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MUSIC
By
Stefan Vale
Q: You have collaborated with several of Salsa musics most accomplished artists in the past (such as the late-great Celia Cruz, Oscar DeLeon and many others), who have you not worked with yet, that you would like to work with on future projects together? A: (Laughing) Well, a lot of them. Andy Montanez, Gilberto Santa Rosa. Ive been with them together on stage, but weve never recorded together. Id like to work with a lot of other Salseros. Q: Many Latin artists have made successful cross-overs to American Pop music (such as Marc Anthony, Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan, etc). Do you have any aspirations of doing the same? A: Well yes, but Im not really that interested because we have such a beautiful language, music and people. We dont really need to cross-over, because our music is so beautiful and so great that you know, we have our own thing. Q: Salsa music is known for incorporating diverse musical influences into its compositions. Where do you see the next evolution of Salsa music going? A: I think it will continue to grow like it has been. I love seeing young people dancing Salsa and new Salsa artists coming out in the business. That is the future of the music. But the new Salsa artists need to learn about the great old Salseros who started it all. You know, to get to the bottom of it. Just like Jazz. If you want to learn about Jazz, you have to listen to those cats who started it all. A lot of young Salsa artists are coming out today and theyre very good but if you ask them: do you know about the great old Salseros who started it all? They dont know who they are. So they have to learn about our roots first. Q: Over the years Salsa music has experienced ups to downs in popularity but has endured thanks in part to talented artists such as yourself and a loyal following of fans worldwide. Conversely, certain other Latin music styles (such as Merengue and even the Macarena) have inspired temporary dance crazes throughout the country to English speaking audiences but havent endured. If Salsa music is to receive mainstream popularity across the country, and continue to thrive, what in your opinion, needs to happen to ensure its continued success? A: Well, it already has died a couple of times. And its been all over the world. But Salsa needs more promotion and more exposure. And record companies need to be more interested in promoting it. And new Salsa artists need to focus on the roots of Salsa music, too. Q: How did a Dominican end up playing Salsa music instead of Merengue or Bachata? A: (Laughing) Ask Johnny Pacheco! I was born in Santo Domingo and my parents and I moved to Puerto Rico when I was young and then we ended up in New York, were I learned about Salsa music. When I first started playing music, it was as a drummer in an American Soul band. Then I stated listening to the 70s Salsa music like the Fania All Stars and I fell in love with it. Ive played other types of Latin music, too, like Merengue and Bachata. But Salsa is what everyone knows me for. Q: What advice would you give young aspiring Salsa musicians trying to break into the music business today? A: Study your stuff. You know, just do your homework. Learn from the pioneers of Salsa and do what you like to do. Q: Any final messages to your fans and what can we expect from you next? A: In January my new album will be coming out and on May 29th, Ill be celebrating my 25th anniversary as a singer at the Tito Puente theatre in Puerto Rico.