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José Ernesto Parra is ready to embark on his solo journey in Salsa

Throughout his career, José Ernesto Parra has consolidated his place in the history of salsa. Each project in which he has participated reflects his great talent.

José Ernesto Parra was born in Santurce and grew up in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. From a very early age, he was an admirer of the music of La Sonora Ponceña and El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. Later, Héctor Lavoe, Frankie Ruiz and Luisito Carrión became his references.

José Ernesto Parra to embark on his solo journey in salsa Photos Miguel Mitchel..

Before deciding on singing, he was captivated by percussion, focusing on the conga and drums.

Eventually, he began to explore his vocal ability, with the help of composer and music teacher Rafy Monclova. This training led him to become a singer, while helping him develop his distinctive interpretive style.

In 1989, José Ernesto Parra joined the orchestra of singer Viti Ruiz, just at the time when the latter was beginning to enjoy success with the hit ‘Caricias Prohibidas’. For two years, José Ernesto was part of Viti’s orchestra, which allowed him to perform his first shows outside of Puerto Rico, marking the beginning of his career in the international music scene.

Having been part of Viti Ruiz’s orchestra, later opened doors for him with Pupy Santiago’s orchestra and with Anthony Cruz’s orchestra, where he remained for four years. José Ernesto considers his time in Anthony Cruz’s orchestra as a key phase in which he consolidated his artistic training.

Later, the renowned musician and producer Julio “Gunda” Merced identified José Ernesto Parra’s talent, selecting him as a backing vocalist for a series of recordings of artists belonging to the Musical Production M.P. label. During that period, José Ernesto’s voice was recorded in important projects for artists such as Anthony Cruz, Giro, Los Hijos de los Célebres, Luisito Carrión, Pedro Conga, Tito Gómez and Tito Rojas, among others. Thus, he was able to hone his skills as a vocalist while collaborating with the production team in the creative process behind some of the greatest salsa hits.

In addition, José Ernesto Parra stood out as the lead singer in the short-lived but innovative group Salsa 2000, expanding his experience in the salsa field, demonstrating his versatility and interpretive abilities. He also played an important part in the album Con el golpe de siempre, with which Pedro Conga’s La Internacional orchestra celebrated its 35th anniversary. For the latter, José Ernesto sang the songs ‘Contigo estaré’, ‘Si me vuelvo loco’, ‘No quiero, no puedo’, ‘El ritmo que pica’ and ‘Parece’.

In 2001, José Ernesto Parra joined Luisito Carrión’s orchestra as a chorister. In 2002, he participated in the First Soneros Festival in Orlando, Florida, USA, sharing the stage with veteran vocalists such as Chamaco Rivera, Héctor Tricoche, Junior González, Luigi Texidor, Yolanda Rivera and Tito Allen, among others.

That stage laid the groundwork for the creation of his record production Así es la vida, published under the M.P. label. The album included songs by renowned composers such as Harry Suárez, Mimi Ibarra, Pedro Jesús and Rando Tamasta. In addition, it featured arrangements by the talented Julio “Gunda” Merced, Ramón Sánchez and Rafael “Bodo” Torres. Among the songs on the album are ‘Morir por amar’, ‘Solo por ti’, ‘Un amor así’ and ‘Cosas bonitas’.

Throughout his career, José Ernesto Parra has consolidated his place in the history of salsa. Each project he has participated in reflects his great talent. Photos Miguel Mitchel.

Later, and for a brief but significant period, José Ernesto further expanded his professional horizon by collaborating with the Don Perignon orchestra and with Tommy Olivencia’s La Primerísima. These interventions offered him the possibility of interacting with different musical styles and approaches, strengthening his versatility within salsa.

Since 2011 and for twelve years, José Ernesto Parra stood out as a singer in the orchestra of “Míster Afinque”, Willie Rosario. His presence in the music industry was reinforced through the recording of his voice in the song ‘Ya no eres nada’, which is part of the production Evidencia (2016).

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José Ernesto Parra (Singer)

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To book José Ernesto Parra you can contact him at (787) 309-2958 or write to the email: [email protected]

Also Read: Robert Tellez is undoubtedly “El más que sabe de salsa” (The one who knows the most about Salsa)

Gabrielito Y La Verdad shines in Los Angeles

We are so pleased to have spoken with Mexican singer-songwriter and percussionist Gabriel González, who gladly embraced the opportunity to share with us a little of his personal story with music and the beginning of his band Gabrielito Y La Verdad. This project has brought him great joy and personal satisfaction since its foundation, as well as the possibility of meeting some of the today’s largest artists and being on stages where Gabriel never imagined playing.

