Search Results for: Tito Rodríguez

Then professionally with Tito Allen and Gunda Merced (Salsa Fever).

In 1977 he started with his father at the Caribe Hilton Hotel accompanying local and international figures.

In 1979 with Willie Rosario with whom he recorded 3 albums.  He directed the album Nuevo Horizontes which featured Gilberto Santa Rosa and Tony Vega.

In 1984 he started with Mario Ortiz y Su Orquesta with whom he recorded six albums.

Mario Ortiz Jr. studied at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music.

From 1991 – 1994 he traveled extensively with Juan Luis Guerra.

Mario Jr. has participated in recordings for Gilberto Santa Rosa, Tony Vega, Oscar de Leon, Ismael Miranda, Cheo Feliciano, Tommy Olivencia, Andy Montañez, and Willie Chirino among others.  He has accompanied artists such as Juan Gabriel, Raphael, Donna Summers, Gloria Estefan, Rocio Durcal, Julio Iglesias, José Luis Rodríguez, Frank Valli, Vic Damone, among other international artists.

His albums 45 Aniversario (2010), 50 Aniversario (2014), and 55 Aniversario (2019) have been nominated for a Latin Grammy.  For the past 23 years, he has worked in the public school system as a music teacher in Miami, Florida.

The late musician Mario Ortiz opened the doors of the artistic world to figures such as salsa singer Gilberto Santa Rosa. His contributions as musical director, instrumentalist, and arranger marked the careers of many artists, who did not hesitate to donate their talent for the making of the album Mario Ortiz All-Star Band, as a tribute to his 45 years of career.

Mario Ortiz, the son, summoned musicians and singers who shared with his father at a time when salsa was at its peak in the 1960s and 1970s.

The musician also managed to bring together Cheo Feliciano, Tony Vega, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Ismael Miranda, Richie Ray, Bobby Cruz, Roberto Roena, Andy Montañez, Elías Lopés and others in this record production.

“We recorded a tribute album, based on my father’s 1963 orchestra. Everyone told me that this group was ahead of its time. Some time ago, Gilberto gave me the LP On the Road (the orchestra’s first album), and that inspired me to make the record.

The first person I called was Elías Lopés and he told me to call everybody and that I would be surprised. And so it was because everyone was willing”, explained Mario Ortiz, son, in a press conference, attended by about twenty artists who recalled the times of the 60s and 70s.

The creator of the project said that the album contains 16 songs and an introduction featuring the original music of the All-Star Band, which became the first Puerto Rican orchestra to play at the Palladium in New York, where figures such as Tito Puente, Tito Rodríguez, and Frank “Machito” Grillo performed.

She mentioned that in the last track of the album, El Cid, she “played” the trumpet with her father thanks to technological advances.

Musical director Elías López and singers Gilberto Santa Rosa and Cheo Feliciano agreed that this production served as a pretext to recall anecdotes they lived together with the musician, who died on November 4, 1999.

“He was the only artist I have ever seen doing arrangements without piano and listening to other music on the other side. He had the virtue of concentrating and producing something well in advance,” said Elías Lopés.

“I had the joy of knowing Mario for a long time because he and Marito used to pick me up to go to school. I have always said that he is my dad in music…He told me to study because the music was a hobby, but when he realized my interest, he gave me that first opportunity,” commented El Caballero de la Salsa, adding that Mario Ortiz “was an outstanding musician and represents the heart of the career of many of us”.

Mario Ortiz All Star Band includes songs such as Chinita, with Gilberto Santa Rosa; Se acabó el bembé, with Ismael Miranda; Rumberito, with Bobby Cruz and Roberto Roena, and others.

Source: Primera Hora, Puerto Rico. By: Jaime Torres Torres

At the age of 64, trumpeter Mario Ortiz was a man brimming with health and life. Death took him by surprise on November 4, 1999.

Thus came down the curtain on one of the most brilliant careers in Puerto Rican salsa and jazz.

