Una mordida de la manzana - Nueva York - TT: A Bite From The Apple - TA: New York

Latin Beat Magazine, June, 2000 by Vicki Sola

Events in the Apple have been generating more than enough heat to make up for the raw, chilly spring weather we're experienced. We experienced snow in April, but also an extreme heatwave as Jimmy Bosch and his combustible 14-piece band, including tres virtuoso Nelson González, ignited S.O.B.'s during the 10th anniversary celebration of Latin Beat. Helping to set the house on tire were percussion masters Bobby Allende and Marc Quiñones. Bosch's front line consisted of singers Frankie Vásquez, Herman Olivera, and Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez's daughter, Cita. Ben Lapidus and his Sonido Isleño started off the fabulous evening which was orchestrated by attorney Rob Bernberg. As I emceed, it was great catching up with West Coast friends - Latin Beat's Rudy and Yvette Mangual, Nelson Rodriguez, and promoter Albert Torres. Also on hand to celebrate were "Mambo King" Ralph Irizarry, José Alberto "El Canario," José Clausell, Max Salazar, Louis Laffitte, and Robert Moll, La Maganette's Barbara Rodriguez, the Wild Palm's Ray Ramos, WKCR-FM's Carlos Rosario, WHCR-FM's Eddie Love, the Harbor Conservatory's Nina Olson, filmmaker Claire Wachsman, Mambo City Records' Bobby Marin, DJ "Speedy" González, music collector Ernie Ensly, promoter Richie Bonilla, and Diana Oliveras and other members of Philly-based band Orquesta del Barrio.

International Latin Music Hall of Famer Cachao has just released Cuba Linda, produced by actor Andy García, under the latter's own Cine Son banner, distributed by EMI. Cachao's other collaborations with García were Grammy Award winner Cachao--Master Sessions Volumen I, and Grammy Award nominee Master Sessions Volumen II. Revolutionary innovator Cachao was a child prodigy who, at age 12 made his debut with the Havana Philharmonic, standing high atop a wooden crate in order to play the contra bass. Cachao and his brother Orestes were members of the famed Antonio Arcaño y sus Maravillas, and according to García, turned out as many as 25 compositions a week, and a total of over 3,000 danzones. My personal favorite on Cuba Linda is the burning Redención. El Maestro Cachao is slated to perform in the Apple's Central Park on Fathers' Day, June 18.

Currently booking Cachao is veteran manager Richie Bonilla, who I have affectionately dubbed "Mr. Orient Express." He is perhaps best known for his discovery of Japan's Orquesta de la Luz, and for taking U.S. salsa artists to Japan, generating record sales and actually creating a fanatic Japanese market for the music. Indeed, in addition to instituting a Japanese Salsa Festival" Bonilla is directly responsible for enabling top salsa and merengue acts to perform in Japan. Marc Anthony, Tito Nieves, José Alberto, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Los Hermanos Moreno, Milly, Jocelyn y Los Vecinos, The New York Band, Ernie Agosto y La Conspiración, David Cedeño, Elemento 10, the Joe Cuba Sextet, Carmen Jiménez, the Cubarama Afro-Cuban Jazz Band, DLG, and the Stacey López Dancers are just some of those artists.

Throughout his long career Bonilla has managed and given guidance to many performers who became big names. In 1962, he signed Pete Rodríguez, who became known as the "King of Boogaloo." During the same time period, he signed a 17-year old who had one album to his credit - Willie Colón. In the Boogaloo era, Bonilla Management became New York's main booking agency, with a roster that included Colón with Hector Lavoe, Orquesta Flamboyan, the TNT Band, Ralfi Pagan, Joey Pastrana, King Nando, Ralph Robles, Ray Jay, the Lat-Teens, Johnny Zamot, Kako y su Combo, and Primitivo Santos.

When Bonilla began booking acts, most Latin artists and bands stayed within their geographic areas. He became one of the first promoters to bring the New York scene to places like Chicago, Ohio, Boston, Washington, Philadelphia, Connecticut, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. And, he didn't stop there - by the late '60s and early '70s, Bonilla was responsible for 90% of the music going to Panama for carnivals and holidays. Prior to the Fania days, he developed working relationships with Venezuela, Curacao, Aruba, Martinique, Guadeloupe, and the Virgin Islands. Bonilla booked Orchestra Broadway's first trip to Venezuela and promoter Ralph Mercado's first trip out of the country, to Curacao, as an agent for Eddie Palmieri.

Bonilla went on to advise and manage stars like Ray Barretto, Ismael Rivera, Monguito "El Unico," Eddie Santiago, Frankie Ruiz, and Vitín Avilés. Bonilla mentioned to me that Avilés credits him with giving the singer the confidence necessary to go out as a soloist.

1989 was the year that Bonilla discovered Orquesta de la Luz, an all-Japanese salsa orchestra from Tokyo. Bonilla refused to listen to those in the industry who told him he was wasting his time. He points out proudly, "At the time that salsa was at its lowest point - the Latin market was dominated by ballads and merengue. My booking and tours of Orquesta de la Luz renewed interest in salsa in many of the East Coast states, and in South and Central America." Bonilla added that salsa became the "new wave" music for Japanese youth.