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Search Results for: Tropical
Vinny Rivera release his latest single “Mientes”
North America / USA / Boston
Vinny Rivera. The #1 Latin Kizomba Artist in the World
Vinny Rivera ‘s new single “Mientes” coming off of his album “La Torre” takes Kizomba to the next level. Good friend Guelo Star who is currently writing for the likes of Don Omar, Ivy Queen, Jowell y Randy, De La Ghetto just to name a few originally wrote this song with the spirit of Kizomba and Vinny Rivera was the perfect voice to compliment the writing. This love song is sure to bring The #1 Latin Kizomba singer and songwriter towards new heights of world music.
Sound off the bongos & kick in the bass, Vinny Rivera is ready to hit the stage. One of the hardest working singer/songwriters, Victor “Vinny” Rivera, continues to shine in the music entertainment scene. Surrounded by great mentors and industry leaders such as world renowned international producers M&N Pro, Jorgie Milliano, Grammy award winning producer Richy Peña (Niña Bonita), and Universal Latino’s recording artist Yunel Cruz, Vinny’s sound has captured audiences all around.
The music of Vinny Rivera is refreshing and lends a sweet tuned voice to the likes of urban bachata Superstar Prince Royce mixed in with Latin Pop Superstars Luis Fonsi & Enrique Iglesias. Genres of music are no different. His voice as well as being multilingual lends itself to Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba, Mambo, Pop, R&B and many more musical genres.
On the other hand and recognizing musical legend “Jerry Rivera”, Vinny Rivera alongside longtime friend and producer Jorgie Milliano pay tribute to a tropical classic “Amores Como El Nuestro” by giving it a tasteful Kizomba twist that audiences everywhere are sure to enjoy.
Vinny Rivera is currently working on a new Latin Kizomba album that will continue to capture the hearts and ears of all Kizomba lovers.
Besides, Vinny’s talent for capturing audiences has exponentially increased his passion for performing and entertaining. Performing in festivals and special events, the demand has been genuine and stage performances continue to impact his listeners.
Musical Trajectory
Victor Rivera, known artistically as Vinny Rivera, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Of Puerto Rican parents under the tutelage of his Dominican stepfather, he is one of the most hard working singers / composers to shine in the musical entertainment scene. Being influenced by the Boston city melting pot, he was exposed to a variety of musical genres including Reggae, Jazz, Soca, R & B and pop and the sounds of his native island and the neighboring Dominican Republic sounds the Salsa, Merengue, Bachata.
Completely addicted and forced by music and the desire to share his energy and healing skills, at the age of 16 he bought his first DJ set with his best friend Okland López and began playing music of all kinds of events. In that period he realized that he wanted to take the next step, to make music. He then began to study all kinds of music and finally was able to be comfortable enough to sing.
His friends encouraged him to record music and were associated as a trio together Loco Jow to pursue a career within the music industry. Although not signed with any record label they achieved a network of relationships around the world that got them heard everywhere, which allowed them to rank No.3 in a company of radio and distribution of popular music in South America.
Vinny continued to work with the group opening shows for world-renowned acts such as Don Omar, Wisin & Yandel, Zion & Lennox, Ivy Queen, Rakim & Ken-Y, Tony Dize, Alexis & Fido.
The group split because of four years of Vinny’s enlistment in the United States Air Force. Now a veteran of the Air Force from June 2004 to December 2014 Vinny learned that “Life is too short and you have to give everything you have.”
He started working and learning with Grammy-winning Producers such as Richy Peña who produced the hit “Niña Bonita” by Chino & Nacho and Lenny Santos recognized by the Bachata group “Aventura”. To then sing and write with Universal Billboard and Cuban artist Yunel Cruz. He also wrote a final hit for Jowell and Randy “Lo Que Quiero”, which reached # 11 on the charts, being remixed with Reggaeton Super Stars Arcangel, Farruko and Divino produced by his great friend Jorgie Milliano.
His work and vocal skills have captured the respect and attention of the public around the world. The formula for Vinny Rivera’s latest plan is to use his music as a tool to address problems in the world. Until then he will continue to work diligently on making good music to enjoy.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Read also: Cache Live Music puts Miami to dance to traditional Latin music
North America / January 2026
January 2026 / Festivals |
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Directory of North American nightclubs |
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Son 14 The History of the Orchestra and the Success of “A Bayamo en Coche”
The Son 14 orchestra was founded in Santiago de Cuba in 1977 by vocalist Eduardo “El Tiburón” Morales (born in Cuba in 1935) and pianist and musical director Adalberto Álvarez.
As the name suggests, it is a 14-member ensemble dedicated to performing son, the national musical genre of Cuba. In 1978, Lázaro Rosabal (born in Santiago de Cuba in 1953) joined the group.
They quickly recorded several albums for the local EGREM label, many of which became bestsellers throughout Latin America, allowing them to undertake extensive tours across the Americas and Europe.
In 1992, co-founder Álvarez left the band to form his own group. Nevertheless, Son 14 continued its journey under the musical direction of Rosabal.
