Search Results for: salsa
Jimena Verano León
Latin America / Colombia / Bogota
There are many people who work in the musical field, whether they are artists, teachers, promoters, among others, who achieve their goals through hard work, perseverance and love for the realization of their dream. On this occasion we will meet Jimena Verano León, who was born in 1974 (44 years old) in Bogotá, Colombia. He mentions that from the age of 5 he is a salsa dancer thanks to his father who is a musician, who worked with prestigious Colombian Orchestras that marked his musical taste, among the songs that he liked the most are “El Gran Combo“, “Richie Ray” and Andy Montanez.
At the age of 15, she began her music theory studies at “La Sinfónica Juvenil de Bogotá”, but a year later she decided to continue her basic, secondary studies and then become a business administrator and thus start running her own business, starting in 2014. created the “VERANOPRODUCCIONES”, says that despite the difficult situations that arose in her life, they did not stop her from moving forward, giving her more strength in her music business.
The main objective of his company is to represent and promote new artists internationally. He mentions that he has a video channel known as “SALSA CAMARÁ” and a music magazine called “TÚ VOZ 0LATINA COLOMBIA” which is about to be released; both are used to promote Latin singers and groups.

The most important things for her in life are: her son, the artists and her country, which she wants to reach very high on a global level, showing as an example the fighting and hard-working people in this area, where everything is possible with perseverance and positive mind.
For more information:
Toñito Laya
Latinoamerica / Venezuela / Caracas
On this occasion we have the privilege of meeting the new Venezuelan talent Toñito Laya (singer), son of Maestro Antonio “20 DEDOS” Laya, who was one of the most significant conga players in the Venezuelan salsa movement in the 1980s, director of the “ Banbankere Orchestra” of Petare with two musical productions; giving him more than enough reason to grow in Latin music, such as “el Son”, “la Rumba“, “la Guaracha”, “el Danzón”, “Boogaloo”, “la Timba” and “la Salsa” being This is the beginning of his artistic and musical career.
Starting in the 90s, he (Toñito Laya) entered the Bigott Foundation where he had the opportunity not only to learn the various rhythms in Afro-Venezuelan percussion, but also developed as a dancer in one of the most important groups in Venezuela when it comes to popular traditions. “Vasallos del Sol”, eventually becoming “Vasallos de Venezuela” in 2016, where he had 16 concerts, productions, albums and national and international tours; Colombia, Mexico, United States, South Korea and Japan, among others.

