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Search Results for: music

New Music Video Billo’s “Tu Amor Para Navidad”

Get ready to celebrate another Christmas with Billo’s

Celebrating Christmas with Billo’s has been for a long time part of the Venezuelans traditions, and fans around the world. This year, to the surprise of many, it won’t be the exception. Thanks to the project carried out by several recognized latin singers, who participate with so much love and fondness, we can enjoy a legacy of good music.

JN Music Group, a record company that support latinamerican talents, reaches a higher level. On this occasion it does with “Legendarios”, an album that commemorates the band’s career and master Luis María Frometa.

Few days ago it was released another production from this album: “Tu Amor Para Navidad”. The single is interpreted by Billo’s Orchestra, which right now are under the baton of Frometa’s son Adrian Frometa, and are settled in Miami. “Tu Amor Para Navidad” featured executive production by Juan Hidalgo and Nelson Estévez, arrangements by Mauricio Silva, musical production by Víctor Pabon and Remil Renna, and performed by singers Abraham Casanova, Rolando Mendoza, Fredy Giménez and with the participation of Victor Pabon.

Billo's Tu amor para Navidad
Billo’s is bringing right for Christmas “Tu amor para Navidad”.

The music video is already available on the different digital platforms, and has exceeded the expectation within the industry. Only on YouTube it has more than ninety thousand views. In the audiovisual work you can observe the different singers inside a kind of musical studio. The artists were very happy and smiled incessantly.

More about the song

Yo sólo quiero tu amor, para esta navidad y que me llenes de luz, cuando haya oscuridad, Yo solo quiero tu amor, para esta navidad, saber que estoy a tu lado y que conmigo tú estás”, is part of the corus.

It has already had a good acceptance, and it’s projected as another song that will be part of the band’s history. Venezuela was present within the creation and composition of some of the songs, among them we can find Simón Ruiz “Simón”, Óscar Hernández “Oscarcito”, and Yasmil Marrufo. The actor Ricardo Álamo was part of the direction team, and of course the team from JN Music Group.

“Tu Amor Para Navidad” is part of “Legendarios”, the album has another eleven singles that have broken records in views and downloads. There is also an animated music video for “Tres Perlas”

The fans of Billo’s and the latin artists that were part of this project, had enjoyed each release. Carlos Vives, Milly Quezada, Tito Rojas, Oscar D’ León, Wilfrido Vargas, Sergio Vargas, Charlie Aponte, Eddy Herrera, Alex Bueno, Don Fulano and Karina; were the responsibles to give their voices to Billo’s hits. Beside, we are waiting for the behind the scenes of the production, a documentary that portraits the work of each participant.

The band’s new generation has a presentation schedule in Miami, and they will end the year with the tour “Tu Amor Para Navidad 2020”. However, with this new single some new work commitments can emerge. What could bring 2021 to them? We hope for endless opportunities!

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Sheila King in Latin music

North America / United States

Sheila King is an international singer/songwriter born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico

(Sheila King) Her passion for singing started at the young age of 6 singing the music of her favorite childhood artists.

From the age of 13 she began to compose her own music. A quality that she began developing further the older she got. Today she writes and co-writes all of her music.

Her massive lyrical ability is demonstrated by her dominance of different styles of music. In her beginnings she was a vocalist of the group “Dulce Material” and backup singer of various musical productions under the guidance of the music executive Miguel Correa.

Sheila King is an international singe
Sheila King is an international singer/songwriter

Miguel Correa has been responsible to pushing many artists in Puerto Rico like Mayra Mayra and Jessica Cristina under the label BMG. Now under the guidance of Raul RAZ Zeballos, Rare Monkey Entertainment, Sheila King Publishing, Rare Monkey Publishing, and Dustelli Music and Publishing; Sheila has produced a new album titled Trascendencia this album is the culmination of the work of superproducers Raul RAZ Zeballos, Mr. Vla, Tony Choy, and Ivan Nazario.

