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Search Results for: salsa
Songoyó the perfect idea Experimental Cuban Son Group with its own style
Songoyó is an experimental musical group of the Cuban son genre with a particular style, since it fuses many musical rhythms, born on the initiative of Professor John “Goyo” Useche, on November 11, 2021 in La Victoria, Aragua State, Venezuela.
In order to unite Victorian musicians and start putting together songs by the remembered Madera Group, icon of the Caracas parish of San Agustín in Marín, and thus present themselves at the Guataca Salsera, which takes place every December 31 at the Madera 15 court, located in the Las Mercedes urbanization of the same town.
The idea immediately begins to take shape and that is when Professor John “Goyo” decides to communicate his project to Shinaury Rojas, a personal friend of many years, who at that time was based in Argentina, then informs the poet guitarist Rafael Pérez who was in Brazil and knew by reference of salsa groups via the web. Communication was fluid and accepted, regardless of the distance. John, Rafael and Shinaury embody everything that Songoyó is today.
It should be noted that the first name of the Victorian group was Son Madera 15, due to the loyalty that is maintained with the Madera 15 foundation, then it was changed to Sabor Madera 15 and finally they decided to name it “Songoyó” as the definitive name.
The communication was continuous and they immediately began to organize the activities that had to be carried out to group the musicians who were willing to belong to the group, musicians were contacted by phone and in person, finally the interested parties were grouped and the rehearsals began in an accelerated manner at Professor John’s house, to fulfill the main objective which was the presentation at the Guataca Salsera at the end of the year, in that 2021.
From that moment until the present, there have been many musicians who have passed through the son group, including the young music teacher Willian Herrera who is assigned the task of directing the group, the rehearsals are given and four songs are put together that were played at the Guataca Salsera achieving total success in said presentation causing the acceptance and applause of all those present.
By January 2022, the creator of the group calls the musicians and proposes to continue the project, achieving the acceptance of all. In the following months they contacted maestro Fael Alvarado, an expert musician who knows the TRES very well, the base instrument of the Cuban son, who agreed to join the project and professor William Herrera gave the musical direction to maestro Fael.
In February of that same year, the second presentation was made before a large audience at the Juventud de la Victoria festivities on Paseo La Juventud and Songoyó was again liked by the public.
The rehearsals continued, and it was maestro Fael himself as musical director, who proposed to everyone to create their own style with songs that belonged to the group and to have a unique sound in order to accept more contracts from then on.
In January 2024, the recording of the first and unpublished production of Songoyó “EL NEGRITO BEMBA” began under the creation and pen of the poet Rafael Pérez and the general recording direction of maestro Fael, in the recording studio “Fael Alvarado” in San Mateo, Aragua State. This recording was a huge success and can be found on various digital platforms, Its release took place in January 2025, with a great acceptance.
From that moment on, the group began to be sold and promoted for public and private events inside and outside Venezuela.
Currently, there are 8 musicians that make up the group: Norberto Machado, güiro voice, Noel Machado, clave voice and percussion direction, Rafael Pérez, maracas voice, Alexis Tovar, tres, Edwin González, bass, Jonhy Vergara, tumbadoras, Fael Alvarado, tres, piano, violin and musical director, and John Goyo, bongo and general direction.
“SONGOYÓ, THEY ARE AS WE ARE”
For hiring, contact Professor Useche by phone at
+58 424-3212762
Instagram: Songoyo
Facebook: Songoyo
Research and Writing Source:
Mariana “The Sonera of Venezuela and for the world”
Janett Guevara García, artistically known as Mariana “La Sonera de Venezuela”, was born in La Pastora, Caracas on January 19, daughter of Reina García and Vicente Guevara.
Daughter of Reyna García and Vicente Guevara, she is the oldest of six siblings and from a very young age she showed her taste for music; an activity that has been her eternal passion, and has led her to make 12 record productions.
She is the oldest of six siblings and from a very young age she showed her taste for music; an activity that has been her eternal passion and has led her to make six record productions.
Educated in a convent school, she always participated and stood out in cultural events, until on one occasion she was suspended for telling the mother superior that there was a song called “La Cárcel” by Septeto Juventud that she wanted to sing at a cultural event.
At the age of 14, during her high school education, she learned to play drums and participated in the choir of the Caricuao Parish church where she lived.
As the years went by, Mariana was invited by Mr. Naty Martinez to a rehearsal, who was impressed when he heard her and decided to make a musical production.
That is when Mariana’s true pilgrimage began, going through stages earning the admiration of salsa greats.