In 2006, a project called “Comprehensive School of Latin Tradition Dance 100% Tumbao” began, where many dancers were trained in the Cuban Salsa Casino genre, combining this training with Venezuelan traditions, making them understand that traditions come first. Venezuelans. Then they participated in the most important events and competitions in Venezuela, they even became Latin American Champions of “CUBAMEMUCHO 2009” in the city of Caracas-Venezuela, thus managing to represent the country in the grand final to be held in the city of Munich-Germany, 2010.
He also tells us that in 2009, they were invited to participate in a new project but this time not to dance, but to “sing” in a group that by then had no name but a particular genre such as “Son Cubano” . From that moment Toñito began his musical career to develop in a somewhat unexpected way, he was a founder and assumed the commitment of being in charge of this group as one of its leading singers for more than 7 years, where the themes arose: To me that, La Ruñidera, Bilongo, El Jamaiquino, I hear a drum, among others; They were part of his first musical repertoire.
With two record productions together with the already structured band “La Séptima Bohemia” he consolidated his musical career as a singer, going through a training process with different teachers and vocal coaches such as: Ronald González, Fanny Olano, Gustavo Gerardo and Marcial Istúriz, among others. others, who would help him develop in the middle of music.
National tours, award nominations and concerts allowed him to share the stage alongside large-scale national and international groups such as: Francisco Pacheco, Canelita Medina, Alexander Abre y su Habana de Primera, Manolito y su Trabuco, El Septeto Santiaguero, José Alberto “El Canario” to mention a few. Toñito records for the year 2012, the song “She takes me”, a song that in turn would be the title of the second album becoming an icon of parties, dances and social events not only in Venezuela but in many salsa and salsa dancing countries. casino in the world.
In the year 2016 Toñito Laya arrives in Aztec land to embark on a new path, he begins by residing in the city of Cancun-Mexico to sing in some local groups and participate in various projects such as: Los Panas.com, La Formula Perfecta, Grupo Swing Latin among others.
This new stage as an artist prompts him to consider a new musical challenge but this time as a solo singer with a well-defined and focused vision, his pleasant experience as a dancer motivates him to dedicate his first promotional single “ABRE QUE VOY”, this being the complement of an orchestra, for the musicians and their singers “EL BAILADOR”.
“ABRE QUE VOY” is the result of the work of talented and renowned Venezuelan musicians who give an important plus to this Musical production of “Maurice Melo”, this first single is created, performed by Toñito Laya, in the company of the Venezuelan talent of the following musicians:
- Piano and arrangement: Joel Uriola.
- Bass: Jesús Torres “Mandinga”
- Percussion: Yomar Méndez “Caballo”
- Trombone: Jhonal Rivero.
- Trumpet: Edward Platter.
- Baritone sax: Michel Peña.
- Choirs: William “Wywy” Buznego, Carlos Guzmán and Ramfis Fajardo.
- Recorded in the studio: A Tempo Records by Heyzer Cabrera.
- Mixing and Mastering: Heyzer Cabrera. Caracas – Venezuela 2018
If you want to meet or contact Toñito, you can follow him through:
- Correo: [email protected]
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonito.laya
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUkjU7SFnPc_W-XJDlMMzRg
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonitolaya/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/negrolaya
Leo Mendoza and “El Sonero Natural”
Latin America / Venezuela / Caracas
Get to know the new song “El Sonero Natural” by Leo Mendoza
Did you know that great international musical talents have emerged in Venezuela? This is due to the fact that in this Latin land, the seasoning is experienced, the joy is experienced, the desire to excel is seen, they demonstrate their talent to all those who see and listen to them. In this opportunity, we have a new talent to present; Meet the Caracas musician Leonardo Mendoza, also known as “Leo Mendoza”.
He tells us that since he was a child he felt a deep inclination for music, specifically salsa, this was because his father Héctor Mendoza, a record collector, was always putting on music, from salsa bands such as: Johnny Pacheco, Héctor Lavoe, Oscar D León, Rubén Blades, Willie Colon, among others.

This was only the first indication of his inclination and dedication to music, especially to singing in the salsa genre, practicing his favorite artists even within his family gatherings; Starting in 2008, he joined the group “Salsa Son y Fuego”, where he worked for 2 years, and thus continued his path of musical training until in 2016, participating in a festival organized by the Mayor’s Office of Caracas, he competed with a theme of his authorship entitled “Sonero al Natural” receiving the ovation and acceptance of the viewing public.

The qualifying jury was made up of Mariana Guevara the “Sonera de Venezuela”, Cheo Valenzuela “El Sonero de la Dulzura”, Juan José “el Indio” Hernández and the teacher Andy Durán, with their participation he managed to achieve 3 mentions, best unpublished song, 2nd place as interpreter and best arrangement of the song “Sonero al Natural” by Maestro José “Tuky” Torres, on this occasion he presents his first single “Sonero al Natural”, which is an invitation to good rumba and feeling sonero… If you want to know more about Leo Mendoza or his new musical theme, find out through:
- Instagram: @lendozab
- Twitter: @lendozab
- Facebook: Leo Mendoza
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: +58 424-1420962
- YouTube of “Sonero Natural” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83cXHeQXO0E&feature=share
Brisa Tropical con Taino
North America / USA / Oklahoma
Brisa Tropical con Taino. The Oklahoma´s Salsero program in Spanish
For almost 30 years, the state of Oklahoma has among its ranks of entertainment, “Brisa Tropical con Taino”, the first spanish radio show with Salsero sound, made especially for the Latin community in the country.
Its creator, founder, host and producer is the Puerto Rican Lino “Taino” Roldán Torres, a Disabled Vietnam and Persian Gulf wars Veteran, salsa lover, who together with his wife Carmen decided to undertake this project for the Latin market unattended for so many years.

