Magazine
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SALSA FEST SPECIAL EDITION 2019
Dear Reader:
a publication of:
Welcome to the Salsa Fest Special Edition of Go Bronx Magazine. This issue is dedicated to the music genre that has played a significant role in this borough and has taken the world by storm. Our good friend music historian, Elena Martinez, contributed a great piece that tells the story of the roots of Salsa (see page 4) and we have a slew of great events happening throughout the borough. The Bronx Summer Concert Series is in full swing and the lineup this year is off the hook (see page 6)! We are excited to celebrate Bronx Salsa Fest and encourage you to put on your dancing shoes and come to the beach, parks, or Bronx Brewery and move to the rhythms. If you see me, I promise I will dance with you! Bronxfully yours, Olga Luz Tirado Editor-in-Chief, Go Bronx Magazine Executive Director, The Bronx Tourism Council
TABLE OF CONTENTS Salsa Fest Calendar
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The Bronx: El Condado de la Salsa
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Bronx Walk of Fame Inductees
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SALSAFEST EDITION, 2019 Olga Luz Tirado Executive Director Sofia Thierfelder Grifoll Deputy Director Ashley Velez Tourism Administrator 851 Grand Concourse, Ste. 123 Bronx, NY 10451 718.590.3518 www.ilovethebronx.com Go Bronx Magazine is a digital publication of The Bronx Tourism Council (BTC). Contents and design Š 2019, all rights reserved. Reproduction or alterations without written permission is strictly prohibited. Every effort was made to ensure accuracy of the information in this guide as of press time. However, BTC assumes no responsibility for errors, changes or omissions. BTC makes no endorsement, representation or warranty regarding the suitability, quality or availability of any goods or services advertised or listed in this publication. Listings and advertisements may have been provided by the subject companies and BTC shall not be responsible or liable for any inaccuracy, omission or infringement of any third party’s rights therein, or for personal injury or any other damage or injury whatsoever.
Photo Credit: Olga Luz Tirado
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Salsa Events JULY 25 SALSA NIGHT IN THE BRONX 6PM – 10PM | $10 | Happening every last Thursday of the month until September! Salsa night in the Boogie Down is back! Bring your dancing shoes and get ready to dance the night away. Good music. Great beer. Better company. Learn more and buy your tickets HERE. Bronx Brewery, 856 East 136th Street
AUGUST 1 BAREFOOT DANCING 6:30 pm | Free Barefoot dancing with Edwin M. Ferreras (Bachata & Merengue) Kick off your shoes and dance on the lush, green Van Cortlandt House Museum Lawn. Free dance instruction and live music. To see full schedule click HERE. Van Cortlandt Park House Museum, W 246th & Broadway
JULY 26 LALO RODRIGUEZ / LOS HERMANOS MORENO / DJ LUCHO 7pm – 9pm | Free As a solo artist, Lalo Rodriguez was a star of the salsa romantica era in the late 80s/early 90s, cracking the Billboard top 10 with the saucy 1988 single “Ven, devórame otra vez” (Come, devour me again). He’s joined by brothers William and Nelson Moreno— better known as Los Hermanos Moreno-a duo formed in New Jersey in 1989 known for their aggressive salsa style and intricate arrangements. Affectionately known as “Nelson the babyface” and “Willie the killer,” the pair made the latin charts in the 90s with their salsa hits “Sopa de Pichón” and “Quimbombo.” To see full schedule click HERE. Summer Stage Concert Series; Soundview Park, Bronx River Avenue between Lafayette Avenue and Surf Drive
JULY 31 RAY DE LA PAZ / EDGAR JOEL & ANTHONY COLON / DJ KAMALA 7pm—9pm | Free Puerto Rican salsero Ray De La Paz was born in Spanish Harlem and grew up in The Bronx, and cemented his salsa pedigree early in his career on four albums with with legendary conguero Ray Baretto. He’s joined by another boricua salsero, Edgar Joel, who got his start with La Combinación Latina before partnering with the vocalist Anthony Colon to craft songs with classic salsa rhythms and romantic lyrics. Summer Stage Concert Series; Crotona Park, 1700 Crotona Avenue
Photo Courtesy of Wave Hill
AUGUST 7 SUNSET WEDNESDAY: BRONX SALSAFEST CHINO PONS & GRUPO IRÉK 7pm – 8pm | $6 – $12 One of New York City’s quintessential Salsa groups, Chino Pons and Grupo Irék, launches SalsaFest at Wave Hill this summer. Learn more and register HERE. Wave Hill, West 249th Street and Independence Avenue
Continued on page 7
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The Bronx: El Condado de La Salsa by Elena Martínez
