Ismael Rivera was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, in 1931. Ismael, also known as Maelo, was only a teenager when he became the star singer…
Artist Profiles: Ismael Rivera
Tag: salsa
Famed Salsa Musician and Producer Larry Harlow Dies at 82
Renowned salsa multi-instrumentalist, producer, composer and bandleader Lawrence Ira Kahn, better known as Larry Harlow, died on August 20, 2021. Larry Harlow was a salsa…
Artist Profiles: Pablo Mayor & Folklore Urbano
While working as a professor of jazz at Universidad Javeriana in Bogota (Colombia) in 1998, Pablo Mayor began his personal search, a process of first…
Merengue Star Johnny Ventura Dies at 81
Dominican vocalist, bandleader, lawyer and former mayor of Santo Domingo, Juan de Dios Ventura Soriano, better known as Johnny Ventura, died on July 28, 2021.…
Ethnomusicology Documentary Available: Musicians in America during the Covid-19 Pandemic
The Society for Ethnomusicology (SEM) has announced the launch of a new website: Musicians in America during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Thanks to the award of…
Colombia’s Salsa Stars Grupo Niche Win Best Tropical Latin Album Grammy
The album 40, celebrating the 40th anniversary of legendary Colombian salsa band Grupo Niche, is the winner of the 2021 Grammy for Best Tropical Latin…
Salsa Icon Johnny Pacheco Dies at 85
Johnny Pacheco, one of salsa’s biggest names, passed away on February 15, 2021. He was a renowned multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, arranger and bandleader. Juan Azarías…
New Book: New York and the International Sound of Latin Music, 1940-1990
A new 440-page book titled New York and the International Sound of Latin Music, 1940-1990 is now available. The author is musician and professor Benjamin…
Renowned Salsa Singer Tito Rojas, el Gallo Salsero, Dies at 65
Famed Puerto Rican salsa vocalist Julio César Rojas López, better known as Tito Rojas and El Gallo Salsero, passed away on December 26, 2020 in…
Artist Profiles: Yuliesky González
Trumpeter and composer Yuliesky González Guerra was born in 1984 in Céspedes, Camagüey province, Cuba. He grew up in a family of professional trumpet players…