His wake was attended by practically all the musicians of the country to bid farewell to the virtuoso trumpet player, accomplished arranger, and experienced orchestra conductor.

His son Mario Jr. inherited part of his arrangements because the maestro was so generous that he gave his music to his friends and colleagues. To commemorate his memory on the 10th anniversary of his passing, Mario Jr. celebrates his father’s contribution to salsa and Latin jazz with the historic recording “Tribute”.

“I was able to transcribe the arrangements that I didn’t have and thus confirmed what the musicians at the wake were saying in terms of his music being ahead of its time. With the help of Lenny Prieto, Ernesto Sánchez, and Tito Rivera I was able to decipher what Papi did in terms of harmonics and rhythm,” said Mario Jr.

In “Tribute” Mario Jr. recorded without alterations the orchestrations and arrangements of “A quitarse”, “Yaré yaré”, “Chinita”, “Move”, “Se acabó el bembé”, “Mambo infierno”, “Güiro y pandereta”, “El soplo”, “Rumberito”, “Que bonito es Puerto Rico”, “Maina” and others.

“What I did to make them sound more harmonically updated was to extend the duration with more participation of the singers and with additional solos and moñas,” he explained.

Coining the name “All Star Band”, as his father’s group was known during the 1960s, Mario Jr. brought together a core of the most respected soneros and instrumentalists in salsa.

On “Tribute”, arguably the Afro-Antillean music album of the year, Cheo Feliciano, Andy Montañez, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Ismael Miranda, Adalberto Santiago, Tony Vega, Chico Rivera, Pedro Brull, Tito Allen, Primi Cruz, Anthony Cruz, Ismaelito Rivera and Bobby Cruz joined their talents.

And, representing the musicians, he recruited as soloists Papo Lucca, Bobby Valentín, Richie Ray, Elías López, Roberto Roena, and others.

None of the artists were paid, out of respect for Mario’s memory and in reciprocation of their friendship.

“It’s incredible. Elías was the first one I told to do this. He was so happy that he suggested I call everyone who knew Mario. And Gilbertito quickly said yes because his first recording was with Papi.”

The presentation of “Tribute”, in honor of the forty-fifth anniversary of the founding of the All-Stars Band, was held yesterday at the Alquimia Bistro Restaurant in Condado.

The album, a Zamora Music Group production, will be distributed by Sony Music. The first single is titled “Chinita” and is performed by Gilberto Santa Rosa.

“Sony is interested in my project because Gilbertito interceded on my behalf. He wanted to release it with his label Camínalo, but he thought it would have more possibilities with a multinational”.

Source: https://www.radioelsalsero.com/2009/09/se-viene-la-mario-ortiz-all-stars-band.html

Articles of Interest: Celso Clemente Torres is considered one of the best sounding bongos in the world

By: Diana Marie International Salsa Magazine Correspondent

60 years in the business in the “Salsa” music industry, Héctor Maisonave says: “I have not seen anyone who surpasses the talent of Héctor Lavoe”.

You have managed the careers of so many salsa luminaries, how do you consider Héctor Lavoe’s talent?

I saw in Hector a supreme talent, to this day I have not seen anyone who can surpass him.

Not only as an artist selling tickets, selling records, but also as a human being.

There is no comparison of any kind, no matter who the artists are that are current today, to this day there has been no one that can replace Hector Lavoe.

He continues to this day as the most successful artist in all aspects.

He has managed and catapulted the careers of stars such as Héctor Lavoe, La Lupe, La India, Ismael Rivera, Tito Rodríguez, Gilberto Santa Rosa, among others.

“I continue to derive satisfaction from my work, my main addiction,” said the Puerto Rican producer.

With almost 60 years in the difficult and no less unpredictable music industry, today, on his 81st birthday, the artistic promoter Héctor Maisonave looks back to see that nothing remains the same in the business, but even so, his “musician soul” does not allow him to give up.

He has been a faithful witness and an important part of Latin American musical history, as a tireless promoter of the salsa rhythm in every corner of the planet.