Gabriel is the leader of La Verdad — Mexican percussionist Gabriel González,who is the leader of Gabrielito Y La Verdad

Gabriel’s beginnings in music

Gabriel’s first contacts with music occurred when he was just a seven year old boy in East of Los Angeles. That city had a place called ”El Mercadito” where there were amateur contests the boy always took advantage of to practice his singing and this start his career as a vocalist.

Being in his native Mexico, he became interested in regional Mexican music, ranchera, guatango, boleros, son and many others. When he moved to the United States with his family, he also began to know son jarocho, son jalicience and son montuno.

The first group he played and toured with was the Los Angeles Chicano rock band Quetzal, which is the one that gave him his first job opportunity and with which he would stay for some time until his interests shifted definitively.

As he left Quetzal, Gabriel resumed his interest in son montuno and thereafter in salsa as well. From then on, he became so good at these genres that he played with most of the salsa orchestras in Los Angeles and its nightclubs, which attracted the interest of many promoters who invited him to new places. In fact, he himself says that sometimes he would be called to play at venues without knowing which band he would be playing with that night.

Gabriel posing for the camera — Percussionist Gabriel González posing for the camera with some of his instruments

Salsa orchestras in which Gabriel participated

In California, there were many salsa orchestras in which Gabriel participated and one of the most important was Johnny Polanco Y Su Conjunto Amistad. The artist sang with the late Polanco on a few occasions over several years, as they respected each other professionally and never missed any opportunity to show it on stage.

The singer-songwriter also played with the Orquesta de Ángel Lebrón Y Su Sabor Latino on many occasions. The conguero and orchestra leader also relied heavily on the Mexican and what he had to offer, so he did not hesitate to call him whenever he needed him.

Gabrielito Y La Verdad

Gabriel had already gained so much popularity that, one night, he was invited to a concert whose flyer announced him as ”Gabrielito Y Su Orquesta”, meaning that he had already his own importance outside of being a simple element of support for groups and artists better known than him. The best thing about this is that the event was a complete success, leading the musician to think about creating his own orchestra, which he later named ”Gabrielito Y La Verdad”.

From that moment Gabriel founded Gabrielito Y La Verdad, it has been ten years, in which he has dedicated himself to tour all over California and considers that his journey has been very successful and filled with gratification.

In view of the success and fans amassed by the orchestra during this time, Gabriel decided it was time to make original music and write his own songs, while acknowledging that his thing is singing and playing percussion because that is at what he excels.

Gabriel and Bruno Mars — Bruno Mars and Gabriel González during a musical event

Gabriel’s contact with other artists

Gabriel and his orchestra have also had the opportunity to share with great music luminaries, from whom he has been able to learn many things and apply them to his own career. Among the artists and groups he has shared the stage with are Juan Gabriel, Los Van Van, Cubanismo, Los Cuban All Stars, Silk Sonic and Bruno Mars.

In every case, Gabriel was impressed with the discipline and professionalism of each of the above-mentioned artists or orchestras, but at the same time, how humble and pleasant they were off the stage.

In Bruno Mars’ case, he attended one of Gabriel’s shows along with the rest of his musicians without any of them noticing that the singer-songwriter was listening to them play with great interest. The artist was so fascinated with the orchestra that he invited it to open for him at a private party he would soon have in Las Vegas, an experience that was a great honor for the Mexican and the rest of the group.

From this anecdote Gabriel learned that he must always give his best in his work, since he does not know who may be watching him.

“I’m looking for you and I can’t find you” the new by Newman Zamora

Latin America / Venezuela / Caracas

(Press/San Juan Producciones) The young Venezuelan singer, Newman Zamora, premiered this Friday, February 16, on his official YouTube channel, his second promotional single, “I’m looking for you and I can’t find you”, a romantic salsa with lyrics and music of the Creole singer-songwriter Frederman Franco.

With the production and musical arrangements of Wilmer Herrera, it was recorded at the AudioPlace studios and the San Agustín “Paicosa” studios, and featured the performance of renowned musicians: Joel Uriola (piano), Freddy Rivas (congas and bongo drums), Yorma “ Caballito” Méndez (timbale), Wilmer Herrera (bass), Lewis Escolante (trombones), in the choirs, Gonzalo Martínez and Frederman Franco. It should be noted that the editing, mixing and mastering was in charge of Jean Sánchez, winner of the Latin Grammy.

I’m looking for you and I can’t find you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqY-LgdCgRo

Preparing his first album

From the moment he decided to start his career as a solo singer in the salsa genre, he set himself the goal of entering the world market with an album, which until now has no name.

In 2017 @newmanzamoraoficial started the recording process with the version of the song “To feel that”, due to his admiration for the Brazilian singer-songwriter Alexandre Pires. With its release on October 6 of the same year, it achieved its formal entry into this genre, receiving the acceptance of colleagues and the salsa public.

