Dominican Salseros- Where Are They?

[miguel]

Her it goes!!

Ok guys, I don't know if you ALL are aware but:

"RE-ISSUES OF CLASSIC FANIA RECORDINGS HIT SHELVES"!!!!!.

Let me post the article:

"It's a salsa fan's dream come true- the priceless catalogue of the legendary Fania label- a treasure trove of classic music that provided the sound-track to the lives of a generation of New York Latinos- WILL be reissued in a massive campaign that began yesterday with the release of 30 seminar titles".

"Founded by bandleader Johnny Pacheco and the late ex-NYPD cop Jerry Masucci in 1964, salsa spearheaded the New York salsa explosion of the 1970's through classic releases by Hector Lavoe, Ruben Blades, Willie Colon, Celia Cruz and Eddie Palmieri".

"We are not altering sound. We're remastering the original tapes and getting the absolutely best sound out of them. New liner notes, written by famed musicologists, will be included in Spanish and English. Each of the CD's will have the original artwork"

The price of the catalogue can not be told because of confidentiality agreements, but that the assests- over 1,300 albums- had been in probate court after the death of Masucci. "Billboard magazine has placed it's value between 9 and 12 million".

"The initial batch of 30 discs released includes salsa jewels such as Ruben Blades and Willie Colon's "Siembra", Rey Barretto's "Acid", Hector Lavoe's 1975 session "La Voz", as well as recording by Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Eddie and Charlie Palmieri, Cheo Feliciano, Orquesta Harlow, Joe Cuba, and more. Each month more CD's will hit the market".

"There is a ceiling of 300 releases planned, at US $12.99 each, and at a rate of 16 per month. They will be widely available in record stores and on the Internet".

What do you guys think?. Not bad huh?.

Man, I am in heaven, SALSA HEAVEN THAT IS!!!!!.

 

[macocael]

Reissue of Salsa Hits

Meant to get to this earlier. I didnt know that these recordings were not available, or is there another reason for this new distribution (Like better sound quality, remastered tapes, whatever)? I always bought all my more esoteric recordings at the famous little store over on East 116th near Lex or 3rd. The guy who owns it has been there for decades and you would sometimes meet some of the salseros themselves buying things there. A great institution.

However, if these recordings are becoming hard to find, then I applaud Fania (or the parent company) for doing this. Now, will the surviving salseros profit from this?

 

[miguel]

Meant to get to this earlier. I didnt know that these recordings were not available, or is there another reason for this new distribution (Like better sound quality, remastered tapes, whatever)? I always bought all my more esoteric recordings at the famous little store over on East 116th near Lex or 3rd. The guy who owns it has been there for decades and you would sometimes meet some of the salseros themselves buying things there. A great institution.

However, if these recordings are becoming hard to find, then I applaud Fania (or the parent company) for doing this. Now, will the surviving salseros profit from this?

The botom line is that it's a legal matter and I guess that Masucci, even after his death, can not bring himself to give some back after he stole so much.

Since it's a songs catalog, I believe that whomever bought it is the one that will make all the money. The salseros, I believe, will get nothing. That's a shame!.

 

[deelt]

Wow! I just love Siembra. Ruben Blades just quality all the time. Political AND on POINT. But old school with me is Johnny Pacheco all the way to DR and BACK. Celia Cruz...well, I still cry when I think of the loss.

Ok guys, I don't know if you ALL are aware but:

"RE-ISSUES OF CLASSIC FANIA RECORDINGS HIT SHELVES"!!!!!.

Let me post the article:

"It's a salsa fan's dream come true- the priceless catalogue of the legendary Fania label- a treasure trove of classic music that provided the sound-track to the lives of a generation of New York Latinos- WILL be reissued in a massive campaign that began yesterday with the release of 30 seminar titles".

"Founded by bandleader Johnny Pacheco and the late ex-NYPD cop Jerry Masucci in 1964, salsa spearheaded the New York salsa explosion of the 1970's through classic releases by Hector Lavoe, Ruben Blades, Willie Colon, Celia Cruz and Eddie Palmieri".

"We are not altering sound. We're remastering the original tapes and getting the absolutely best sound out of them. New liner notes, written by famed musicologists, will be included in Spanish and English. Each of the CD's will have the original artwork"

The price of the catalogue can not be told because of confidentiality agreements, but that the assests- over 1,300 albums- had been in probate court after the death of Masucci. "Billboard magazine has placed it's value between 9 and 12 million".

"The initial batch of 30 discs released includes salsa jewels such as Ruben Blades and Willie Colon's "Siembra", Rey Barretto's "Acid", Hector Lavoe's 1975 session "La Voz", as well as recording by Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Eddie and Charlie Palmieri, Cheo Feliciano, Orquesta Harlow, Joe Cuba, and more. Each month more CD's will hit the market".

