Anthony Santos, one of the leading bachata singers in the country, says the three leading bachata performers in the world are “Luis Vargas, El Mayimbe and Raulín.” He is referring to the Luis Vargas, himself (El Mayimbe) and Raulín Rodríguez. He understands they were pioneers at a time when the music only played on AM radio. He said Luis Vargas modernized the bachata, giving it a more upbeat vibe.
Santos himself is a past Gran Soberano winner for his more than 30 years career singing bachata. Those three names came to his mind when interviewed for Listin Diario on the listing of bachata as an Intangible Heritage of Humanity by the UNESCO.
He also recalls Leonardo Paniagua, Eladio Romero Santos, Juan Bautista, Luis Segura, Aridia Ventura, as among the pioneers. He spoke of the time when bachata singers were not even paid because in those days bachata was music just played in the countryside.
Anthony Santos also spoke of Romeo Santos, the leading bachata singer, with whom he became lifetime friends and treated each other as father and son.
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Listin Diario
Anthony Santos on Romeo Santos
18 December 2019