Beat mail - Carta al editor

Latin Beat Magazine, Feb, 2004

I just read the piece Haydee Vicedo wrote on Verónica Gonzalez. As 1 was reading through it, I thought about how 1 worked with Verónica on a project with one of my artists, Lila Downs. As I read through more and completed the piece, I thought about how my story is similar to Verónica's, yet strays a bit.

Born to immigrant parents from Yucatán and Guanaluato, I was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin ... a cold ways away from Verónica. After completing high school in Milwaukee, I attended the University of Wisconsin, whitewater, where I won the Juan Andrade Jr. Scholarship for Young Hispanic Leaders. Being one of 15 national recipients of the award, I started paving the way into music as well, except I wished to stay on the corporate side of music with the label and company.

I recently spoke to a class at UW-Whitewater on topics of the music industry and writing ... and am always trying to help young Hispanics find a career in corporate America while keeping their culture close. I have been a featured speaker for various Wisconsin high schools and colleges in order to help give back what I was given ...

I wanted to write this because sometimes there's a mentor in progress in the Midwest too!

Mario R. Martin, Milwaukee, WI

GREETINGS! Tremendo el homenaje a Tite Curet Alonso, las fotos y los artículos fueron commovedores. Esperamos la segunda parte. Gracias por publicar la lista de los 100 hit parade de Tite.

Gary Dominguez, New York

I am the director of La Bomba Productions Australia. I often visit your web site to find out what's happening in the US. La Bomba Productions organizes the annual Tropicana Festival in South Australia. This is a 2-day event that showcases Hispanic and Afro-Caribbean music, dance and culture. We also produce a weekly 2-hour radio program on Radio Adelaide. I would like TROPICANA to be listed on your events to check out around the world page.

Thanks for your time and congratulations on such an informative web site.

Natalie Stansfield, La Bomba Productions Australia

www.labomba.com.au email: info@labomba.com.au

It's a matter of opinion and you might beg to differ, but if it is not strongly and consistently promoted and encouraged, salsa dancing will become obsolete. It might stay strong in N.Y or even L.A. but for the rest of the country? Salsa music must be presented equally along with the dancing, if it is to endure. Merengue and bachata are the current trends because they're effortless and easy to dance. Thanks.

José, cyberspace