"There is a ceiling of 300 releases planned, at US $12.99 each, and at a rate of 16 per month. They will be widely available in record stores and on the Internet".

What do you guys think?. Not bad huh?.

Man, I am in heaven, SALSA HEAVEN THAT IS!!!!!.

 

[macocael]

The loss! There have been heavy losses in thepast few years: not just Celia, but this past year El Conde died and now Ray Barretto. Thank god Johnny Pacheco appears to be fit and active.

Love Blades. he was not one of my original favorites but lately I have been reviewing his career and i am somewhat in awe of his talent. His songwriting is superb.

 

[deelt]

I know. On Blades, I have to admit he is just amazing overall. I have one of his songs "Prohibido Olvidar" man...just makes me want to start a revolution.
Did you know he was a Presidential candidate for Panama? I would have totally voted for him. Shoot, I would have campaigned for his arse.

Re: Pacheco his groove was/is just amazing. I wish he would hit the club/theatre circuit around the US. I'd make time and money to go see him.

d

The loss! There have been heavy losses in thepast few years: not just Celia, but this past year El Conde died and now Ray Barretto. Thank god Johnny Pacheco appears to be fit and active.

Love Blades. he was not one of my original favorites but lately I have been reviewing his career and i am somewhat in awe of his talent. His songwriting is superb.

 

[Sholly24]

Johnny Pacheco is definitely one of the best salsa producers of all time. The albums that he produced for Celia Cruz still remain some of her best works. Johnny is unique because his salsa is very deep and robust with that montuno feel that only cubans know how to do best and it is really amazing that he is not cuban.

Johnny Pacheco. One of the best out there!!

 

[macocael]

Johnny Pacheco is definitely one of the best salsa producers of all time. The albums that he produced for Celia Cruz still remain some of her best works. Johnny is unique because his salsa is very deep and robust with that montuno feel that only cubans know how to do best and it is really amazing that he is not cuban.

Johnny Pacheco. One of the best out there!!

absolutely. This guy is multitalented and has a rich background in music. Let's not forget his contributions prior to Fania and the birth of salsa. I am really thankful that Masucci's avarice and dirty dealing never tainted Pacheco.

As for Blades, I have begun to feel that his songwriting is some of the best ever. He specializes in telling stories about the people, the everyday tragedies of life, as well as some of the great political tragedies of our times (Desaparecidos, for example, which is a heavy song!). But I discovered recently that this subgenre of salsa, which Blades made entirely his own, was initiated, at least in part by Colon and Lavoe in some of their earlier songs: Chongui,from El Malo, about a bum in the subway station; El dia de la suerte; and others. This idea, that one could use salsa to tell stories, is one of the things that makes salsa such great music. It is not that songwriting hadnt ever done this before, but these salseros raised the theme to new heights, Blades above all. And his feel for the people -- ever listen to the words to El Sem?foro? Every word is just right. I think about it everytime I come to an intersection here in the city.

 

[miguel]

A family

Wow! I just love Siembra. Ruben Blades just quality all the time. Political AND on POINT. But old school with me is Johnny Pacheco all the way to DR and BACK. Celia Cruz...well, I still cry when I think of the loss.

I also love that album.

I think that Ruben can't do anything wrong. Whatever he decides to do, he does well.

I was just listening to Blade's "Camaleon" from his "Caminando" CD and that song, if you listen carefully and read between the lines, he is talking about people that are envious of you and would turn on you without hesitation while making believe that they are your friend. Basically, talking about 2 faced people!.

I dare you guys to listen to that CD, "Caminando" and listen to "Mientra duerme la ciudad" and tell you what is the message that he is trying to voice.

Man, that man, Blades, is nothing more than a genius. Just about every single song that he composed and recorded has a message.


Let me give you guys a taste of "Mientra duerme la ciudad" just in case you don't have that CD:

La clase media descansa, estropiada, la television mirando.

La clase baja sigue abajo, el dia del cambio esperando.

El sueno llega y nos cubre a todos, con su mando.

Y unos se tapan con la mentira
Y otros se arropan con la verdad
Y todo el mundo le apuesta a la vida, mientras duerme la ciudad.

Unos suenan con ganancias
Otros lloran lo perdido
Algunos no dan importancia a lo vivido
Incluso, la maldad descansa, con un suspiro
Todos se acuestan pensando manana viene lo mio....

Great stuffn carajo!!.

 

[macocael]

Well while we are at it. I hope you all know about Descarga.com. that is really THE salsa website in terms of music (much more than just salsa actually) and you can find interviews, glossaries, reviews of the albums, articles about music in general -- just a whole bunch of stuff. They are also marketing the newly remastered Fania albums, and there is an interesting line up there.

