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DJ Carmen La Salsera4Ever
| La Salsa Vive With DJ Carmen La Salsera4Ever |
There are smart ways to listen to any kind of
music, and not-so-smart ways—one can go
through life taking in the sounds that you enjoy,
and not caring a bit about their origins, or the
reasons for the music's being; or one can
appreciate the story behind the music. I have
loved Latin music all my life. My love of music
started very early. By the time that I was 8 years
of age, I’ve been exposed to a great variety of
music. My father was a musician, a writer, and a
great dancer. He loved to party. In our house
there was music and party every weekend. You
can say that I have always had an exceptional
musical background in my life. I've loved Salsa in
particular. I loved it before it was salsa. You can
say I am a natural DJ. My father had a great
selection of Vinyl, 78 rpm (this was the late 50’s,
LOL) In those days, instead of stereo system, they
had those funny looking RCA, they used to call
pick up.
music, and not-so-smart ways—one can go
through life taking in the sounds that you enjoy,
and not caring a bit about their origins, or the
reasons for the music's being; or one can
appreciate the story behind the music. I have
loved Latin music all my life. My love of music
started very early. By the time that I was 8 years
of age, I’ve been exposed to a great variety of
music. My father was a musician, a writer, and a
great dancer. He loved to party. In our house
there was music and party every weekend. You
can say that I have always had an exceptional
musical background in my life. I've loved Salsa in
particular. I loved it before it was salsa. You can
say I am a natural DJ. My father had a great
selection of Vinyl, 78 rpm (this was the late 50’s,
LOL) In those days, instead of stereo system, they
had those funny looking RCA, they used to call
pick up.
Well I learned how to master this equipment, and was the one in charge of
brightening up the weekly parties at home, by spinning the music of my choice. This
was based in the knowledge of my father preference. I knew my father favored all the
Cuban sounds, so most of the times, I was playing the music of el trio Matamoros,
Antonio Machin, Machito , Arsenio Rodriguez, Beny Moret, cortijo y su combo, Billos
Caracas Boys, and the list goes on.. I always knew what to play to get people in the
mood for dancing. I grew up with the Afro Cuban music, as well as the voices and
rhythm of all those great Cuban, Puerto Rican, Venezuelan and Latin Americans
musicians of that era.
In addition, my mother instilled in me the love for the classical music, the danzones,
Tangos, boleros and the jibaro music. My favorite in the Jibaro genre was Odilio
Gonzalez “El Jibarito De Lares,” this is something that I shared in common with
Hector Lavoe. One night, at a club in NYC, I mentioned to him how I had all the
Jibarito De Lares music. I had to practically recite more than 10 songs, before he
was convinced that I knew about the music of this great Jibaro singer we both loved
and admired.
It was during these family parties, that my love for the Afro Cuban music, which later
gave birth to our salsa, really made my blood flow, for some reason, I’ve always felt
my body and mind possessed by this music. I like to listen, and to feel the music. I
love to dance, as much as I can. For me, La Salsa is a rhythm without rules but with
the same passion where the bodies are taken magically by the same effect and the
rhythm, specially, when you feel, these Afro Caribbean sound in your soul. These
sounds are very important in the salsa music; like the percussion, which is played by
a wide variety of instruments, including claves, cowbells, timbales and conga. Apart
from percussion, other core instruments are the trumpets, trombones, and bass
guitar. Other melodic instruments are commonly used as accompaniment, such as a
guitar, the piano and many others, all depending on the performing artists. Bands
typically consist of up to a dozen people, one of whom serves as band leader,
directing the music as it is played. In salsa you can hear the maracas, claves, güiro,
the bongo, campana, trumpets saxophone, trombones. This composition of
instrument, that are needed to get the right sound in this music, to me is what makes
it sort of holy.
Very important is to note that Salsa music is mostly played in a clave 3–2 as a main
different from the majority of traditional Cuban music but, both share the same time
in a scale. I learned this later on by my father who was a musician, and was my
teacher in many of the basic things I know about many issues in life... So I
understood that when I felt possessed by this music it had to do with the African
rhythm and instrument that are part of this music.
I was born from Dominican Parents in the Dominican Republic. Grew up in the South
Bronx, NY. By the age of 13, I was collecting music, all kinds; Afro Cuban, Bogaloo,
the salsa was not born yet. I had a great collection of Cuban danzones, Guarachas,
mambo, rumba, bomba, cha chac cha, Jazz, plenas, R&B, Rock and Roll, soul etc. I
believed all these great musician of our culture, in the late 60’s through the 70’s,
created the Rhythm of Life.
