The name of the city of Barquisimeto continues to be known as the musical capital of Venezuela.

Characteristic by which, for years, is national and international reference and for proof of this, excellent musicians born in this city, who triumph and shine with their own light, demonstrating quality and versatility in all Latin rhythms stand out.

And today’s character in “Salsa Escrita” is the multi-instrumentalist Jorge Gregorio Rojas Perozo, artistically known as Jorge “El Papi” Rojas, extraordinary tres player, guitarist, bassist, arranger, composer, producer and teacher of Latin rhythms and tumbaos.

“El Papi”, as he is commonly known, was born on November 28th in the city of Crepuscular and from a very young age he started in this wonderful art of music, studying at the Vicente Emilio Sojo Music Conservatory.

Welcome Jorge to “Salsa Escrita”, through International Salsa Magazine, www.salsagoogle.com our readers want to know your wide and successful trajectory.

Thank you Professor Carlos Colmenárez for giving me the opportunity to appear in your well read and well known salsa column.

Jorge, tell us in general terms, with which groups have you been part of?

Professor, in 1986 I was director and founder of Grupo Identidad Caribe, in the salsa genre, then in 1987, founder of Grupo Miyare, also salsa.

From 1988 to 1992, director of the Orquesta Profecía (Christian salsa); 1996 to 2003, director of the Orquesta Monumental. From 2003 to 2008 I was director of the Epsilon Band (rock-pop) with music from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s and from 2003 to 2010, bass player, accompanying on tours in Venezuela of: Henry Stephen, Trino Mora, Los Tres Tristes Tigres, Carlos Moreno, Los Pasteles Verdes, Los Ángeles Negros, Mirtha Pérez, Tania and Leo Dan; from 2007 to 2009, accompanying musician for singers: Mervin Rodriguez, Aurita Uribarri and Marco Molina.

In 2012 to the present, tres player of “Sasón Latino”; in 2018, musical director of the Orquesta Siete Mangos y una Flor.

Today I direct the salsa group “Coimbre” and in parallel I am recording my own production of salsa and sones with lyrics and arrangements of my authorship to provide a contribution to Latin music from the state of Lara.

Also, I am giving virtual classes of Latin rhythms and tumbaos in the Cuban tres, bass and guitar, both nationally and internationally.

Very interesting and admirable your trajectory; Jorge, by the way, I remember a performance of you with the “Orquesta Profecía”, alternating with the “Estrellas de Fania” in the Municipal Coliseum of Barquisimeto, how was that experience? Well professor, it was an unforgettable experience, to be sharing the stage with Ismael Miranda, Larry Harlow, Bobby Valentin, Richie Ray, Bobby Cruz, Pete “Conde” Rodriguez and Jhonny Pacheco; in an unforgettable night, where we opened that concert, taking pleasant impressions from the audience and salsa specialists.

And I tell you professor, besides alternating with Fania here in Barquisimeto, we also did it in the Poliedro of Caracas, in a tour made by them in our country in 1993.

And as for international tours, which countries have you visited? Professor Carlos, I had the honor of performing in the brother country of Neogranadino with the salsa group “Coimbre”, where the Colombian salsa public enjoyed the Afro-Caribbean music, made by musicians from Barquisimeto; visiting the cities of Cucuta and Medellin.

Recently we accompanied the sonero Ramoncito Mendez in his show at the end of 2019, here in the state of Lara. Current projects “Papi”, what do you have out there? Friend Carlos, at the moment, as I told you at the beginning, I am finishing my production and simultaneously I am teaching online classes, with people from abroad.

What are your digital platforms? They are, Facebook: Jorge El Papi Rojas; phone +58 426 3531337; email: [email protected]. Finally, on behalf of Salsa Escrita, we would like to congratulate you for your vast and interesting artistic career and we hope you continue to succeed in our country and abroad, with the help of God Almighty.

