International Latin Music Hall of Fame Awards - Artículo Breve

Latin Beat Magazine, March, 2002 by Rudy Mangual

Joe Hernández, president of the ILMHF announced this year's fantastic group of inductees to be honored during the fourth annual induction award ceremony and concert to be held on April 10, 2002, at Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture in the Bronx, New York. Forget the Grammys, forget the Latin Grammys, in fact, forget the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame. The ILMHF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the efforts of artists and others who have contributed to and supported the growth of Latin music around the world. Hernández added, "With every passing year our organization continues receiving more and more corporate support and recognition as an important cultural organization." This year's event, like previous ones, will be filmed for television programs, including Images/Imagenes of New Jersey Public Television and ABC's Panorama de Puerto Rico. Musical entertainment will be headed by the International Latin Music Hall of Fame Ensemble, featuring an all-star cast of legendary Latin music luminaries under the direction of Alfredito Valdés Jr.

Among the Latin music legends being inducted this year are Julio Iglesias, Santana, Dizzy Gillespie, Paquito D'Rivera, Danny Rivera, José José, Sandro, Vicente Fernández, Astrud Gilberto, Richie Ray, Willie Rosario and Cuco Valoy. Other Latin music artists to be inducted at the award ceremony include: Roberto Torres, Millie Quesada, Bobby Cruz, José Curbelo, Trio Vegabajeño, Bobby Rodríguez, La Sonora Ponceña, Leo Marini, Matilde Diaz, Aldemaro Romero, Mario Clavell and Elena Burke.

Special Recognition Awards will be also presented to Miriam Colon, Dr. Diego Castellano, Richie Bonilla, Wally Edgecomb, Chico Sesma, Gilberto Mameri, Pablo Guzman, Irv Greenbaum and "Alma Del Barrio" of KXLU 88.9 FM in Los Angeles, California.

This year's Lifetime Achievement Awards will be presented to Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco. The "Undisputed Queen of Latin Music," Celia Cruz started her musical career as a teenager singing on the radio, including Radio Progreso Cubana and on Radio Unión. In the 1950s she joined La Sonora Matancera, one of the most popular orchestras in Cuba, headlining at the world famous Tropicana Casino in Havana for many years. Together with La Sonora Matancera she toured the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, and the United States. In 1957 she recorded the hit song Burundanga, which earned a Gold Record. Disillusioned with the Castro regime in 1960, she relocated to New York City. After recording with the Tito Puente Orchestra in 1966, her career shifted into high gear. Celia Cruz went on to record with Johnny Pacheco, Willie Colón, and the Fania All-Stars, gaining international fame and the crown of the Queen of Latin Music. In 1992 she played the role of Evalina Montoya in the popular film Mambo Kings. Together with her own band, Celia has continued to record and perform throughout the world. Some of her greatest hits include El Yerbero Moderno, Juancito Trucupey, Usted Abusó, Quimbara, Cucala, and Bemba Colorá.

Flutist/accordionist/clarinetist/percussionist/bandleader/record company executive and the ultimate salsa musical director, Johnny Pacheco is one of the main key figures responsible for the salsa explosion of the 1970s in New York City as well as for producing and directing some of the best salsa albums of all times. Pacheco was born in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, on March 25, 1935. By age eleven, Pacheco and his family relocated to New York City. During his high school years, he organized his first mambo band, which included on the trombone the late Barry Rogers. By the late 1950s, together with Charlie Palmieri, he organized a charanga band called Orquesta Duboney. In 1960 he formed his own group recording for the Alegre Records label. Going into partnership with Jerry Masucci in 1964, they created Fania Records, an organization that dominated tropical dance music (salsa) for many years. Pacheco also established a conjunto that many in the industry considered the ultimate-ensemble of its time featuring a young Papo Lucca on piano, Johnny Rodríguez on congas, Victor Venegas on bass, Héctor "Bomberito" Zarzuela and Luis Ortíz on trumpets, Pacheco on flute and percussion, and Justo Betancourt, Ismael Quintana, and Roberto Torres on chorus. The group recorded many hits on its own as well as backed up such top singers as Celia Cruz, Justo Betancourt and Pete "El Conde" Rodríguez. Pacheco's music was always distinguished by its unique flavor, salsa, in the true meaning of the word.

The Benny Moré Memorial Award will be presented to Larry Harlow. Born Lawrence Ira Kahn on March 20, 1939, pianist/arranger/bandleader Larry Harlow was known as "El Judio Maravilloso." He developed a special feeling and love for Cuban music early in his musical career. He established his own band in the early 1970s recording the album Salsa in 1974 on the Fania Record label (featuring on vocals a very young Junior González), becoming an instant hit and a favorite with salseros everywhere. His albums Abran Paso and Tributo a Arsenio Rodríguez with Ismael Miranda on vocals secured his place in the history of salsa music. Harlow also wrote the opera Hommy, the salsa suite La Raza Latina, and performed and recorded with the Fania All-Stars. He continues to stay active in the music business, mostly leading and performing with the group The Latin Legends and a number of other special projects.