For any given Salsa singer to reach the title of sonero is as good as it gets. All the best Salsa artists in history belong to this category. So, What is a sonero anyway? In very simple terms, there are three elements a Salsa singer must have to be considered a real sonero: A unique voice, good improvisation skills and the ability to accommodate voice and improvisation over any kind of melody. On top of all that, asonero must have a charismatic and appealing figure on stage. Having said this, the following list offers a selected group of some of the best Salsa artists known as soneros. 10. Adalberto Santiago This Puerto Rican singer owes much of his personal success to the time he spent with the legendary Ray Barreto. However, Adalberto Santiago has also worked with some of the biggest names in the industry including Roberto Roena and Louie Ramirez. His legacy as a real sonero was achieved during the time he spent with the Fania All Stars. Some of his most famous tracks include "Quitate La Mascara," "La Hipocresia Y La Falsedad," and "La Noche Mas Linda." 9. Tito Rodriguez Tito Rodriguez had a wonderful voice for Bolero. In fact, because of his enduring interpretation of the Bolero song "Inolvidable," he is usually remembered as "El Involvidable" (The Unforgettable). Besides his voice, Tito Rodriguez was also a talented songwriter as well as a complete musician able to play different instruments. His influence on Mambo was significant. 8. Benny More Benny More is one of the most important names in Cuban music. A true pioneer of the sonerosgroup, Benny More was able to play it all. From Cuban Son and Mambo to Bolero and Guaracha, Benny More felt comfortable adding his voice to all the rhythms from its native land. He was also a member of the legendary Trio Matamoros. 7. Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez "El Conde," as he was known, had a wonderful, powerful voice that fit the heaviest Descarga in the same way it fit the sweetest Bolero. He gained worldwide exposure with Johnny Pacheco and the Fania All Stars. Some of hist best singles include "Catalina La O," "La Escencia del Guaguanco," "Micaela" and "Sonero." His version of the Bolero song "Convergencia" is one of the best in its genre. 6. Ruben Blades Besides having all the features that define a sonero, Ruben Blades has produced some of the most meaningful lyrics in Salsa music. His glory has not only touched music but also acting and even politics. Some of his most popular hits include "Plastico," "Decisiones" and "Te Estan Buscando." His single "Pedro Navaja" is considered one of the greatest Salsa songs of all time. This Panamanian artist built a big chunk of his initial success alongside Willie Colon. 5. Cheo Feliciano Cheo Feliciano is the owner of one of the sweetest and most romantic voices Salsa music has ever known. This Puerto Rican singer started his career back in the 1960s with the legendary Joe Cuba Sextet. Right from the very beginning, Cheo proved to be a gifted artist who later on consolidated his own name with the famous Fania All Stars. Some of his hit songs include "Anacaona," "El Raton" and "Amada Mia." 4. Oscar D'Leon Oscar d'Leon is Venezuela's greatest Salsa artist in history. "The Lion of Salsa," as he is often referred to, is an essential star of the groups of soneros that have shaped Salsa music. Besides having an amazing voice and a large music repertoire, Oscar D'Leon is also one of the best performers on stage especially when playing his bass. His name is a must have in any list dealing with best Salsa artists in history. 3. Celia Cruz Not all the big soneros have been male artists. In the history of Salsa, there is a big exception to that rule. The name of that exception is not other than Celia Cruz, the Queen of Salsa. The legendary Cuban singer has been, in fact, one of the best soneros (soneras?) in Salsa music. Her powerful voice, charismatic style on stage and ability to improvise lyrics in the middle of a Salsa melody gave Celia Cruz the highest status that any Salsa artist can achieved. Some of the top songs by Celia Cruz include "Tu Voz," "Burundanga" and "Sopita En Botella." 2. Hector Lavoe Regarded by many as the best Salsa artist in history, Hector Lavoe revolutionized this music genre with his unique, nasal voice and the amazing ability to come up with lyrics able to fit any note. Known as "La Voz" (The Voice) or "El Cantante" (The Singer), Hector Lavoe is definitely one of the best soneros of all time. 1. Ismael Rivera Ismael Rivera was known as "El Sonero Mayor." That title defined this Puerto Rican singer as one of the best soneros in Salsa history. His unique voice and style shaped a whole generation of Salsa artists. Some of his best songs include "Mi Negrita Me Espera," "Las Caras Lindas," and "Sale El Sol."