His resume is impressive; he has produced more than 6,000 events; he has managed and catapulted the careers of some 80 artists, including stars such as his namesake Héctor Lavoe, Tito Rodríguez, La Lupe, India, Ismael Rivera, Raphy Leavitt, Gilberto Santa Rosa and La Sonora Ponceña.

And his experience has been recognized on more than one occasion by the artistic world.

In 2010, this veteran businessman received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the Lincoln Center of New York, a distinction for his years in music production and management.

On that occasion, Diana Cortot, executive director of International Concert, the non-profit institution that presented Maisonave with the award, said that he was chosen because of the great help he has given to so many artists and his efforts to create a market for Latin music in the United States. “The Latin music industry, and salsa in particular, owes him a lot,” she said.

To this, the award-winning businessman, with the humility that has characterized him in each of his acts, simply said: “I don’t feel special, but privileged and honored”.

Born in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, Maisonave was part of a great migratory stampede of Puerto Ricans who traveled to New York in the 1940s to escape poverty.

“It was here, in this city, where I took my first steps as a producer in the summer of 1950.”

Even at this age, memory remains one of his best attributes.

“I began to organize concerts in open spaces that attracted hundreds of people, who arrived in some buses that we arranged for the public, and they were like a kind of patron saint festivities in which transportation, food, dessert and dancing were offered… That was the beginning of everything,” he recalls while, suddenly, a special gleam begins to appear in his eyes.

That was the time when she discovered what her vocation was. But he also had to raise his voice, fight hard for his goals and defend his roots. He was even one of those who protested on New York’s iconic Fifth Avenue so that the New York City government would grant him permission to hold a Puerto Rican parade.

“There were many inconveniences that got in the way, but there are more beautiful memories that light up my mind when I think of the dreams achieved,” confesses the man who had the idea of organizing Latino shows aboard boats that crossed the Hudson River to Bear Mountain.

And aware that, as he says, “turning 81 is not an everyday thing,” he says he is very happy to continue fighting the battle. “I continue to get enormous satisfaction from my work, my main addiction,” said this industrious Puerto Rican with his usual good humor.

Lately, his schedule has been as active as ever. From April to date, he has organized concerts for Grupo Mania and Tito Rojas (both in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania); José Alberto, “El Canario”, and Andy Andy at Six Flags New England, Springfield, Massachusetts, and next month he will be in charge of the presentation in Panama that salsa singer India has scheduled.

Source: Frank Manuel Orellana Rosas

Article of Interest: Richie Bonilla Management is a Latin Music booking and Managing Agency

Born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, veteran songwriter, and singer Johnny Vega grew up surrounded by music and relatives with the same natural talent he discovered in himself at an early age.

It wasn’t long before his obvious gift of writing accompanied by strong vocals was in demand.

Many salsa greats highlighted Johnny Vega, as a songwriter and vocalist at an early age New York was the vanguard of his success.

Relocating as a teenager, with his family, he mastered his craft in both Spanish and English being one of the first Puerto Rican musicians to compose and sing a bilingual hit, singing with Cortijo for the legendary band “Cortijo y su Combo” in the early 70s.

His musical career as described here gave him the notoriety that follows today, currently involved in multiple projects, Johnny continues to write and often performs at sold-out venues in his hometown.

Johnny Vega has participated with a myriad of orchestras to name a few:

Trio Las 3 Voces

Jóvenes Del Ritmo

Gil Suarez Y Su Orquesta Latin Highs

Sonora Casino

Cortijo Y Su Combo

Kako And His Trabuco

Conjunto Los Imposibles

Orquesta Sabor

Conjunto Antonetti

Orquesta La Muralla

Conjunto La Villa Arecibo

Paquito Guzman Y Su Orquesta

Conjunto Santurce

Los 7 Gatos

Renovación 90

Hermanos Gonzalez (Help Yourselves 2015)

Noel Quintana & Latin Crew Popeye Y La Flaca 2016

Soloist Tribute To Celia

Some of his compositions:

Popeye – Ay Caray – Adalberto Santiago

Pancuco – Frankie Ruiz

Tú y tu novela – Pasado, presenté y futuro – Mike Cora

Avísale – Clown – incredulous – La Muralla

I’m dying inside – Rafi Marrero

Volver- Tito Rodriguez Jr. Singing Gilberto Santa Rosa

My Salsa is my Cura- Josean Rivera

Hermano Cortijo- Josean Rivera

Sueño de un Borincano- Willie Morales “El Piloto de la Salsa”.

