New York's Latin Music Hall of Fame

Latin Beat Magazine, June-July, 1999 by Max Salazar

The invitation read, "The International Latin Music Hall of Fame 1999, welcomes you to the First Annual Induction and Award Ceremony, April 7, 1999 at Birdland (West 44 St. jazz club off 8th Avenue...signed by Joe Hernández, President."

Two hundred specially selected guests witnessed a historic event which began at 6:20 p.m., when former New York Daily News journalist Miguel Pérez initiated the festivities. Seated among mortals were the familiar faces of Israel López "Cachao," Johnny Pacheco, Chico O'Farrill, Candido Cameró, Hector Casanova, Ralph Mercado, Larry Harlow, Joe Cuba, Johnny Colón, Pete Terrace, Joe Quijano, Izzy Sanabria, Mario Grillo, Rudy Calzado, Alfredo Valdés Jr., Tito Rodríguez, Joe Bataan, Richard Bonilla, Connie Grossman, Orquesta Broadway's Eddy Zervigón, Salsa music radio personalities Vicki Sola, Chico Alvarez and Joe Gaines. Thirty three musicians, along with Latin music impresarios, Gerry Masucci, Ralph Mercado and Johnny Colón, popular bandleader of the '60s (whose East Harlem Music School has produced a number of proficient musicians), received Special Recognition Awards.

The most memorable moments on stage began with Vicki Sola from WFDU's Saturday radio program "Que Viva La Música" who said, "It is high time that Latin music had its own Hall of Fame, a permanent institution to recognize, honor and safeguard a truly magnificent culture. A place to educate all, Hispanic and non-Hispanic. It is high time that we paid tribute to our own, elevating this culture and its heroes to a rightful place of respect for all the world to see."

Tito Puente and his orchestra were in Japan, so he had a letter read which thanked the Hall of Fame committee and ended with his dream to be the first Latin bandleader to play on the moon.

Tito Rodríguez Jr., the son of the late bolero king who expired on February 28, 1972, accepted his father's posthumous award and said, "my father's been gone 27 years and he's still selling records."

Accepting the award for Benny Moré was his brother Miguel Angel Moré, who was emotionally choked up and unable to sing two songs made popular by his brother.

After receiving an award from pianist-bandleader Larry Harlow, Arsenio Rodríguez's brother Raul said, "all that has been said about Arsenio Rodríguez, has been said...there is no more to say."

Mario Grillo accepted an award for his father Machito and stated, "many people have told me 'I knew your father, he was a friend of mine."'

The evening at Birdland lasted until 8:30 p.m. and the celebration continued at the Club Maganette where Eddy Zervigón's Orquesta Broadway pleased dancers who love the Cuban sound of charanga music.

This night of recognition was made possible by Joe Hernández, the founder of the Hall of Fame, who established a committee of musicologists, historians, educators and artists. The selected site for the Hall of Fame will be located across from the New York Coliseum on 59th Street & 8th Avenue. Every year from now on the organization will honor inductees and celebrate the event.