5 Comments
Besides the JUANES MTV Unplugged album, Latin music is also celebrating this week the release of one of the most interesting works of Salsa. Cheo Feliciano and Ruben Blades, two of the best Salsa singers in history, have just released their collaboration album Eba Say Aja. The album, which includes 12 tracks, features a unique work where Cheo Feliciano sings some of the most popular tracks from Ruben Blades while the Panamanian singer does the same with some of the most famous tunes from the Puerto Rican legend. In addition to this, Cheo Feliciano also sings "Inodoro Perez," a new track written by Ruben Blades for this production. The two singers joined their voices in the tracks "Si Te Dicen" and "Lo Bueno Ya Viene." Some of the songs on this album include titles such as "Dime," "Sin Tu Carino" and "Los Entierros." If you are into Salsa music or want to further explore this exciting Latin music genre, this is definitely the kind album that you want to get. Grupo Niche is widely considered the best Salsa band coming from Colombia. Their extensive repertoire, written almost exclusively by the talented musician Jairo Varela, includes a selection of outstanding Salsa dura tracks as well as romantic songs that have captured Salsa fans all over the world for over 30 years. From "Sin Sentimiento" to "Cali Pachaguero," the following are the best songs ever produced by Grupo Niche.
10. "Sin Sentimiento" - "Sin Sentimiento" is one of the hits included in the album Cielo De Tambores, one of the best productions ever released by Grupo Niche. A fantastic track from beginning to end featuring the voice of the legendary Javier Vazquez, one of the best singers in the history of the band. 9. "Hagamos Lo Que Diga El Corazon" - This is one of the most popular tracks Grupo Niche has produced in the field of romantic Salsa. Although it is a romantic track, the melody does not stay in the soft side all the time. The second part, in fact, provides good musical arrangements to hit the dance floor. 8. "Nuestro Sueño" - "Nuestro Sueño" marked the debut of the legendary Puerto Rican singer Tito Gomez with Grupo Niche. After having produced different hits with La Sonora Poncena and Ray Barreto, Tito Gomez joined the Colombian band in 1985. This track belongs to the album Tapando El Hueco, one of the best works by Grupo Niche. Although "Nuestro Sueño" is another romantic hit, the ending part of this song is an explosion defined by fast beats. 7. "Cali Aji" - Throughout all these years, Grupo Niche has been based in the city of Cali, Colombia. Because of this, Grupo Niche has used this city as an eternal source of inspiration for their music. "Cali Aji" is just one of the many songs dealing with Cali. This track, in particular, offers a direct reference to the festivities the city celebrates every year. Because of its energy, this is an ideal track to play in a good Latin party. 6. "La Negra No Quiere" - Originally included in the breakthrough album No Hay Quinto Malo, this single has been a favorite among fans of the Colombian band. "La Negra No Quiere" offers a catchy percussion and the unique sound of the keyboards that defined the music of the band during the 1980s. 5. "La Magia De Tus Besos" - From the 1996 album Etnia, "La Magia De Tus Besos" has been one of the most popular romantic Salsa songs ever produced by Grupo Niche. Much of the appeal of this song was the result of the sweet voice of Willy Garcia, another popular singer from the band. 4. "Del Puente Pa' Alla" - "Del Puente Pa' Alla" is another song dealing with Cali and its surroundings. In fact, the whole song is based on a very simple fact: The bridge that separates Cali from the Juanchito district, a popular place for Salsa dancing. This is one of the most popular songs from Grupo Niche's hard Salsa school. 3. "Buenaventura Y Caney" - I personally think "Buenaventura Y Caney" is the best Salsa Dura song Grupo Niche has ever produced. A fantastic song from beginning to end nurtured by the legendary voice of Alvaro del Castillo, amazing percussions and exhilirating brass sections. "Buenaventura Y Caney" was, in fact, the first solid hit produced by Grupo Niche. 