This new album is a vision and creation that Sheila shaped through her life experience. With this new production Sheila King plans to surpass everything she has already achieved with her first album Supernova her 2018 Latin GRAMMY nominated album and Galaxia Musical her 2019 release that was shortlisted for several Latin GRAMMY nominations on 2019.

Grammys and Awards

Sheila has had a very illustrious career as a solo artist culminating with her highest achievement to date; being nominated for the 2018 Latin GRAMMY Award for best Tropical Fusion Album with her freshman Album Supernova. Other notable awards, nomination, and recognitions.

Sheila King
Sheila King Grammys and Awards

She was named winner of the Premio Urbano as the best new artist of 2015.

She was nominated to the Premios Latinos Fama as the best pop new artist in 2015. In 2017 Sheila was honored to win the Supremacy Award in Venezuela as top Latin Female International Artist.

Sheila King is currently recognized as one of the top vocal talents in Latin music. She has taken her energetic and vocally exhilarating shows to many countries including the Dominican Republic and many cities across the United States.

Sheila’s music has been very well received by fans in Canada, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Germany, and Israel where she has had much success in radio airplay and captured a large audience.

Sheila is ready to leave her stamp on Latin Music and 2019 only looks to brighten her star and grow her career. Grammys and Awards TRASCEND.

Trascendencia

Trascendencia is comprised of 9 tracks starting with the title track Trascendencia a Latin – Reggae – Dancehall fusion featuring Notch.

Sheila King
Sheila King Trascendencia

This song leads the album’s theme with transcendence and becoming a better version of yourself. This song is a global theme of togetherness, brotherhood & sisterhood, and love for life and one another.

Then the album follows with the track Están Hablando de Ti a traditional fusion, in this song Sheila speaks about a relationship where the woman is disrespected, the song becomes an anthem of strength. Amor del Bueno follows a beautiful reggae pop style that defines what that “good loving” feels like and how you embrace that once in a lifetime love.

Love remains the theme with the Rock Latino Fusion Espectacular a production where the guitars and style of Latin rock creates a memorable fusion.

Now the album takes you to Colombia with Si Me Dejas a Cumbia, Reggaeton, Tropical fusion that again poses the question of let me love you like no one else would.

Then it’s a celebration a party song with Guarachando a vision of the future of Latin pop music with reggaeton and hip-hop elements showcased on this track.

Closing the Album is Indiferencia a tragic break up salsa about a woman done with the indifference of a lover that really does not care.

Sheilaa Kingg
Sheila King

 

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Creator of Afro-Rican Jazz William Cepeda talks about this subgenre

When we talk about the best characteristics of Puerto Rican artists, innovation is definitely one of them, and our guest is an excellent example of this. Grammy nominee and composer William Cepeda was born and raised in Loiza, known as the heart of “Little Africa” in Puerto Rico, so we can sense that this had much to do with his later artistic inclinations. We will talk about this and other things in the next paragraphs of this gripping story. 

Musician William Cepeda
This is Puerto Rican Grammy nominee, composer, and musician William Cepeda

What got William interested in music

The environment in which William grew up had everything to do with his interest in music as a serious profession. In Loiza, Puerto Rican bomba was one of the most listened genres by the community, and cultural events based on it were passed down through generations. It was there that a very young William began attending the colloquially known as “bombazos” and connecting with this music from an early age.

Practically the whole town was involved in these traditions, including his family, so he could not escape all these activities carried out year after year. In fact, his grandparents and some of his uncles and cousins were musicians, so it was common for the young boy to see them play their instruments and know what that was about.

When he turned 14, he finally began seriously studying music, especially the theory part. Although one of his options to study was accounting, this career would never overcome his enormous taste for music, so he never materialized this interest.

How William got started professionally in music 

While still an inexperienced teenage musician, William started playing percussion with some local groups, one of them being La Orquesta Zodiac, composed of a group of salsa veterans with more than 50 years of professional experience. Although these gigs were already paid, the young man still saw music as a side hobby. 

However, long time later, he would completely change his mind after noticing that his skills and opportunities could take him further than he thought possible.