Que le Pasa al Cielo- Chevy El Pitirre de la Salsa

Aquí Mando Yo- Chevy El Pitirre de la Salsa

From that moment on Johnny began to write and share his compositions with local bands so that they could establish their own musical identity.

From that era of inspiration, Johnny gave the maestro Tommy Olivencia the song “Pancuco”, especially for Frankie Ruiz.

Also “Ay Caray” & “Popeye el Marino” for Adalberto Santiago. Many of the musicians who grew up under the supervision of maestro Johnny Vega initially, went on to form part of the orchestras of Celia Cruz, Sonora Ponceña, Héctor Lavoe and many other high caliber bands.

In Rochester, Johnny sang with Orquesta Sabor, Antonetti, and Mike Rosario’s Muralla with whom he formed a solid partnership which included great productions, one of them being “Avísale” a collector’s item for which royalties are still being paid three decades later.

Songs by Johnny Vega-

Father and Son

Compañera Mía

Tribute To Celia

Listen To My Message

Born To Sing

Johnny Vega lives in Rochester NY with his wife of 56 years, 5 children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

He continues to leave his great musical legacy.

Contact:

Facebook: Johnny Vega

https://www.facebook.com/johnny.vega.7503

Instagram: @vjohnny220

https://instagram.com/vjohnny220?utm_medium=copy_link

If you require Vega’s pen write to email.

[email protected]

Por: Erika Muñoz 

La Mulata Rumbera

“Se Armó la Rumba en México”

Corresponsal de International Salsa Magazine

Article of Interest: Willie Morales The Salsa Pilot Taking off with force… New, Tasty and Danceable Salsa!

 

Mike Arroyo 40/20 The Concert (The past July 19, 2021, San Juan, Puerto Rico)

Using Jazz to praise God, guitarist Mike Arroyo performed yesterday, Sunday, July 18, 2021 at the René Marqués Hall of the Centro de Bellas Artes in Santurce.  As Mike himself said in front of a packed hall, yesterday’s concert became a dream come true.

At 4:50 p.m. the first call was heard over the loudspeaker.  Seven minutes later, the second call was heard at full volume, which interrupted the public’s excitement as they began to settle into their seats.  Five minutes after the scheduled time, the third and last call was heard; which immediately gave way to the greeting of the moderator already on stage, but not before opening the show with the usual invocation.  It became clear that although the concert honored Mike Arroyo’s career, during that time the guitarist has dedicated himself body and soul to praise God.

The title 40/20 originates from the 40 years since Mike Arroyo acquired his first electric guitar, an Ovation Thunderhead® that had belonged to the tres player Nelson Gonzalez.

The acquisition of the guitar is still an enigma difficult to explain in earthly terms.  Thus life, this shocking story, which in 1981 transformed the lives of Mike Arroyo and Nelson Gonzalez paved a path that 20 years later would see Mike’s first Jazz album, Straigth To Heaven (2001) see the light of day.  It would be good to bring up the guitar transaction for discussion, but not before exposing the provenance of the guitar.

Shortly before the transaction described here, Nelson Gonzalez lost his house with all the belongings in it due to a fire.  To Nelson’s surprise, the guitar, which later passed into Mike’s hands, was not only the only item to survive the fire, but remained intact.  That fact alone is incredible, but in the face of a structure that was totally destroyed it looks even more dramatic.  Nelson took the surviving item – his guitar – into storage.  However, the custodian of the guitar decided to dispose of it as payment in exchange for a service.  That third person who received the guitar as payment for that service, must have understood that the guitar had not been acquired in a lawful manner, so he sold it for $140.00 to a young Mike; who had to commit himself to pay small amounts until the agreed amount was paid off.