In addition to their continued success in the Latin market, the band began to gain international recognition, first with the song “El Son De La Madrugada,” included on the compilation Cuba – Fully Charged (Earthworks Records, 1993), and later with the release of Son – The BIG SOUND (Tumi Records, 1995), a compilation of their material from the Álvarez era.
After introducing a modern, vibrant version of son and its variations (son montuno, bolero son, etc.) to non-Latin audiences, Tumi Records commissioned a new recording at Cuba’s EGREM studios. Released in 1996 as part of the Cuba Explosion series, the album Cubanía proved that the band had not lost an ounce of its musical talent and energy under Rosabal’s direction. Three years later, the group released La Máquina Musical, which incorporated Colombian tropical rhythms into their sound, promoting the album with a European tour that included a performance at the Cuba Presente Festival at the Barbican Centre in London. (Source: AllMusic)
The Milestone of “A Bayamo en Coche”
The album A Bayamo en Coche (A Bayamo by Carriage) was released in 1979, with its biggest hit being the title track itself. The album’s opening song, composed and arranged by Adalberto Álvarez from Camagüey, instantly transformed him into one of the leading figures in popular Cuban dance music from that year on.
The song “A Bayamo en coche” not only revives traditional son and enriches it with new sounds but also artistically recreates a cherished tradition rooted in Bayamo, the cradle of Cuban nationality. In this city, coches (horse-drawn carriages) are used for pleasure rides and recreation, and the song’s lyrics narrate these moments.
The album contained other tracks that were hugely popular in Cuba between 1978 and 1980, such as “Calle Enramada” (a son elegy to that main Santiago street), “El Son De La Madrugada” (with a beautiful later version by Omara Portuondo), “Se quema la trocha,” and “Elena la cumbanchera,” which turned the record into a landmark within this genre of Cuban music. Most of the tracks were performed by Tiburón Morales, the group’s lead vocalist.
Tribute to The Gentleman of Son
Recently, Son 14 founder Adalberto Álvarez, known as “El Caballero del Son” (The Gentleman of Son), was honored with a concert at the Karl Marx Theatre. This event celebrated his 46 years in music and the 35th anniversary of his later orchestra, Adalberto Álvarez y su Son.
The concert was a memorable tribute to the work of the composer of “A Bayamo en coche.” Some of his best songs were performed by notable Cuban musicians:
- Septeto Santiaguero (Son para un sonero)
- Pancho Amat and Alain Pérez (Tu fiel trovador)
- Alexander Abreu (Pura imagen)
- Paulo F. G. (Fin de semana)
At other points, Frank Fernández performed a duet accompaniment with the voices of Adalberto Álvarez and Jorge Luis Rojas, “Rojitas,” on Santa Cecilia.
Additionally, Rojitas sang with Tania Pantoja (Vivir lo nuestro) and solo (Y qué tú quieres que te den). Robertón and Lele, vocalists from Van Van, performed Agua que cae del cielo, while the orchestra Adalberto Álvarez y su Son took on De Cuba pa’l mundo entero, Son de la madrugada, and Los caminos de Ifá.
That night, Maestro José Luis Cortés highlighted Álvarez’s musical quality, focusing specifically on “A Bayamo en coche,” the song that, in 1979, announced the existence of a great artist to the public. Álvarez was capable of bringing son to Cuban art schools and has defended Cuban son with grace and artistry, all while staying true to the essence of one of the dance music genres that best represents Cuban identity. (Source: Joel del Río, Cibercuba)
“A Bayamo En Coche” Album Details (1980)
| No. | Track | Genre | Composer |
| 01. | A Bayamo En Coche | Son | Adalberto Álvarez |
| 02. | El Son De La Madrugada | Son guaguancó | Adalberto Álvarez |
| 03. | Se Fue Mi Amor Y No Lo Vi Partir | Bolero son | Adalberto Álvarez |
| 04. | Calle Enramada | Son | Pedro Gómez |
| 05. | Elena La Cumbanchera | Son | Gerardo Martínez |
| 06. | Se Quema La Trocha | Bachata-Son | Adalberto Álvarez |
| 07. | Tal Vez Vuelvas A Llamarme | Son montuno | Adalberto Álvarez |
| 08. | Gimen Las Rosas Por Una Triste Ilusión | Bolero | Adalberto Álvarez |
| 09. | Vamos, Háblame Ahora | Bachata-son | Adalberto Álvarez |
Musicians who participated in the recording (1979):
- Director, Acoustic Piano, Keyboards: Adalberto Álvarez
- Vocals, Minor Percussion: Eduardo “El Tiburón” Morales, Héctor Wedderbron, Daniel Carmenates
- Bass: Jorge Machado
- Guitar: Efisio Barroso
- Trumpet: Eduardo Sánchez, Guillermo Femández, José Fernández, Dagoberto Rodríguez
- Trombone: Lázaro Rosabal
- Tumbadora (Conga Drum): Ubaldo Canes
- Bongó, Cowbell: Guillermo Viera
Recorded at: EGREM Studios (1979)
Collaborators:
Also Read: Luis Conte: The Cuban-American percussionist who fuses Cuban son with global music