William Cepeda at the festival
William Cepeda at the Luminato Festival in Toronto

Afro-Rican Jazz

Having already a more or less consolidated career, William was part of the invention of Afro-Rican Jazz, which can be defined as a concept that celebrates Puerto Rico’s heritage and its African roots while offering a new version of the jazz that everyone knew, giving it a touch of modern flavor that was absolutely innovative for the time. 

Growing up in an environment where traditional Puerto Rican music was so present and having experience only with local groups, he still had a long way to go as an artist. His outlook started to broaden by going to study at Berklee in Boston and then to do a master’s degree in New York, which in turn led him to play with American groups and musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie, James Brown, Miriam Makeba, and many other famous jazz musicians.

Gillespie became one of his biggest mentors when playing with him and his group The United Nations Orchestra, which included Cuban, Colombian, Dominican, Panamanian, and Brazilian musicians. It was precisely because of this great diversity of nationalities and influences that the orchestra received this name. However, there were no Puerto Rican musicians or music, so Gillespie gave William the opportunity to become the youngest member and create a subgenre product of a mixture of jazz and some styles from his place of origin. 

William told us that many Boricuan musicians used to play Latin jazz based on Cuban music, but none of them had ever ventured to create a subgenre of jazz with a Puerto Rican base. That was when the artist realized that something had to be done about it, so he chose to fuse jazz with Puerto Rican music and later named his group Afro-Rican Jazz.

He also continued to experiment with genres until he found something he called “Plena jazz,” the name he used for one of his albums and the result of mixing plena, another traditional genre born in the neighborhoods of Puerto Rico, and jazz. He also made a symphonic rumba album at the time. 

William Cepeda and his doctorate
William Cepeda receiving his honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music

Dizzy Gillespie’s protégé

Although William was influenced by a number of artists, when we check out his story his history, there is no denying that the South Carolinian trumpeter was the greatest influence and role model for the young man. 

With respect to this stage of his life, William recalls with affection that Dizzy was always very attentive to his development within the group, to the point that he came to see him as an artistic father. As we said before, he knew nothing about jazz or American music when he left Puerto Rico, but Dizzy and his musicians were “a second university” where he learned what no educational institution could teach him, something he thanks to them.

“Dizzy saw talent in me, so he always pushed me to be better every day. He encouraged me, protected me, and guided me in my development as a musician,” he said of his teacher.

Artists he has collaborated with

William has collaborated with countless great Latin artists such as Celia Cruz, Rubén Blades, Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puente, Marc Anthony, Oscar D’León, and many others. Most of these contacts came about thanks to references of acquaintances, combined with the percussionist becoming known to the public for some time, which generated many recommendations. 

All the above artists also influenced him to a certain extent, but he also says that he liked and still likes other genres such as classical music, jazz, the folklore of other countries, and many others.

Read also: Argentine tango bassist and Latin Grammy winner Pedro Giraudo returned to his roots

Tito Puente Jr.: perpetuating a legacy with its own rhythm

In International Salsa Magazine, we cannot contain our joy for the conversation we had with the son of one of the greatest legends of Latin music, who is now writing his own story of grandeur thanks to the education he has received practically since birth. This is none other than New York producer, composer, and percussionist Tito Puente Jr., who shared about 40 minutes of his time to answer some questions exclusively for Augusto Felibertt and yours truly, Karina Garcia. 

Tito puente jr. smiling
Producer, composer, and timbalero Tito Puente Jr. smiling for the camera

The burden of Tito Puente’s iconic legacy

Having a successful father is a great blessing, but sometimes, it can become a veritable martyrdom for a son who wants to follow his path, as comparisons between them will always be inevitable. Being able to share with Tito Puente Jr., son of the legendary King Of Timbales Tito Puente, gives us the opportunity to get his perspective on this interesting and important subject. 

Fortunately, the artist does not see this legacy as a burden, but quite the opposite. Although he admits that his father is one of the greatest masters and ambassadors Latin music and our culture in general have ever had, and that it is not easy to fill his shoes, he proudly bears his father’s surname and promotes his music.