2. "Una Aventura" - I have previously mentioned some romantic songs in this list. However, we have finally arrived to the most popular romantic track ever produced by Grupo Niche. This song offers amazing music and some of the most beautiful lyrics ever written by the band's gifted director and songwriter Jairo Varela. In terms of romantic Salsa, this is as good as it gets from Grupo Niche. The original version was sung by Charlie Cardona, the band's most romantic voice ever. 1. "Cali Pachanguero" - "Cali Pachanguero" is still to date, the most popular song produced by the Colombian band. This was the track that transformed Grupo Niche into an international Salsa sensation. Again, this track deals with the culture and traditions surrounding Grupo Niche's hometown. Since its realease, "Cali Pachanguero" has become Cali's unofficial anthem. A perfect track from beginning to end. Back in the 1980's, Salsa music experienced a significant transformation. All of the sudden, the sounds that had shaped Salsa in the 1970s (mainly the New York Salsa) were abandoned in favor of a new style defined by its romanticism, sensuality and explicit lyrics built around sex and love issues. These changes marked the beginning of the romantic Salsa era.
Salsa romantica, as it was known throughout the Spanish speaking world, came to define this new Salsa style. Because of its explicitlyrics, it was also referred to as Salsa erotica (erotic Salsa). The following list of romantic Salsa songs is a compilation of some of the most enduring hits that marked the evolution of the romantic Salsa movement. 10. Grupo Niche - "La Magia De Tus Besos" Although Grupo Niche does not really fit into the romantic Salsa style, this popular Colombian group has produced various romantic Salsa songs that include titles like "Nuestro Sueño" and "Una Aventura." The single "La Magia De Tus Besos" is another romantic track that enjoyed enormous popularity among Salsa fans. 9. Rey Ruiz - "Mi Media Mitad" In this song Rey Ruiz talks about soul mates, one of the most romantic concepts ever created by people throughout the ages. This melancholic song shows why Rey Ruiz has been one of the leading artists of the romantic Salsa movement. 8. David Pabon - "Y Nos Amamos" With his music, Puerto Rican singer David Pabon became one of the most representative artists of the new romantic style that captured Salsa during the late 1980s. Hi songs were all about love and intimacy and the single "Y Nos Amamos" became a perfect tune for lovers. 7. Pedro Conga - "Si Supieras" Unlike other romantic Salsa artists, Pedro Conga was able to maintain some balance between the sounds that defined Salsa during the 1970s and the new romantic style that started in the 1980s. Pedro Conga and his group produced popular romantic Salsa songs including "Si Supieras," one of the biggest hits Pedro Conga has brought toSalsa romantica. 6. Jerry Rivera - "Amores Como El Nuestro" Jerry Rivera's voice, style and looks fit perfectly the romantic Salsa singer ideal. "Amores Como El Nuestro," a song for people who are deeply in love, is one of the most popular romantic Salsa songs this Puerto Rican artist has produced in his music career. 5. Frankie Ruiz - "Desnudate Mujer" Frankie Ruiz was a complete Salsa singer who was able to move easily between Salsa Dura (hard Salsa) and the romantic, sensual side of this genre. His romantic tunes were quite explicit and charged with lots of sexual and erotic references. "Desnudate Mujer" was one of the most popular songs of the Salsa romantica era. 4. Lalo Rodriguez - "Ven Devorame Otra Vez" This song was a huge hit back in 1988. The single, which is defined by its sexual lyrics, was the lead song of Lalo's album Un Nuevo Despertar. "Ven Devorame Otra Vez" is one of the most emblematic romantic Salsa songs ever produced. 3. Willie Gonzalez - "No Podras Escapar De Mi" Willie Gonzalez is one of the most influential artists of the Salsa romantica movement. His music repertoire captures the sensual style that has defined Salsa from the late 1980s. "No Podras Escaper De Mi" is one of his most famous romantic Salsa songs. 2. Marc Anthony and La India - "Vivir Lo Nuestro" "Vivir Lo Nuestro" is definitely one of the most romantic Salsa songs ever produced. An ideal song for Salsa lovers, this track is enhanced by the amazing voices of Marc Anthony and La India. 1. Eddie Santiago - "Lluvia" Eddie Santiago is the absolute pioneer of romantic Salsa. During the 1980s he changed the face of this genre with his unique voice and singing style. "Lluvia" is one of the leading songs of the whole romantic Salsa era. This year, the legendary Salsa band Grupo Niche is celebrating its 30th anniversary with an exhausting tour that is taking the band all over the world. In the next days, the popular group from Colombia, whose extensive repertoire includes timeless hits such as "Cali Pachanguero" and "Una Aventura," will be visiting different cities across the US including venues in New York and California. The following are the upcoming shows included in the schedule of this famous Salsa band.