This pleasant experience prompted him to quickly continue with the production of this second theme, which he requested from his friend of many years, Frederman Franco, who has composed for Maelo Ruiz, O.S, among others.

“I’m looking for you and I can’t find you” and “To feel that”, are among the eight songs that will make up his novel record production, which is expected to be completed by the month of May.

Versatile musician and singer

Newman Zamora was born in Caracas on May 30, 1980. He began his music studies at the José Ángel Lamas Conservatory in 1990, where he received music theory and violin classes. For five years he was part of his school’s choir, which he combined with violin and percussion. Then he entered the Pedro Nolazco Conservatory, where he studied flute. In 1993, he formed the team of founders of the Chacao Pre-Children’s Orchestra, under the baton of maestro Juan Cristóbal Palacios.

During his adolescence he was a member of the group “La calle de la amargura”, created in 2001 by Jhonny Núñez and Ricardo Montaner. By 2004 he participated in various groups in the Afro-Cuban genre as a percussionist and singer. Among his teachers were José Luis Presa, Zdzislaw Waszkiewicz, Osiris Aragón, Faride Mijares, Miguel Urbina, among others. She is currently the vocalist of the “Caballo y sus riders” Orchestra/END

Maria Fernanda Leon

San Juan Productions

Today we talk with Susana Y Su Orquesta Adelante

There are so many descendants of Latinos who have fallen head and ears for their parents’ culture, so they always seek to leave their countries of origin on high with the tools they have at hand, especially music.

One of them is multi-instrumentalist Suzanne Cortez, who currently conducts Susana Y Su Orquesta Adelante and has many interesting things to say about her career.

Suzanne is a bassist — Suzanne is a multiinstrumentalist, but her main instrument is the bass

How Suzanne got interested in music in the first place

Suzanne became interested in music at a very young age when she saw her mother listening to many records of all genres, but her favorite group was Trio Los Panchos, which was very popular at the time. However, her mother also listened to The Beatles very often, to the point that Suzanne imitated them and pretended she was a member of the group.

From so much listening to music of varying genres, Suzanne learned to play herself, and it was the variety of genres she listened to that trained her to interact with all of them.

The artist enjoyed all types of music, but emphasized that her favorite genre was salsa. She assures that she can play any rhythm such as classical music, jazz, Latin jazz, Latin rock, R&B and many others, but none of them can be compared to what salsa makes her feel.

How her musical career began

Before forming what would become her own group Susana y Su Orquesta Adelante, she had a very interesting journey that prepared her to lead her own project later on.

At school, she took a few classical music lessons and her teacher called her one day to ask her if she was trained to learn to read music, to which she said no and that she had learned everything by ear and nothing else. This pleasantly surprised the educator and encouraged her to pursue a musical career beyond the boundaries of the classroom.

After that, Suzanne had the opportunity to be part of the women’s band Orquesta Sabrosita, in which she was the youngest of all the members. At that time, an all-female band was something very fresh in the Bay Area, so they drew a lot of attention from the public at the time. There were many female artists already, but they did not play salsa yet.

About this, the artist points out that reactions to them were mostly positive, although there were always people who still preferred all-male orchestras, which was the norm at the time.

Susana Y Su Orquesta Adelante

Suzanne officially created her own musical project Susana Y Su Orquesta Adelante in 2009. However, this was not her first attempt to form her own band, but in 2000. In that year, Suzanne and the rest of the musicians who accompanied her played in churches since for her the praises of God were very important and music was her vehicle to communicate with the Almighty.

In view of the great talent the band demonstrated every time they played one of their songs, some club owners wanted to invite the group to play in a café of their property and they did not have any problem with them having a repertoire based on Christian salsa.

It took Suzanne a while to make up her mind until finally, in 2009, she started playing with her group in cafes, clubs, restaurants, festivals, among other places.

There was also a point when the orchestra stopped playing purely Christian music, as the members wanted to vary their repertoire. In addition to that, Suzanne knew that, although they were not always playing religious music, God would be happy that they were making their listeners happy.

Challenges faced by Suzanne on this path

As much as Suzanne has achieved great things with her music, she has also had to face certain challenges that caused her to move away from her goals for some time.

Unfortunately, as with many artists, Suzanne turned to alcohol and drugs, which sent her into a deep depression and to left aside music for many years. These problems and her subsequent rehabilitation kept her away from the stage for more than 28 years, until she realized that it was time to try her luck once again with her great passion.

Unfortunately, most of the musicians who accompanied her in the beginning were making their lives out the music scene or had become part of other bands, so she had to look for new members for the orchestra she wanted to form.

However, the artist has absolutely no regrets about how things have turned out in her career and is grateful for the path she has traveled, despite the circumstances.