This pioneering program began its transmission for the first time in 1992, through the Amplitude Modulation (AM) dial. At first, this format had three hours of broadcast of only Tropical Music in its programming, novelty that made him a creditor of a preferential site in Frequency Modulation (FM) in 1995, with a duration of one hour in addition to the one established at the beginning in the AM circuit.
This way, Brisa Tropical con Taino had a total of four hours of continuous Latin music with advertising spaces, musical information and artists´ biographies, these transmissions lasted 18 uninterrupted years in that radio space.

“AN ANNOUNCER SHOULD FOCUS ON THE MUSIC AND LEAVE ASIDE ANY OTHER SUBJECTS THAT ARE NOT APPROPRIATE.”
Lino started with the idea of a Latin program for Latinos at a Local Radio Station when he arrived in Oklahoma after his work in the military in the early 90’s, at the same time, this retired military man with 23 years of service also worked as a DJ in two European countries: Italy and Germany. “… When I arrived to Oklahoma, I noticed the absence of a radio station in Spanish of tropical rhythms, such as Salsa, Merengue, Etc.

I went to several radio stations, but they were not interested in having a program in Spanish. I went to the commercial establishments of the city and told them about my idea that would bring them a market that was unexplored (the Hispanic market). The merchants and other commercial institutions immediately told me that they would give me their support. I presented the idea to an AM station, and they accepted it. (My goal was FM, but this opened the doors)”, Taino told us.
Currently, Brisa Tropical con Taino is developed only by network 2.0 since 2015, going from a Radio Program to a Digital Salsera Station with 24 hours programming each day with live interruptions between 10AM and 3PM, using that is commonly known as “Voice Track” for the rest of the time.
With this change, this interactive Web Station based in the city of Jenks, south of Tulsa in Oklahoma, has managed to obtain a loyal and numerous audience in Europe, the Caribbean, all of Latin America, the United States, and especially in remote areas such as: Iraq and Afghanistan, where the station fulfills a gratifying mission, as they carry greetings from the hundreds of soldiers deployed in those war zones to their relatives in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
The also sociologist, Lino Roldan, along with his wife and great collaborating friends, are responsible for producing the varied programming for all Salseras generations all week, as well as to bring information capsules about Health, Consumer, Home Security, Maintenance of automobiles, etc., always with the firm purpose of bringing entertainment and, at the same time, education for the listening public.

“… LA SALSA LLEGÓ PARA QUEDARSE Y ES MUNDIAL”
This non-profit digital broadcaster is committed to the community, sponsoring Salsa events (without cost) such as: cruises and artist presentations, as well as helping to promote several activities of various organizations. In the same way, they are always present and united with the community in cases of emergencies such as natural disasters caused by the past hurricanes Mitch (1998) and María (2017), collaborating with the collection of food for the victims.
Lino “Taino” Roldán, as a good Salsa lover, hopes to continue praising this tropical music for many years, transmitting through his digital station different interpreters’ songs from all over the world, and to continue with this important work and pasion, Lino and Carmen need to raise $1000 in the account opened in “Go Fund Me” for maintenance expenses and music royalties that they promote. Would you like to help them?

“… AT MY AGE, PROJECTS AND GOALS ARE DONE EVERY DAY. I FEEL HAPPY WITH WHAT I DO”. Lino Roldán
For more information, please visit www.brisatropical.com or download the app for Smartphone Radio La Brisa Tropical.