Grupo Niche Tour Dates:
After the tremendous popularity they enjoyed with Entren Los Que Quieran, an album that swept the Latin Grammy Awards last year, the members of the Latin Urban sensation band Calle 13 are already working on their next album. This time, the big news about the upcoming production is that Calle 13 is recording in English.
Because of this project, the members of Calle 13, Rene Perez (Residente) and Eduardo Cabra (Visitante) have already reduced their public schedule in 2012. In any case, the group is planning to give a concert in Puerto Rico where they will probably use the stage to speak up about their country's social and political environment. The news about Calle 13 recording in English is something quite interesting. This is, in fact, a big challenge for a popular band like Calle 13. Having said this, what do you think about Calle 13 recording in English? If you have something to say about it, I invite you to share your thoughts here. 5/14/2012 The Best Latin Music Albums of 2011: Featuring A Compilation of The Most Popular CDs in 2011Read Now‘Illustrated Songs’ – Gaby Moreno...
Latin Alternative music enjoyed a good year in 2011. One of the best albums in this genre was Illustrated Songs by Guatemalan artist Gaby Moreno. This CD got outstanding reviews throughout the year thanks to its pleasant melodies and Gaby Moreno's powerful voice. Illustrated Songs is one of the best Latin music albums of 2011. ‘Musica + Alma + Sexo’ – Ricky Martin... Ricky Martin's Musica + Alma + Sexo was one of the most anticipated albums of 2011. This CD marked a solid comeback for one of the biggest Latin Pop stars in the world. The most popular single from this album was "The Best Thing About Me Is You". ‘Cigala & Tango’ – Diego ‘El Cigala’... Spanish singer Diego 'El Cigala' proved once again his talent to mix Flamenco music with other Latin music genres. Cigala & Tango received the Best Tango Album Award at the 2011 Latin Grammy Awards. Some of the best tracks include titles such as "Las Cuarenta," "El Dia Que Me Quieras" and "En Esta Tarde Gris". This is one of the best Latin albums of the year. ‘Sale El Sol’ – Shakira... Although this album was released in 2010, Shakira made the most out of it this year. The Colombian singer not only grabbed several music awards thanks to this album but also was able to maintain her music on radio stations throughout 2011. Songs like "Rabiosa," "Loca" and "Gypsy" enjoyed lots of popularity. ‘Planet Pit’ – Pitbull... Pitbull had a wonderful 2011. Pretty much everything he touched this year became gold. He enjoyed popularity as a featured artist alongside stars like Shakira ("Rabiosa") and Enrique Iglesias ("I Like It"). However, his album Planet Pit consolidated this Miami rapper as one of the absolute stars of 2011 thanks to tracks such as "Give Me Everything," featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer, and "Rain Over Me," featuring Marc Anthony. ‘Prince Royce’ – Prince Royce... Prince Royce was the most popular Bachata artist throughout the year. This popularity was the result of his album Prince Royce, which included hit songs such as "Stand By Me" and "Corazon Sin Cara". Prince Royce was definitely one of the top Latin albums in 2011. ‘Euphoria’ – Enrique Iglesias... Thanks to Euphoria, Enrique Iglesias received more than 20 music award nominations in 2011. Even though this CD was released last year, the Spanish artist enjoyed tremendous popularity in 2011 with tracks such as "I Like It," featuring Cuban-American rapper Pitbull. ‘MTV Unplugged: Los Tigres del Norte and Friends’ – Los Tigres del Norte... The first ever MTV Unplugged album of Regional Mexican music was a hit. With 'MTV Unplugged: Los Tigres del Norte and Friends', the kings of Norteno music exposed this music genre to a broader audience. Tracks like "Golpes En El Corazon," featuring Paulina Rubio, and "La Jaula De Oro," featuring Juanes placed this album on top of Mexican music charts. Los Tigres del Norte delivered one of the best Latin music albums of 2011. 