years they were producing music with Afro-Cuban rhythms played by Latinos in New York City, the majority of which were Nuyoricans (New Yorkers of Puerto Rican descent). The term “salsa” had been bandied about before and used in songs since Septeto Nacional recorded “Echalé Salsita” in Cuba in the 1930s. However, the word gained currency after the U.S. embargo against Cuba when Masucci and Pacheco adopted it to describe the music their label produced. Fania literally spread “salsa” by releasing the movies, Our Latin Thing (1972) and Salsa (1975), both directed by Leon Gast. In bringing “salsa” to the community, the label was Photo Credit: Marisol Diaz
Some may not be aware that the “Boogie Down Bronx” goes by another moniker. The Bronx is also known as El Condado de la Salsa, and as of 2011 The Bronx Tourism Council instituted Bronx Salsa Fest, a month-long festival of the music, the legends, the dance. When you talk to old school salsa aficionados, they will fondly talk about Fania, a
had come of age in the 1960s and weren’t into the big band mambo sounds of their parents, however, they were inspired by the R&B and rock and roll of AM radio and the British invasion. So in the late ‘60s the young Latino community began listening (and creating) Latin bugalú which was a fusion of African-American R&B and Afro-Cuban music, particularly cha cha chá and son montuno. This
record label that made Afro-Cuban-
music had none of the sophistication of the
based dance music a worldwide
Afro-Cuban jazz and mambo performed by the
phenomenon. This was embodied at the
Three Mambo Kings—Machito, Tito Puente,
August 24th, 1973 Fania All-Stars
and Tito Rodríguez— and it was sung in English.
concert at Yankee Stadium which
By 1968, with industry insiders and established
featured some of the top Salsa performers. Fania was the brain child of former New York City police officer and divorce lawyer from Brooklyn, Jerry Masucci and his partner, Dominican bandleader and flautist, Johnny Pacheco who grew up in the Mott Haven district of The Bronx. Formed in 1964 the music that the Fania label produced was considered revolutionary. In its formative
up against young Latinos in New York City who
bandleaders of the old guard refusing to accept it, bugalú began to fade and the sounds of Fania enervated the young Latino community. The Afro-Cuban rhythms remained in the forefront, but the musical arrangements leaned toward either the old guard Cuban conjunto sound or the more updated New York City power trombone style with trumpets. The music, once again sung in Spanish, reconnected many to their culture. Musical icons, that are still revered today PAGE 4
recorded and performed for Fania: Ray Barretto, Cheo Feliciano, Hector Lavoe, Willie Colón, Larry Harlow, Roberto Roena, Rubén Blades, Celia Cruz, La Sonora Ponceña, Pete “El Conde” Rodríguez, Adalberto Santiago, Ismael Miranda, Yomo Toro, and Barry Rogers to name just a few. Musicians from The Bronx played a significant role in Fania and were members of the Fania All-Stars (the label’s super group). Johnny Pacheco, Pete “El Conde,” Willie Colón, Eddie Montalvo, Nicky Marrero, and Ray Barretto grew up in The Bronx. Yomo Toro and Hector Lavoe
migrated from Puerto Rico. La Lupe was from Cuba. But they all settled here. Performers who graced the stage with the Fania All-Stars such as Mongo Santamaria also made The Bronx their home at one point in their lives. The Bronx’s soundscape has new Latino music sounds including the Dominican bachata, but salsa still remains a part of the borough’s legacy and identity. Elena Martinez is a folklorist with City Lore and the Co-Artistic Director of the Bronx Music Heritage Center. She is the Co-Producer of the award-winning documentary, From Mambo to Hip Hop: A South Bronx Tale.
Photo Credit: Ricardo Muniz
SALSA STARS INDUCTED ONTO THE BRONX WALK OF FAME Dave Valentin Yomo Toro Johnny Pacheco Ray Barretto Willie Colon
2000 2000 2001 2002 2004
Eddie Palmieri Charlie Palmieri La India Bobby Sanabria Miguel Amadeo PAGE 5
2005 2005 2006 2006 2013
AUGUST 17 BRONX RISING!: THE HIDDEN LEGACY OF ALEGRE RECORDS 7:00 pm | $5—$7 Before there was Fania Records, there was Alegre Records and the Casalegre Record store in The Bronx. This program will feature a discussion by some of the musicians who were part of the Alegre story as they recount its legacy including Orlando Marín, timbalero and bandleader, Mike Amadeo, proprietor of the longest contiunallyrun Latin music store in NYC, Bobby Marín, producer who used to work at Casalegre and Chris Rogers, jazz musician and son of Alegre All-Star, Barry Rogers. It will be moderated by Bobby Sanabria and followed by a musical performance in tribute to the Alegre All-Stars by Oreste “Kidd Ore” Abrantes y Su Orquesta. Bronx Music Heritage Center, 1303 Louis Nine Blvd
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