Thank you Professor Carlos Colmenárez, for the interview in your salsa column, very grateful and I wish you long life to continue supporting and projecting the musicians from Barquisimeto, Venezuela and around the world.

Jorge El Papi Rojas

You can read: Henry Valladares, a brilliant, versatile, and disciplined percussionist

On September 7th in the province of Baharona in Batey 7, Dominican Republic, Michel Batista or better known as Michel “El Buenon” was born, he is a singer and composer.

Considered the most sought after salsa singer, he is a man with a big heart and a story worth admiring, because despite all the vicissitudes he went through during his childhood and youth, he became great, as his grandmother Dona Crisiana instilled in him.

From a very young age he attended Sunday school at the Baptist church with his mother Crisiana Abraham, with whom he attended the evangelical church shepherded by herself, where he also sang in the church choir on Sundays.

In elementary school she participated in a music festival where she won first place at only 8 years of age.

Later she competed in a regional festival in the town of Barahona in the radio station Radio Barahona, winning first place at the age of 12.

He then migrated from the south to the city of Santo Domingo, where he began singing in bars, nightclubs and hotels like the Sheratton, Napolitano, El Embajador.

In addition to the resorts Talanquera, Casa de Campo Sosua, Puerto Plata, among others.

At the beginning he was part of the Tabú Combo, a group from Puerto Príncipe based in New York City, recording hits such as “Inflaciones General”, “La Llave”, “Relimen” and composing the song “Apipi”, known in French and in Spanish as “El Jardinero”, which he recorded with his friend Wilfrido Vargas.

He would later be part of Johnny Ventura’s orchestra for 5 years, from 1982 to 1987.

He recorded the song “Tuyo Más Que Tuyo” by Bienvenido Fabián, then he joined again the Tabú Combo Superstar orchestra with Adolfo Chanci, its director.

In 1995 he went solo and recorded his first salsa CD titled “Amigo De Qué”, which was played all over Latin America, occupying for 12 weeks the first place of the radio station La Mega in the city of New York.

Later he released his second album “Brujería”, and seven others: “De Ahí Nadie Como Él” (2001), “100% Sabroso” (2002), “Llego Michel El Buenon” (2005), “Víveme” (2005) and “Extrañándote” (2005), which contained ballads interpreted in the rhythm of salsa in the style of “El Buenon”, this production has unpublished songs of Michel himself such as “Que Te Vaya Bonito” and “Yo Que Me Lo Creo”.

Throughout his career he has been winner of the Casandra Awards 2005-2006-2007 and nominated in 2008 and 2011.

Among his languages interpreting songs are English, Portuguese, Italian, Papiamiento, Creole, Spanish and French as he did in the song “Se Finit” by Charles Asnabul and the song Wonderful World in tribute to Mr. Luis Armstrong.

In his repertoire of the most outstanding songs in 2008 are “La Primavera”, “Cuando Los Sapos Bailan Flamenco”, “La Playa”, “Víveme”, “Tú Ni Te Lo Imaginas”, “Hoy Daría Yo La Vida”, “Me Has Echado Al Olvido”, “A La Primer Persona” and “Wonderful World”, all with hits and diffusion in all the radios and discotheques of his country.

Among his most outstanding albums in the last ten years are “Extrañándote”, “Todo Terreno”, “Estilo Y Conciencia”, “Arriba Siempre De Pura Sangre”, “Reserva Especial Impecable”, “El Insuperable De La Salsa” and “Claro, Fino, Nítido, Control Total”.

Throughout his career he has traveled to all of Europe, the United States, the Lesser Antilles, Switzerland, England, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Mexico, Curacao, La Reunion, Tahiti, Africa, Japan, Dubai and Colombia, the latter was where he recorded the video clip of his song “Maldito El Tiempo” written by Alexander Pires.

Michel “El Buenon”

You can read: Génesis de la Salsa, su esencia, características, ritmo, historia y expansión