Blades, well I could go on and on. That Caminando album is great and I love the title song. Though the lyrics of the song are simpler than what you just quoted, Miguel, they ring very true for me, and the instrumentation is fantastic. Once the groove kicks in, the song really takes off.

Anyone listen to his Antecedente? Another very good album.

 

[Hipocrito Mejia]

I revived this thread because I remembered all the talk about Henry Garcia. Well, he's back!

Scheduled for tomorrow on Sabado de Corporan is the reappearance of Henry Garcia on tv after his return to Cocoband.

 

[Hipocrito Mejia]

I forgot, that also scheduled for tomorrow on Sabado de Corporan, not a salsero, but someone that most will think was dug up from a grave: Tito Kenton & Orquesta.

 

[miguel]

Coooooomo!

I revived this thread because I remembered all the talk about Henry Garcia. Well, he's back!

Scheduled for tomorrow on Sabado de Corporan is the reappearance of Henry Garcia on tv after his return to Cocoband.

Are you kidding me?. Are you peeing on my leg and telling me that it's raining?.

That God that I have the DR channel on my Directv.

Thanks.

Ps: Tito Kenton, I even forgot that he existed, that's how long I have not heard of him!. Wow.

 

[miguel]

Not bad!

I forgot, that also scheduled for tomorrow on Sabado de Corporan, not a salsero, but someone that most will think was dug up from a grave: Tito Kenton & Orquesta.

I had the chance to watch Tito Kenton today and I must say that he did pretty good.

His dance moves are still there but I don't think that at his age, he will be able to keep the pace. And he better grow "that" mustache again.

His rendition of "La Politica" sounded just like the original version.

Now, his daughter is also in his band. She sang an old song. She needs some vocal work but sounded pretty nice.

He also added a salsero to his band. The salsa song was fine.

It was also so nice to see Luis Kenton in the audience.

I am ****ed because I did not get a chance to watch Henry Garcia!!!!!.

I had Tivo'ed the whole Sabado de Corporan (5 hours) but since Sabado Chiquito de Corporan ran over it's regular time, I missed the last hour or programming. It ended right after Hector Acosta finished singing. Craaaaap!.

Oh well, maybe they will re-run it again.

 

[Hipocrito Mejia]

Yeah, I'm hoping that they'll show Cocoband on next week's broadcast.

I thought that it was awkward watching Tito Kenton try the same dance moves that made the Kentons famous close to 30 years ago. He looked like he might get a heart attack any second. I thought that the salsa singer in the band was better than just "good".

 

[miguel]

Queee?

Yeah, I'm hoping that they'll show Cocoband on next week's broadcast.

I thought that it was awkward watching Tito Kenton try the same dance moves that made the Kentons famous close to 30 years ago. He looked like he might get a heart attack any second. I thought that the salsa singer in the band was better than just "good".

Are you telling me that they did not whowed Henry Garcia?.

Btw, I said that the salsa singer was "fine". In any case, he was pretty good.

 

[Hipocrito Mejia]

Cocoband with Henry Garcia probably performed, but we didn't get it here on the Directv broadcast. We didn't get the Johnny Ventura tribute at the end of the show either, although I know for a fact that it happened because I saw portions of it on another program.

 

[miguel]

Mi turno!

I revived this thread because I remembered all the talk about Henry Garcia. Well, he's back!

Scheduled for tomorrow on Sabado de Corporan is the reappearance of Henry Garcia on tv after his return to Cocoband.

Well Hipocrito, now it's my turn to revive this thread since it was "Christmas" for me last night.

As soon as I got back from NJ, (was supposed to go see Fernandito in concert with 5 other friends but the @&^^%$$ who was supposed to buy the tickets waited for the last minute and they were sold out!!) my daughter handed me a DVD that "tio Kico sent you". On it, it said "open carefully and watch with care".

I thought: " ay papa, naked Charlize Theron pictures", hahahahaha.

Seriously, I started to watch it immediately and to my GREEEEEEAT surprise, by buddy recorded me a program called "El Escandalo Del 13" on a Dominican channel we get here.

And who was performing?. La CocoBand with HENRY GARCIA!!!!.

Missing was his trademark beard and his sometimes dark blazer. The voice is still the same amazing voice. He sang a few salsas and an old merengue and it sounded just the same way he sounded over 20 years ago.

Still the same shy and down to earth guy. Still puts his hand behind his back when being interviewed and still disappears (moves away) when the others are being interviewed.

I was never a CocoBand fan but from now on , I will buy whatever CD's they put out. Even if just to listen to the songs he is singing.

"Merry Christmas" to me!.

Btw, do Domincians EVER get old?. He guy looks about 10-15 years younger!.

 

[miguel]

To' pa' ti'

Here's the thread about Salsa, johne.

Have fun!.

 

[N-Xendio]

Rey is my uncle. He's still playing and doing good.