In past years, she received praise from Queen Celia Cruz and has the guarantee and support of the singers of the Fania Stars, the Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, José Alberto El Canario and even her great friend and fellow countryman Oscar D’León.
Mariana has been worthy of awards such as “El Congo de Oro” at the Barranquilla salsa festival.
She has been praised by personalities such as Don Tite Curet Alonzo. Mariana alternates her exciting career with the media, where she has a radio program dedicated to our Latin music “Sonsoneando con Mariana” winner of the 2010 Excellence Award, as a popular radio space in the Vargas State Venezuela.
She recently participated in the heartfelt tribute to the 50 years of artistic career of maestro Elio Pacheco, founder of the Latin Dimension, where she recorded an excellent song called “Al Olvido”.
She received praise from the Cuban queen Celia Cruz, and has the support of singers such as the Fania Stars, José Alberto “El Canario”, the Gran Combo de Puerto Rico and even her friend and confidant Oscar D’ León.
“Oscar represents more than a friend to me; he is like a brother. When he has a presentation in Vargas he does not hesitate to call me to see us and talk about our projects. I thank him a lot for his advice, because it has helped me to be where I am. The responsibility of being La Sonera de Venezuela falls on my shoulders.”
She has managed to release 12 musical productions. Among her best-known songs are “Frases hecha” in 1996, recorded in Peru and “Eres más fuerte que yo” by the composer Enrique Hidalgo.
Awards obtained
La Sonera has been worthy of multiple awards, including the “Congo de Oro” at the Barranquilla Salsa Festival, as well as the nomination three times in a row for the Vargas Excellence.
She has also received plaques as Female New Artist of the Year and Best Sonera in Caribbean Representation.
“I will never forget when they gave me the Catatumbo de Oro in Maracaibo, in the year 2000. It is one of my greatest achievements.”
My family is my life
At just 18 years old, Mariana became a mother for the first time. “It is something that very few people know, but my first husband mistreated me physically, verbally and psychologically. The only thing I can be thankful for from that relationship is the existence of my son.”
She is currently a speaker, producer, and host of her own radio show “SONSONEANDO CON MARIANA,” broadcast Monday through Friday from 12:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Dial Azul 95.9 FM. At the same time, she directs her own group and is part of Jeque y su Banda, the Rumberos Callejón orchestra, directed by the experienced timbalero Carlitos Padrón, where she shares the stage with Rodrigo Mendoza, Wilmer Lozano, among others.
Research Sources:
Luisana Brito, [email protected]
Also Read: “Canelita Medina” Caribbean popular music loses one of its best exponents
Oscar Rojas Oscar Rojas has 54 years of musical career full of passion, rhythm and flavor
Oscarcito Rojas and his unmistakable lump.
In Venezuela, during the years 53-54, there were cold and humid nights in the home of the Rojas Mendoza Family, located in a high area of the Pastora of beautiful Caracas, there the furniture that was outside would wake up damp, particularly a child’s chair with a colonial design, which had the back and seat made of cattle leather, which when heated by the heat of the sun became warm like the leather of a coastal drum.
That is when the restless child Oscar, barely 7 years old, discovered the sounds produced by that cured leather and began that love relationship with percussion without realizing that this would be his life; his livelihood; his passion; his everything.
He also devised a pair of congas with two milk cans of different sizes, and thus achieve different sounds in his new instrument.
By the 70s, being a talented young man and wanting to earn his own living, Oscar bought a motorcycle to work as a messenger. Unfortunately, he had an accident on it, which led to his resignation from the company. With the money he generated from the liquidation, he bought a drum kit that belonged to the illustrious Pavo Frank. This is how his foray into rock began.
Later, due to the fractures he suffered in the motorcycle accident, he could not continue playing drums, but he got involved in percussion without a drumstick, which is to say, by hand, and he started playing congas.
Óscar Eduardo Rojas Mendoza is one of the most beloved and respected conga players in the country. He is the third of five siblings (Jaime; Yolanda; Óscar; Freddy and Leibia), son of Óscar Benito Rojas (musician and cabinetmaker) and Cira de los Santos Mendoza (dressmaker).
Loved by all his family, especially by his sons Gabriel ☦️ Osduare☦️ and Enrique; and his granddaughters Gabriela and Daniela.
Born in Caracas on October 18, 1946, he began his musical career in 1970 with Ramón Hernández, continuing with a trail of figures such as: Pablo Schneider, Vytas Brenner, Victor Cuica, Oscar Maggi, Soledad Bravo, Lilia Vera, Frank Hernández (El pavo Frank), Oscar D’Leon, Chuchito Sanoja, Professor Juan Carlos Núñez, Alfredo Naranjo.