Moreover, he sees the surname “Puente,” as well as the Spanish word implies, as a union among several generations because many young people this day do not know Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, and many other exponents of that salsa’s golden era. Tito Jr. wants to be part of that “bridge” between generations so that people of all ages can learn about these prodigies, including, of course, his father.

Childhood with Tito Puente as his father

Regarding his childhood and adolescence, Tito emphasized that he always saw his father play all types of instruments such as timbales, marimba, saxophone, percussion, and many others, which inspired him and made him want to imitate him from the beginning. Today, his career is largely influenced by everything he saw at home, and he plays his father’s arrangements and compositions, which are divided between a total of 186 albums. 

Everything learned within his family has taken him so far professionally, to the point that he now has seven Latin Grammys and 14 nominations, all thanks to the legacy he carries. 

Tito Puente and Tito Puente Jr.
Tito Puente Jr. and his father Tito Puente on the 1998 Grammy Awards red carpet

The Puente family today

On the more personal side, Tito is the youngest of his brothers, among whom he is the only one who works on music as a profession. To some extent, this has made him take upon his shoulders Tito Puente’s legacy through his own art.

The musician currently resides in southern Florida, specifically in Miami, although he works with orchestras from different cities and countries. He is married and has two children who are Miranda, 18, and Tito Puente Jr. Jr., 17. Miranda studies marine biology at university, while her younger brother is in high school but travels constantly with his father and enjoys composing and playing the guitar.

He also told us a little about his wife, who loves salsa but is not in music. On the other hand, he spoke lovingly of “the boss,” his mother Margarita Puente, who is currently in charge of royalties, record labels, publicity, and the documentary on Tito Puente’s life.

He also has two siblings: Audrey Puente, 55, who is a television meteorologist, and Rony Puente, 77, who is also a musician like his father and younger brother. 

Other musical influences besides that of his father

In addition to salsa, mambo, and guaguancó, Tito really enjoys English rock and several bands such as Metallica, Slayer, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, and others into this style. These tastes of his have led him to the idea of, at some point, blending heavy metal with mambo to see which result he gets.

As well as he can really enjoy the music of Bon Jovi and Ozzy Osbourne, he is also fascinated by El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, which he finds to be a very interesting mixture of genres that he would like to experiment with someday. 

He also said laughing that his father did not share his musical tastes and that the only rock band he liked was Santana, and that was because they did their own version of the hit “Oye Cómo Va” in psychedelic rock and Latin rock. 

Tito Puente holding his son
Tito Puente carrying his son Tito Puente Jr.

Current singers

Today, Tito works with various singers, including Aymee Nuviola, Lucrecia, Yolanda Duque, and his great friend, “La Princesa de La Salsa” La India. His father worked with great vocalists such as Tony Vega, Michael Stuart, Oscar D’León, José Alberto “El Canario,” Miguel Ángel Barcasnegras Díaz “Meñique,” and many more. 

Tito’s latest album, “The King And I,” also features other big voices such as Domingo Quiñones, Frankie Negrón, José Alberto “El Canario,” Tony Vega, Sheila E., Pete Escovedo, and many other salsa superstars of today and yesterday. 

The timbalero has worked with many figures who also worked with his father in the past, so it is clear that they see him and respect him as the continuation of his musical legacy.

Tito’s views on academic training in music

On the important issue of academic training in music, Tito pointed out that there are not enough educational programs aimed at teaching Afro-Cuban music in schools and universities, which in his view needs to change as soon as possible.

In fact, he noted the importance of promoting programs in educational institutions around the world so that their students learn much more than just symphonic music and become more rounded professionals. Although he recognizes the importance of knowing Beethoven and Tchaikovsky, he also believes that aspiring musicians should know about Eddie Palmieri, Charlie Palmieri, Larry Harlow, Pupi Campo, and other artists in this style. 

The artist believes that the above mentioned artists and many others related to jazz and salsa are part of a very important era of music in the world, which is why he believes that teachers must take them into account during their classes. For him, it is a mission to promote both his father’s music and that of other exponents of his kind in the academic field.

