record a project of the Artist Arthur Hanlon, production called “Piano y Mujer” where she had the opportunity to record Percussion, Artist like Kany Gracia, Natalia Jimenez among other Artists, participated in Piano y Mujer.

Some artists Alexandra has worked with. Maelo Ruiz, Tito Nieves, Jerry Rivera, Luisito Carrión, Ray Sepúlveda, Ray de la Paz, Henry Fiol, Orquesta Mulenze, Tito Gómez (R.I.P), Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz (special guest percussionist), Roberto Blades, Cano Estremera (R.I.P) among others.

She has also had the opportunity to work and record with Alberto Barros’ tribute to Colombian salsa, a group that won 2 gold records for sales in Mexico.

Anecdote with Bobby Cruz and the nickname he gave you as Manitos de Piedra (Little Hands of Stone)

The Manitos de piedra thing was when the master Bobby Cruz invited me to record a CD with a song called Agua para beber. Bobby Cruz wanted some quinto solos and wanted me to do them, he calls me, I record them, and my surprise when I listen to the final product and in the middle of the solo he tells me Alexandra Albán, Manitos de piedra, hahaha. That song hit in Puerto Rico and Miami. Once I went to a concert dedicated to Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz in Puerto Rico, and people asked me if I was the aforementioned Manitas de piedra. For them, that’s my identification.

Research Sources

Diana Marie: Correspondent for International Salsa Magazine in Miami, Florida

International Salsa Magazine

https://www.soultonecymbals.com/artist/alexandra-alban

 

By: Diana Marie Correspondent International Salsa Magazine in Miami, Florida

 

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