Shortly thereafter, already in the process of normalizing his life after that same fire that had spared the guitar, Nelson returned to reclaim the guitar from whoever had deposited it.  Since the custodian of the guitar no longer had it with him, Nelson set about the task of locating it. Nelson received information about the whereabouts of the guitar itself, which at that moment became – unsuspectingly – the link between the two musicians.  Nelson went to Mike Arroyo’s home where he saw with his own eyes the effort the young man had made to get his hands on that guitar.

The respectable Arroyo family explained, the young musician pleaded and Nelson Gonzalez decided to part with the guitar, the only material object that had survived the destruction of the Gonzalez home, to give it to Mike.  At that moment, Nelson became Mike’s musical godfather and the guitar became the divine plan that made Mike a pioneer in Sacred Jazz, a Latin rhythm of light and spiritual tonalities.  The surprise of the night was the presentation of Nelson Gonzalez with Mike Arroyo, eternally united by the musical instrument that was also the instrument of that divine plan that remains intact.

Mike is recognized in the music scene as a pioneer and precursor of “Christian Jazz” with 6 record productions and two video DVD productions. In 2017 he innovated the stages by performing a concert in the traditional format of “Jazz Organ Trio” being Brian Charette and Vince Ector the international guest musicians of that event that took place at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico.

Aware of the need to strengthen us as a people, through his “Jazz with a spiritual touch”; just as 40 years ago Nelson gave Mike that magical instrument, yesterday Mike gave the public a masterful concert, presented by BCC (Breñas Community Church).  It should be noted that BCC is the church where Mike has been pastor for 15 years.

The select group of accompanying musicians included the piano of Puerto Rico: Luis Marín, Gabriel Rodríguez, Jimmy Rivera, Héctor Matos on drums, José Nelson Ramírez, Tommy Lee on tumbadoras and Giovanny Rodríguez in his first performance with his former teacher -Luis Marín-.   I imagine that no one will be surprised if it is stated that Luis Marín’s chords were gravitating towards salsa, while Tommy Lee prophesied in correspondence on the leather of the tumbadoras.  Also singing were: Yanira Torres, Gilda González, Janet Hernández, Alma Galarza and Vanessa Rosado.

Photos: Miguel Rojas Candelario ©.

During these 40 years Mike has stood out musically with Christian groups and singers such as Renovación Cristiana, Abba Padre, Manuel Román among others and several recordings. He has participated with the Symphony Orchestra of PR, a Symphony Orchestra in the Dominican Republic, The Quique Talavera Orchestra in the Chucho Avellanet Show accompanying other singers such as Ismael Miranda, Braulio, Tito Rojas among others, The Pijuán Orchestra, where besides the Sextet, he also accompanied Danny Rivera and Wilkins. Mike also had the joy of dedicating a piece with his guitar to his favorite artist Jose Feliciano when he came to celebrate his 50th artistic anniversary in Puerto Rico. With his guitar he has participated in International Jazz Concerts and Festivals (PR, NY, Chicago, Curacao, among others) and has also performed in Germany.

Mike is also a musician/pastor of the Breñas Community Church (BCC) IDDPM.I. in Vega Alta for 15 years and Chaplain of the Police of PR. He is also a Music Teacher in his academy “Mike Arroyo Music” in his hometown of Vega Baja and is a Biomedical Engineer in Clinical Laboratories and Hospitals.

“Mike Arroyo 40/20 El Concierto” was dedicated to his graduating class of Lino Padrón Rivera High School of Vega Baja 1983 and to his “Padrino Musical” Nelson González.

Article of Interest: Tito Rodríguez, Jr. “The Palladium legacy lives on”

By: Bella Martinez “La Escritora Irreverente de La Salsa”

Puerto Rico