Author: Juan Montenegro

Ruben Blades and Willie Bobo are up this Friday the 13th! Willie Bobo started with George Shearing, then Cal Tjader hired him and Mongo Santamaria. In 1965 Willie Bobo went on his own, recording seven albums with Verve Records. Ruben Blades is another story; actor, singer, songwriter, musician, (Willie Colon, Fania All Stars) activist, politician, […]

RAY BARRETTO’s FANIA years! That’s the next Latin Explosion show, May 6 2022! Ray Barretto signed with Fania Records from 1968 until 1975, releasing 11 classic albums in those seven years! “ACID” was the first (produced by Harvey Averne, cover by Izzy Sanabria) and “BARRETTO” (produced by Ray Barretto, cover by Izzy Sanabria) the final […]

DANCEMANIA (1958) was on the list of the NY Times “Critics’ Choices; 25 Albums of the 20th Century”, from 1/3/2000. We are featuring DANCEMANIA, the only Latin album on the list, on LATIN EXPLOSION, tomorrow. Plus Ray Barretto and more. Friday, 7-9AM, WSLR 96.5FM Sarasota and your friendly local Pacifica network station that carries the […]

Orquesta Aragon, Arcano y sus Maravillas, Roy Ayers Ubiquity, Bamboleo and more. We bring you all the favorites on LATIN EXPLOSION! SOMETHING NEW! The Best Salsa, Latin Jazz and Afro-Cuban albums of the 20th Century! See the albums our critics are selecting! Catch our initial BEST OF monthly show, April 29 with the first one: […]

LATIN EXPLOSION, for April 8. Some old, and some new? Listen and find out! Adalberto Alvarez, 1992, Chico Alvarez, 2021, Eddie Palmieri, 1984, Afrocubism, 2010. Older or newer, which do you prefer? That’s the next LATIN EXPLOSION, Friday, 7-9am Eastern, wslr.org or WSLR 96.5FM Sarasota. You’ll be able to stream this show until April 21, […]

Mongo Santamaria’s “Watermelon Man” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998. Santamaria was one of a group of congueros who came to the United States in the 40s and 50s; the others were Armando Peraza, Chano Pozo, Francisco Aguabella, Julito Collazo. Listen to Mongo Santamaria’s music and story. Salsa, Latin Jazz y […]

“The Big Three”, Machito, Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez, pulled in the crowds at NYC’s Palladium Ballroom from 1948 to 1966…This Friday its the story and the music of one of the “three”, Tito Rodriguez! Interviews about EL INOLVIDABLE’s life and times with Aurora Flores, writer at Izzy Sanabria’s Latin NY Magazine, Billboard, many others, […]

Ismael Rivera y sus Cachimbos, Reve y su Charangon, Orquesta Ritmo Oriental y la Orquesta Riverside con Tito Gomez! A trip down memory lane on the next LATIN EXPLOSION, From the 1950’s to the 1980’s and from Havana and Oriente to New York City. Friday January 28 7-9AM Eastern, wslr.org and on the radio, WSLR […]

Abelardo, Richie, Bobby, Pupi, Puerto Rico All Stars and more in the next Latin Explosion! 7-9AM Eastern, Friday January 21 wslr.org NEW! You can listen to LATIN EXPLOSION at different times and days on about a dozen Pacifica radio affiliates around the U.S. that now carry the show. Stream this program anytime until February 3. […]

Lazaro Ros is a singer, but more than that, an Akpuon lead singer. The choral response, or Ankori, is done by all present. Melodies and words of ancient origin sung in an archaic form of Yoruban. “CANTOS”, Lazaro Ros con Mezla (1992) is the CD we are featuring this Friday, January 7. The Interview is […]