I started promoting salsa event in the early 70’s. I also acted as the DJ in many of my
own events back then. I was a regular feature dancing and socializing in all the Latin
clubs of that era. . While I consider myself very knowledgeable in many different
types of music, due to my extensive and vast music collection and many years or
research. I believe my greatest skill has always been in mixing salsa and Latin Jazz.
La Salsa continue to runs in my blood and this rhythm has contributed to many
things I’ve achieved in my life, by inspiring me to do and be better every day. To me
salsa is a form of philosophy, a religion. Salsa has been a source of healing many
wounds. Has been more curative and a great therapy. Today I share my passion with
anyone who will listen. I host my own Salsa radio show, since 2008 here at hardsalsa.
com “La Salsa Vive,”
I continually research the lives and stories of our music's pioneers and present day
performers. In the early 80’s I steered away from the Latin Club scene. Albeit, not
from salsa. The parties were held in my house every weekend, with friends and
family, where I continued to collect more music, and to DJ my domestic events. I got
married, decided to have a family, go back to school and get an education. My
background is in Business Administration, and, IT. I am a product of CUNY and
proud of it. I still believe you could get the best education in these City Colleges and
State University, and you can achieve a lot. After a long and successful career,
working as a controller and IT administrator for over 30 years, in diverse companies
in the corporate world, and completing the task of raising my family. Two years ago I
decided to take a brake and go back to my first love…. Salsa.
Until last September I was the host, producer and promoter of a Sunday salsa event,
“Bamboleate Sunday” This event was held in different venues, in NYC. It’s currently
on hold now, most likely, it would start again sometime in early summer. It’s my goal
to help in bringing the salsa back to NYC. I spend a great deal of time communicating
with DJ’s, musician, Salsa music lovers and dancers from around the world. I also
make it a point to hit the New York club scene, every week to see what is going on
with the salsa, speak to the New York salseros and promoters, dance school
instructors and Directors. I like to inquire on their experiences. I really enjoy the
company of People interested in the history of our music and culture.
In the future, I would like to interview musician and share their stories, their
influences, their contribution to the growth of this genre in the United States, their
struggles and successes and their thoughts on where the music has been and where
it is going.
While Reggaeton and other fusion music, may have replaced or displaced salsa for
now. Salsa still remains the central sonorous expression of many Latinos in the USA;
Salsa remains a symbolic, popular discourse, which still triggers new intercultural
spaces on the dance floor, of many night clubs, all over the world. To my way of
thinking, based on my modest knowledge of music, the Salsa is nothing but a
reproduction and reinvention of traditional Cuban music, with a mix of the bomba,
plena and the diverse African rhythms of the Santeria religion.
This may be a conception that many music expert may disagree with me. However
when you are listening to salsa, you hear a little bit of the traditional Cuban son, you
hear the African beat, you hear bomba you hear plena, you hear some Jazz, this
music was also influence in some way by the African American, soul and Funk. So
here I am with “La Salsa Vive” 4 days a week, trying to improved every show, to bring
you the best music, there is out there, to be able and tell you about this music, their
interpreter, and whenever I can share with you some anecdotes, about some of
these great musicians that are gone and I had the pleasure of meeting, or tell you
something about the ones that are alive. What they’re doing, where they are, when
and where they are playing.
brightening up the weekly parties at home, by spinning the music of my choice. This
was based in the knowledge of my father preference. I knew my father favored all the
Cuban sounds, so most of the times, I was playing the music of el trio Matamoros,
Antonio Machin, Machito , Arsenio Rodriguez, Beny Moret, cortijo y su combo, Billos
Caracas Boys, and the list goes on.. I always knew what to play to get people in the
mood for dancing. I grew up with the Afro Cuban music, as well as the voices and
rhythm of all those great Cuban, Puerto Rican, Venezuelan and Latin Americans
musicians of that era.
In addition, my mother instilled in me the love for the classical music, the danzones,
Tangos, boleros and the jibaro music. My favorite in the Jibaro genre was Odilio
Gonzalez “El Jibarito De Lares,” this is something that I shared in common with
Hector Lavoe. One night, at a club in NYC, I mentioned to him how I had all the
Jibarito De Lares music. I had to practically recite more than 10 songs, before he
was convinced that I knew about the music of this great Jibaro singer we both loved
and admired.
It was during these family parties, that my love for the Afro Cuban music, which later
gave birth to our salsa, really made my blood flow, for some reason, I’ve always felt
my body and mind possessed by this music. I like to listen, and to feel the music. I
love to dance, as much as I can. For me, La Salsa is a rhythm without rules but with
the same passion where the bodies are taken magically by the same effect and the
rhythm, specially, when you feel, these Afro Caribbean sound in your soul. These
sounds are very important in the salsa music; like the percussion, which is played by
a wide variety of instruments, including claves, cowbells, timbales and conga. Apart
from percussion, other core instruments are the trumpets, trombones, and bass
guitar. Other melodic instruments are commonly used as accompaniment, such as a
guitar, the piano and many others, all depending on the performing artists. Bands
typically consist of up to a dozen people, one of whom serves as band leader,
directing the music as it is played. In salsa you can hear the maracas, claves, güiro,
the bongo, campana, trumpets saxophone, trombones. This composition of
instrument, that are needed to get the right sound in this music, to me is what makes
it sort of holy.