'Formula Vol. 1' - Romeo Santos... Even if Bachata was dominated by Prince Royce for most of 2011, Romeo Santos delivered one of the most popular albums of this genre towards the end of the year. Since its release, Formula Vol. 1 became a sensation not only among Bachata fans but also Latin music enthusiasts. The former Aventura member delivered a strong album that has transformed Bachata into an authentic mainstream phenomenon. ‘Los Vaqueros: El Regreso’ – Wisin Y Yandel... This was a good year for Reggaeton duo Wisin Y Yandel. These Puerto Rican artists enjoyed lots of popularity in 2011 thanks to the tracks included in the album Los Vaqueros: El Regreso. Songs like "Tu Olor," "Estoy Enamorado" and "Zun Zun Rompiendo Caderas" were among the most popular singles in the Reggaeton and Urban field. ‘Entren Los Que Quieran’ – Calle 13... Entren Los Que Quieran is by far one of the best Latin albums of the year. With this work, Calle 13 swept the 2011 Latin Grammy Awards. This album brings together a powerful combination of different music styles with a strong social voice. In 2011, songs like "Latinoamerica" and "Baile De Los Pobres" enjoyed lots of popularity. ‘Don Omar Presents: Meet The Orphans’ – Don Omar... Don Omar is another artist who had a fantastic 2011. His album Don Omar Presents: Meet The Orphans, which was released at the end of 2010, became a worldwide sensation this year thanks to tracks like "Taboo" and "Danza Kuduro". The latter became a sensation in YouTube where the video of this song captured the title as the most watched video for an artist in Spanish language. ‘Drama Y Luz’ – Mana... After five years away from the studio, the Mexican Rock band Mana did not disappoint anyone with their anticipated comeback album. Drama Y Luz consolidated Mana as one of the most important names in Latin music. The Drama Y Luz tour was the most popular live event in 2011 and people went crazy about the band's return. Mana definitely ruled this year. Latin Urban music and Bachata brought the top nominees for the 2012 Billboard Latin Music Awards. With 16 nominations, Reggaeton star Don Omar topped the list of finalists followed by the popular rapper Pitbull who got 14 nominations.
In terms of Tropical music, this edition of the Billboard Latin Music Awards reinforced the already popular face-off between Prince Royce and Romeo Santos. The Mexican band Mana and the Colombian Pop star Shakira also grabbed a significant amount of nominations. The following is the full list of nomineess for the annual edition of the Billboard Latin Music Awards. Artist of the Year:
4/17/2012 Prince Royce - 'Phase II' CD Review: A Look at The Second Album Produced by The Bachata Sensation ArtistRead NowVery often, artists who reach star level with a debut album fail miserably with the follow up work. Avoiding this trap was exactly the challenge that Phase II posed to the popular Bachata singer Prince Royce. After listening to Phase II, I think Prince Royce was able to meet that challenge with a production that consolidates the style of his self-titled debut album. The following is an overview of the way he managed that challenge.