Tito Jr. and his family
Audrey, Margarita, Tito, and Tito Jr.

Upcoming tours

For our research, we could notice that Tito has several performances and tours scheduled for the rest of the year, more specifically for November. In this regard, he told us that in the first week of September, he went to play his father’s music on his weekly show Mambo Mondays, which is held to delight dancers eager to keep enjoying Tito Puente’s music.

About international tours, he plans to go to Germany in February next year and Spain next summer. He is also close to release a documentary in 2026 and a new album with the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra, which has 77 musicians and instruments such as violins, violas, harps, bagpipes, flutes, French horns, among others.

Tito Puente Jr. and his son
Tito Puente III and his father Tito Puente Jr.

Final comment

We still cannot believe we had this great conversation with the talented Tito Puente Jr. and it has been a great pleasure to share this time with him. Those who wish to contact him can do so through his social media channels, which are as follows:

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TitoPuenteJr/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/titopuentejr/

X: https://twitter.com/titopuentejr

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/tag/titopuentejr 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-es/artist/2ROkqvVDXj5JgmN6z2uFrM

Read also: Venezuela violinist and former musician in El Sistema Ali Bello has many interesting things to say

Asia / October 2025

Apocalypse Now 2025Dubai Latin Crazy TribeGuia Fu 2025

Calibrated maracasBill Martinez

Directory of Asian nightclubs

Hong Kong `circular flag

HONG KONG

Graffiti LKFGraffiti LKF
G/F, 17-18 Lan Kwai Fong, Central
Central, Hong Kong
Solar LKFSOLAR LKF
Central 2nd Floor, Ho Lee Commercial Building, 38-44 D’Aguilqr Street, Lang Kwai Fong Central
HKI Hong Kong
Sole Mio RestaurantSole Mio
Upper Ground Floor, 51 Elgin Street, Soho
Central Hong Kong, Hong Kong

ISRAEL

Havana Music Club
Havana Music Club
Yigal Alon St 126
Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
+972 3-562-3456

Japan circular flag
JAPAN

Egoland
Egoland Bar Akihabara
Chiyoda City, Kanda Sakumacho, 4 7-3 2F
Tokyo, Japan
Bar MirageBar Mirage
5F VORT Roppongi Briller, 3-14-14 Roppongi, Minato-ku
Tokyo 106-0032, Japan
+03-5860-6946
FiestaFiesta Latin Spot Bar
3F, 1 Chome-14-6 Kabukicho, Shinjuku City
Tokyo 160-0021, Japan
+81 90-1086-2878
El Cafe Latino TokyoEl Cafe Latino

3 Chome-15-24 Roppongi, Minato City
Tokyo 106-0032, Japan
+81 3-3402-8989

Latin Club Leon
Latin Club Leon
5-17-6 B1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku
Tokyo 160-0022, Japan

La Tropi Azabu
La Tropi Azabu
3F Roppongi Azelea Bldf. 1-3-6 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku
Tokyo1060031, Japan

Thailand circular flag
THAILAND

bAFROS lOUNGE
Bafros
Sugar Club Complex Sukhumvit Soi 11
Bangkok 10110, Thailand
+66 63 039 8700

Havana Social Cocktail Bar
Havana Social
1/1 Sukhumvit Rd. Soi 11
Bangkok, Thailand
+66 2 821 6111

Vietnam circle flag
VIETNAM
Apocalypse Now Vietnam
Apocalypse Now Sai Gon
2F Thi Sach
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 70000
+84 799 741 261

 

La Habanera Vietnam
La Habanera
Basement 81 xuân diệu Tay Ho
Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
+84 35 320 7220

La Pachanga Saigon
La Pachanga Club Saigon
3rd Floor, 39A Co Bac Street, Cau Ong Lanh Ward, District 1
Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
+84 93 855 79 21
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International Salsa Magazine (ISM) is a monthly publication about Salsa activities around the world, that has been publishing since 2007. It is a world network of volunteers coordinated by ISM Magazine. We are working to strengthen all the events by working together.