A bite from the apple

Latin Beat Magazine, Feb, 1997 by Nelson Rodriguez

1997 is well on its way with genuinely good recordings and re-releases on CD for the first time.

The year ended on a big note for vocalist TITO NIEVES. The single I Like It recorded for the movie soundtrack I Like It reached the number one spot at WKTU while getting heavy airplay at stations such as WSKQ (La Mega) and other top stations across the United States. This house remix by Bobby D'Ambrosio was originally produced in the sixties by Pete Rodríguez's musical director, Tony Pabon (the original can be heard on the national Burger King commercial). Pabon owns Ritmo Records on 10th Avenue and hopefully is being properly rewarded by the popularity of the single. Columbia has asked Nieves to go on tour to support the hit as vocalist of the Blackout All-Stars. Tito also completed his all-English CD that includes four new tunes produced by Ricky González. Ricky and Tito chose to record salsa versions of Nilsson's Without You and the Carpenters' I Won't Last A Day Without You. Enjoyable is the romantic medley of R&B classics by Tavares (Check it Out), Brenda & The Tabulations (Right On The Tip of my Tongue), the Dramatics (In The Rain), and the Originals (Tbe Bells). Rapper Fat Joe joins Nieves on the classic Carole King hit Too Late. AII this while the "Pavarroti of Salsa" begins his next salsa CD. To top it all off, Tito's wife Irma gave birth to a healthy baby boy named Humberto Nieves Jr. Congratulations.

One of the hottest groups of the eighties was MANNY OQUENDO & LIBRE, who are back with an outstanding CD recorded live in San Francisco's Bimbo 365 Club entitled On The Move (Muevete). Herman Olivera and Frankie Vásquez handle the vocals on this CD that include the Latin jazz single Lester Leaps In and a medley with the hits Porque Tu Sufres, No Critiques and Vengo Sabroso.

GUILLO RIVERA, a vocalist of the seventies and well known in Puerto Rico, is best remembered for his duets with Junior Toledo. Check out his CD La Linea with that rich typical salsa sound. Guillo recorded for Performance Records.

BOBBY VALENTIN reemerges with a new CD, Symbol Of Prestige with the veteran vocalist Johnny Vásquez and newcomers Ivan Rivera & Marima. I was impressed with Marima's tunes.

DOMINIC is a young salsero with a debut CD, Nuestro Amor, anda huge hit, Pasado, Pasado. The CD has more possibilities in Ven Rumbero, Anelo and Dime Por Que.

LOS TITANES' new CD, back with Alberto Barros, has united the band and inspired some great renditions of Poco a Poco, Fue Candela, Perdoname, Licencia Para Amar, and Tan Cerca y Tan Lejos. The vocalists Enrique and Saulo Sanchez stand out.

MICHEL CAMILO will perform at this year's Gavin Music Convention in New Orleans. Michel Camilo's new CD, Thru My Eyes, just hit the streets.

Son del Solar percussionist RALPH IRIZARRY has recorded a demo tape that should do very well on any label. The catch is always being able to work it.

MARC ANTHONY was voted by Billboard as the Number I Hot Tropical/Salsa Artist of 1996 as he nears the 500,000 unir mark in sales. It will be RMM's first RIAA Gold Certified CD and tape. Marc is in the Broadway play Capeman, a Paul Simon musical. His 1997 performances will be limited. His upcoming CD will include ballads also redone in salsa, a first for him, RMM and the industry.

Kudos to my good friend ALDO MARIN of Cutting Records, one of the label pioneers of Latin freestyle music, who over the years has ventured into house and reggae. Now Aldo is into Latin music with the merengue group Cuerpo y Alma. Check out their hit Pum, Pum, Pum, originally done by the Canadian act Outhere Brothers as Boom, Boom, Boom. The popularity at clubs and radio should make this merengue version a sure hit.

Kudos also go to OMAR AGUILERA of WRYM's La Gigante in his 28 years of radio. For close to 20 years Omar has been broadcasting live transmissions into Connecticut from Puerto Rico, during the holidays. This year's parrandas included travels to Ponce, Comerio, Orocovis and Juana Diaz. Salseros loved the Orocovis celebration with El Gran Combo and Grupo Jataca. Congratulations Omar!

BOBBY CRUZ (of Ricardo Ray and Bobby Cruz fame) has put together a book and CD project with Isidro Infante as producer of the musical CD. The music is new salsa with a medley of classic tunes. While many of you may know that Bobby Cruz is a minister, the CD is not about religious music.

CORRINE LeBROWN is the daughter of one of the Lebron Brothers, Angel, and has completed her first salsa renditions as a solo artist that include Mariah Carey's Siempre Seras Mi Baby and Celine Dion's Porque Me Amaste.

From Germany emerges CONEXION LATINA with a very danceable salsa CD. Over the years, this outfit, originally a Latín jazz group, has changed its format to dance music with vocals and chorus. Nicky Marrero has now been with the group for several years. Anthony Martínez and Javier Plaza handle the vocals. Anthony at one time was a member of La Solución. The CD, La Conexión, is their fourth CD and was recorded live at Schlachthof, Munich on October 17, 1995. The band has come a long way and sounds great.