Author: Juan Montenegro

Orquesta Aragon!! The best Charanga or simply the one that lasted longest? Listen to Orquesta Aragon from the 1950’s to now on the next LATIN EXPLOSION. Plus, Charanga competitor Arcano y su Maravillas, Roy Ayers and much more. LATIN EXPLOSION, Friday, 7-9am, WSLR 96.5 FM Sarasota, stream https://wslr.org/ or listen anytime https://archive.wslr.org. “Separala Tambien, Espiritu […]

David Amram is The Interview tomorrow! Composer, arranger, conductor David Amram was chosen by Leonard Bernstein to be the New York Philharmonic’s first Composer in Residence (1966)! We will play music from his album Havana New York (1977), talk about West Side Story and his current project in Kentucky. Plus, singers Albita, Brazilian percussionist Airto […]

LOS VAN VAN are back! For decades Cuba’s No. 1 Dance band! WILFRIDO VARGAS shares the show! Friday May 28, LATIN EXPLOSION! 7-9am EST, WSLR 96.5FM SARASOTA, or https://archive.wslr.org/ “Soy Todo!”

Bob Koester, owner of Chicago’s Jazz Record Mart, passed away this month. I’ll be joining Dadeeo on Collectors Corner when we interview Chicago music critic Howard Mandel​. Read his Chicago Reader story below. Collectors Corner, Sunday 1-3pm, WSLR 96.5 FM Sarasota, stream https://wslr.org/ or listen anytime https://archive.wslr.org/ https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/bob-koester-obituary-jazz-record-mart-delmark/Content?oid=88843266

CANTANTES DE AYER! Miguelito, Vicentico, Orlando! Singers from the 1950’s! Their stories and their great voices on Latin Explosion! Plus Salsero band leader Bobby Valentin and, Los Rumberos part 2!  Friday May 21 2021, 7-9A Eastern, WSLR 96.5FM Sarasota and on https://archive.wslr.org/

LATIN EXPLOSION focuses on NYC Rumberos including Totico, Puntilla and Daniel Ponce. Los Rumberos performed at Orchard Beach in the Bronx, Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem and Central Park. And in the clubs Soundscape and New Rican Village. It all started at the Peruvian Embassy! Benjamin Lapidus, author of the must-read “New York and the […]

WSLR’s own DADEE-O, host of Collectors Corner, with famed drummer Barrett Deems in Chicago in the the 1990’s. If you’ve seen the movie “High Society” with Louis Armstrong you saw Barrett Deems taking the drum solo! I’ll be joining DADEE-O this Sunday with more Chicago and Sarasota music stories. Collectors Corner, Sunday 1-3pm WSLR 96.5 […]

When was the last time you heard Son14? Or Sonora Ponceña for that matter? You will hear plenty of both on LATIN EXPLOSION this week. And that’s not all…Poncho Sanchez and his Latin jazz and much more. Friday, 7-9am est, WSLR 96.5 FM Sarasota, stream at https://wslr.org/ or anytime at https://archive.wslr.org/. “Fuego en el 23!”

Mongo Santamaria special this Friday! From “Afro-Blue” to “Watermelon Man” and everything in between. Plus Carlos Santana and The Interview with author Benjamin Lapidus. LATIN EXPLOSION, Friday, 7-9am, WSLR 96.5 FM Sarasota, stream at wslr.org or listen anytime https://archive.wslr.org/ Mongo and me during 70’s and 80’s Chicago!

A trip to Woodstock, Montreux, and The Village Gate with Carlos Santana and Mongo Santamaria on LATIN EXPLOSION! Plus, The Interview with Benjamin Lapidus on his new book “New York and the International Sound of Latin Music 1940-1990.” LATIN EXPLOSION Friday, 7-9am, WSLR 96.5. FM Sarasota, listen live https://wslr.org/ or anytime https://archive.wslr.org/ “Evil Ways!”