Author: Juan Montenegro

Happy Holidays to you! On this show we play “the hits” by Tipica 73, Eddie Palmieri, Ruben Blades, Celia Cruz, Ray Barretto, Los Van Van, Arturo Sandoval, Cheo Feliciano, Johnny Pacheco and more, and mix them in with Holiday Favorites. The sketch is me, in the 70’s, the days of the original Latin Explosion show […]

Interview #1 with Mario Grillo (Machito Orchestra) and Harvey Averne (Coco Records) on Lalo Rodriguez, Puerto Rican singer and musician who passed away Tuesday. RIP Lalo! Interview #2 with Sammy Figueroa about the life and music of Carlos “Patato” Valdes. Sammy followed Patato in Herbie Mann’s band! Plus, the music of Omara Portuondo, Daniel Ponce […]

“Turn the Beat Around”, an exhibition now at The Wolfsonian-FIU, Miami Beach. This Friday, December 9, 7-9AM, listen to the interview with Francis Xavier Luca, PhD and curator. Available to stream until December 22 WSLR 96.5 Community Radio John Radanovich, author of “Wildman of Rhythm”, added us to the guest list at this party by […]

LATIN EXPLOSION goes on the road! We were in Paris, France in September and in Chicago, Illinois in November; music and history all around! Record stores and museums! Saw African-American Josephine Baker’s resting place. Ms Baker continues to make history to this day, now alongside the great men of France at the Pantheon! Eiffel Tower, […]

EDDIE PALMIERI Part 1 on the next LATIN EXPLOSION, a 20th Century Salsa, Latin Jazz and Afro-Cuban radio show! Friday, November 18! 7-9AM Eastern, wslr.org, WSLR 96.5FM Sarasota, KPFT 91.1 Houston, and other Pacifica affiliates. Stream it until December 1 at wslr.org Eddie Palmieri’s recording career until 1975: La Perfecta, Alegre 1962 With Ismael Quintana […]

This Friday we feature the co-founder of Fania Records, director of his own band and of the Fania All Stars; Johnny Pacheco, “El Alcalde de la Calle Ocho”; Carlos Oliva, “La Primerisima Orquesta de Puerto Rico”; Tommy Olivencia, Havana hip hoppers; Orishas, and more! 7-9AM Friday 11/11 wslr.org and WSLR 96.5FM Sarasota Florida. Stream this […]

NY Latin Jazz with Arturo O’Farrill and Havana Timba by NG la Banda. Plus more 20th Century, Latin Jazz and Afro Cuban music.

1990’s latin jazz with flute player Orlando Maraca, 1950’s New York latin jazz with Sabu Martinez plus Sergio Mendez on LATIN EXPLOSION Friday October 21! 7-9AM wslr.org, WSLR 96.5FM, Sarasota, and at a few Pacifica stations around the country. Is there one near you? Tell them about LATIN EXPLOSION! WSLR FALL MEMBERSHIP DRIVE is 10/19 […]

Machito and His Afro-Cubans on LATIN EXPLOSION! Band leader Machito, with vocalist Graciela, arrangers Mario Bauza, Rene Hernandez, Jose “Pin” Madera, Ray Santos, A.K. Salim, Chico O’Farrill, musician Dizzy Gillespie, album producers Norman Granz, Harvey Averne and other collaborators created Cubop, and Latin Jazz in the 1930’s and 40’s. We interview musician “Machito Jr”, Mario […]

Flutist Herbie Mann, Conjunto Libre, singer La Lupe, drummer “BUYU” Mangual and more 20th Century Salsa, Latin Jazz, and Afrocuban music on the next Latin Explosion, Friday October 7, 7-9AM, on WSLR 96.5FM, Sarasota and wslr.org The FALL MEMBERSHP DRIVE is October 19 to 25. Support Latin Explosion and WSLR with a contribution! WSLR 96.5 […]