He has participated in the best Jazz festivals in the world and in the country such as the Memphis in May International Festival (Tennessee), Varadero International Festival (Cuba), V International Festival of Montreal (Canada), Festival D’te de Québec (Canada), 10 International Festival of Montreal (Canada), Mar de Plata Jazz Festival (Argentina), Curacao International Festival where he was invited by the great saxophonist Paquito D’ Rivera, in the Venezuela Jazz Festival, in the 4 Caracas Jazz Festivals, in the Jazz Festival in El Hatillo editions IV, V and VII, and in festivals in the interior of the country.
He was an active founder of salsa groups such as Oscar D’Leon, where he participated in the recording of the first 3 albums, the group Caribe Libre, Gerardo Lugo’s Incorregibles, Alfredo Naranjo’s El Guajeo, Nano Grant’s Ensemble ll, Pavo Frank and his Orchestra. He was also part of the jazz groups Oscar Maggi (Macoya), Pedrito López, Otmaro Ruiz and Víctor Cuica.
Among the national and foreign artists he has accompanied are: Trino Mora, Chucho Avellanes, Mirtha Pérez, Estelita del Llano, María Rivas, Nancy Ramos, Nancy Toro, Cheo Feliciano, Ted Cordón, Paquito de Rivera, Eddie Sansson, Aldemaro Romero, Chuchito Sanoja, Jimmy Bosch, the Venezuelan Symphony Orchestra, the Municipal Symphony Orchestra of Caracas, among others. He was the founder of the La Calle Group and the Ensemble de la Calle, ReNueve (rock group), Negros and Aparte.
He currently works as a percussionist for Maigualida and his Ensemble. He also rehearses every Wednesday at Juan Sebastián Bar “El Templo del Jazz y La Salsa” with the new Ensamble de la Calle.
He has been in a musical career for 54 years, full of passion, rhythm and flavor.
Research Sources:
Adalberto Santiago celebrates his 70th Anniversary next March
In this space, we have always worked to pay tribute to the greatest salsa legends and we consider it important that these luminaries feel the love of the public in life. That is why we want to pay homage to the man who has been a great pillar of Puerto Rican salsa as we know today. We are talking about the great singer from Ciales, Adalberto Santiago, who is celebrating the 70th anniversary of his artistic career. Here is a summary of his brilliant career.
Adalberto’s beginnings in music
The sonero began his career by participating in trios, which he accompanied with his voice, guitar, bass and even his dance moves. This was something very few artists did at the time, which is why this young man drew a lot of attention at that time.
He got to play with Chuíto Vélez and Willie Rosario, but his career really took off when he was given a chance to join the orchestra of Ray Barreto, which is when he managed to internationalize thanks to several albums that continue to be chanted by salsa fans until today such as ‘’Acid’’ or ‘’Rican Struction’’. Then, together with several members of this orchestra, he founded La Tipica 73, which revived Cuban son.
Adalberto as an established artist
In the 1980s, he became part of the orchestra of Roberto Roena and got to perform famous songs such as ‘’Yo tenía una mujer’’. He is also known for co-producing the album ‘’Calidad’’ with his compatriot Papo Lucca, who arranged one of the tracks and was responsible for all the musical direction.
Some time later, he made a new version of the famous album ‘’Sex Symbol’’, becoming successful in countries such as Colombia, Peru and Venezuela. For this recording, the artist had the support of Isidro Infante in the area of production and arrangements. This is considered one of the most legendary musical works of the singer’s extensive career, to the point that many salseros around the world remember it fondly.
During all these years, Adalberto has been the author of a great number of songs for many world-famous albums in which he has participated, either as a bandleader or lead singer. Despite the worldwide fame he has achieved, he always maintains loyalty for his Latin roots and, in his own words, the structure of Latin music is the most appropriate for his voice and singing style.
In addition to that, the artist has always had the capability and experience to move through many Latin genres such as salsa, merengue, pachanga, cumbia, bomba, plena, boogaloo, guaracha, pachanga, among many others.
He has always tried to maintain his physical and vocal discipline to continue giving the best of himself to his audience despite the years.
Celebrating his anniversary
As we said at the beginning, the great Adalberto Santiago is about to celebrate his 70th anniversary as an artist, an event that of course is to be celebrated big.
As a way of celebrating and thanking his public for all the support he has received, the singer has decided to hold a concert at the Lehman University of Performing Arts in New York City, more specifically in the Bronx, on Saturday, March 22 at 8PM.
His fans have remained loyal all this time, so we have no doubt that he and his special guests will make everyone dance, making this event an unforgettable evening.
Read also: Milonga’s contribution to Latin music in general