Very important is to note that Salsa music is mostly played in a clave 3–2 as a main
different from the majority of traditional Cuban music but, both share the same time
in a scale. I learned this later on by my father who was a musician, and was my
teacher in many of the basic things I know about many issues in life... So I
understood that when I felt possessed by this music it had to do with the African
rhythm and instrument that are part of this music.
I was born from Dominican Parents in the Dominican Republic. Grew up in the South
Bronx, NY. By the age of 13, I was collecting music, all kinds; Afro Cuban, Bogaloo,
the salsa was not born yet. I had a great collection of Cuban danzones, Guarachas,
mambo, rumba, bomba, cha chac cha, Jazz, plenas, R&B, Rock and Roll, soul etc. I
believed all these great musician of our culture, in the late 60’s through the 70’s,
created the Rhythm of Life.
I started promoting salsa event in the early 70’s. I also acted as the DJ in many of my
own events back then. I was a regular feature dancing and socializing in all the Latin
clubs of that era. . While I consider myself very knowledgeable in many different
types of music, due to my extensive and vast music collection and many years or
research. I believe my greatest skill has always been in mixing salsa and Latin Jazz.
La Salsa continue to runs in my blood and this rhythm has contributed to many
things I’ve achieved in my life, by inspiring me to do and be better every day. To me
salsa is a form of philosophy, a religion. Salsa has been a source of healing many
wounds. Has been more curative and a great therapy. Today I share my passion with
anyone who will listen. I host my own Salsa radio show, since 2008 here at hardsalsa.
com “La Salsa Vive,”
I continually research the lives and stories of our music's pioneers and present day
performers. In the early 80’s I steered away from the Latin Club scene. Albeit, not
from salsa. The parties were held in my house every weekend, with friends and
family, where I continued to collect more music, and to DJ my domestic events. I got
married, decided to have a family, go back to school and get an education. My
background is in Business Administration, and, IT. I am a product of CUNY and
proud of it. I still believe you could get the best education in these City Colleges and
State University, and you can achieve a lot. After a long and successful career,
working as a controller and IT administrator for over 30 years, in diverse companies
in the corporate world, and completing the task of raising my family. Two years ago I
decided to take a brake and go back to my first love…. Salsa.
Until last September I was the host, producer and promoter of a Sunday salsa event,
“Bamboleate Sunday” This event was held in different venues, in NYC. It’s currently
on hold now, most likely, it would start again sometime in early summer. It’s my goal
to help in bringing the salsa back to NYC. I spend a great deal of time communicating
with DJ’s, musician, Salsa music lovers and dancers from around the world. I also
make it a point to hit the New York club scene, every week to see what is going on
with the salsa, speak to the New York salseros and promoters, dance school
instructors and Directors. I like to inquire on their experiences. I really enjoy the
company of People interested in the history of our music and culture.
In the future, I would like to interview musician and share their stories, their
influences, their contribution to the growth of this genre in the United States, their
struggles and successes and their thoughts on where the music has been and where
it is going.
While Reggaeton and other fusion music, may have replaced or displaced salsa for
now. Salsa still remains the central sonorous expression of many Latinos in the USA;
Salsa remains a symbolic, popular discourse, which still triggers new intercultural
spaces on the dance floor, of many night clubs, all over the world. To my way of
thinking, based on my modest knowledge of music, the Salsa is nothing but a
reproduction and reinvention of traditional Cuban music, with a mix of the bomba,
plena and the diverse African rhythms of the Santeria religion.
This may be a conception that many music expert may disagree with me. However
when you are listening to salsa, you hear a little bit of the traditional Cuban son, you
hear the African beat, you hear bomba you hear plena, you hear some Jazz, this
music was also influence in some way by the African American, soul and Funk. So
here I am with “La Salsa Vive” 4 days a week, trying to improved every show, to bring
you the best music, there is out there, to be able and tell you about this music, their
interpreter, and whenever I can share with you some anecdotes, about some of
these great musicians that are gone and I had the pleasure of meeting, or tell you
something about the ones that are alive. What they’re doing, where they are, when
and where they are playing.
| Listen To La Salsa Vive (Pre-Recorded) Sundays 12pm EST Thursdays 1pm EST Link: www.HardSalsa.com |