Keeping The StylePhase II is an album that maintains the style Prince Royce consolidated with his previous work. This 'conservative' approach usually pays well for artists who hit the market with a hugely popular debut album. Just like the previous album, Phase II is a bilingual production defined by its romantic appeal. Thanks to songs like the already popular hit "Las Cosas Pequenas" and additional singles such as "Eres Tu," "Dulce" and "Mi Habitacion," Prince Royce is able to reinforce a unique style defined by his fresh voice, romantic style, and soft Bachata arrangements. Innovative Stuff Although Phase II maintains the style that Prince Royce has been defining since its debut work, there are a couple of songs featuring innovative elements that enhance the appeal of the whole album. One of them is "Incondicional," a single featuring a nice mix of traditional Mexican music with Bachata. Even though the sounds of Bachata prevails in the whole melody, the guitars and trumpets in the background add a nice flavor to this song. Another interesting song is "Memorias," a track that combines Bolero with Bachata that reminds me of some of the famous Bachata-Bolero songs produced by Juan Luis Guerra. Both "Incondicional" and "Memorias" provide very romantic lyrics. This romanticism is one of the most evident imprints of this production. Bachata Pop Phase II is marked by a sound where very often Bachata meets Latin Pop music. There is a good amount of tracks on this album that could easily make it to the top 40 charts as Pop songs rather than Bachata tracks. Some of these singles include titles like "Addicted," "Close To You" and "It's My Time". In fact, if you listen to these songs without knowing who Prince Royce is, you would not be able to guess this is an album dealing with Bachata music. Although I personally like the soft melody and nice guitar playing of the song "Addicted," I think the other tracks represent the weakest side of this album. They sound a bit too mainstream and commercial to me. I think there are thousands of songs out there with the beats of those tracks. In other words, I think Prince Royce is as his best when he gets closer to the sounds of Bachata. 'Phase II' - Bottom Line I think the most important thing Prince Royce achieved with Phase II was that of producing an album capable of meeting the expectations that he created with his debut album. With Phase II, the Bachata star consolidated his unique style and I would not be surprised if several of the tracks included on this album become hit songs in the near future. Somehow, Phase II sounds a bit more Pop than Prince Royce. This element is reinforced by tracks that have a very mainstream, commercial style. Although I think this is the weakest part of this album, this can be normal for an artist who has transformed Bachata music into a mainstream phenomenon. 'Phase II' - Best Tracks
Aventura was formed in 1994 by a group of teenage boys living in the Bronx, NY. They were like the thousands of teenagers who get together to make music in their parents' den or garage. They liked the music of their contemporaries, leaning towards R&B, hip hop and reggaeton. But, with roots in the music of the Dominican Republic, they also grew up listening to bachata, the indigenous Dominican genre that's known as the "music of sorrow or bitterness".
The Band Members:
Grupo Aventura: In 1999, the band was signed by BMG under their new name, Grupo Aventura. Their debut album was Generation Next, using an outside producer for the first time. This was the big era of 'boy bands' and there was some pressure to model themselves on successful groups like the Back Street Boys, but Grupo Aventura stood firm in defining their own style and retaining the bachata elements that were the foundation of their music. We Broke The Rules: Generation Next really didn't garner much attention outside of their New York/Dominican fanbase. But their 2002 album We Broke The Rules surprised everyone when the album's break-out single, "Obsesion", became a smash hit, earning Anthony Santos the distinction of becoming the first Hispanic composer to earn an ASCAP award in the American market. Aventura's continued to grow with their next albums and mobbed concert tours. In 2007, K.O.B. Live was nominated for a Latin Grammy as the 'Best Contemporary Tropical Album'. On the road to success, Aventura encountered much resistance from New York's bachata loving audiences who did not want their favorite music sullied with the sounds of modern hip hop and r&b. An audience holding firm to what they saw as 'traditional' music is ironic. Bachata was the bad boy of music in the Dominican Republic; bachata icon Luis Vargas talks about sneaking out to perform bachata while he was young - the form just wasn't considered acceptable. Today, holding fast to the music they loved and the fusions they created, Aventura has the enthusiastic approval of not just New York's Dominican population, but has gained a large international following. |
Details
Author...... I would like to share you about certain things that might interest you. Archives...
June 2014
Categories...
All
|