Welcome To Hard Salsa Radio
Home of The Classics and Future Legends!
|
Help Us Stay On The Air. Visit Our
Sponsors
|
The Little Boy Who Hated Hard Salsa Music!
|
Once upon a time, in a city (New York City) where Latin Hard Salsa began and was
exploding in popularity in the 1970’s, a young boy by the name of Andres Padua at the age
of 5 was born with a deep hatred for Latin music especially Salsa, Boogaloo, Cha Cha Cha,
Descargas and other Salsa genres. During his younger years, his music preference was
Sweet Doo Wop, Motown, early Disco, Rock, Sweet Soul, R&B Funk and Sweet
Jazz. His favorite artists were Stevie Wonder who appeared on Sesame Street in 1973,
The Temptations, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, Sammy Davis Jr., Tom Jones,
Manhattans, Little Anthony and the Imperials and early disco diva groups like The
Three Degrees who made an appearance on one his favorite TV Sitcom shows “Sanford
and Son.” Andres at the age of 5, was quite an unusual child. Whenever one of his
favorite Soul and R&B artist was going to make an appearance on a particular TV show he
would stay up to watch his favorite artist whether it was on Sanford and Son, Good Times,
Chico and The Man etc. Nothing would stop little Andres from watching his favorite Soul
artist on TV.
One day at the age of 7, while visiting his beloved dear aunt Sonia, Andres discovered from his aunt’s record
collection a weird vinyl record he had never seen before. He was only familiar with 7-inch 45rpm records and
12-inch LP vinyl records he owned from his favorite Soul and R&B artists. This weird vinyl record was more of a
metallic material and not flexible like normal vinyl records. The credits were written by hand and not on a print
type set label. Andres also notice this metal vinyl was a 10 inch record like a 78rpm.
Curious from its appearance, he took the record and ran to another bedroom where there was a phonograph
and began to play this weird vinyl. He played Side A and fell in love with the tune on this weird metallic vinyl.
This weird vinyl was actually the test press copy of the sweet Latin Soul song by Joe Acosta “I need her.” On
Side B was Joe Acosta’s Hard Salsa song “Bendita Illusion.” Andres hated the hard salsa song “Bendita
illusion” and never played it. He even hated Celia Cruz's Salsa tune "Quimbara" that was played every time his
family had a private party. Andres and his uncle Felix would run out of the room screaming as they covered
their ears yelling "Not again. Oh God this music stinks."
Andres was curious to find out about the song "I Need Her" and the genre type of this music he never heard of.
He approached his aunt Sonia who owned the test press record and asked her “What is this slow music that
sounds like doo wop? This music is the joint." (The joint was a slang term of the 70’s for "great, awesome and
fantastic"). Young Andres was hungry for more Latin Soul music. His aunt Sonia explained “I need her" by Joe
Acosta is a Latin Soul tune. If you want to hear more Latin Soul Tunes like "I Need Her" there is a radio disc
jockey that has a show on the radio called "THE LATIN SOUL SHOW."
The radio disc jockey his aunt Sonia was referring to was Symphony Sid, the radio host for The Latin Soul Show
in the 60's and early 1970s on WEVD in New York City. Andres began to discover many artists recording sweet
Latin Soul music he was falling in love with including songs by Ralfi Pagan, Joe Bataan, Orquesta Dee Jay,
Joe Cuba, La Lupe and a host of others. At this point of time, little Andres was receiving vinyl records as
Christmas gifts from his aunt Sonia and his uncle Henry who was a club DJ in the 60’s and 70’s. Many family
members considered Andres a strange child who was not really interested in toys. He only wanted records
particularly sweet Latin Soul music.
During Andres teenage years in the 1980's, he began to have an interest in Hard Salsa music including
Boogaloo, Cha Cha Cha, Guaguanco, Classic Mambo, Descargas, Son Montuno and other Salsa genres that
he hated with a passion when he was in younger years. In the 1980’s this music was unpopular in New York
City and was difficult to find in record stores. The music genre that was gaining much popularity in the 80s was
Romantic Salsa, Merengue, Batchata and pop Latino music from groups like "Menudo." Commercial radio at
this point was now playing music he was not interested in.
At about the age 15 during the Menudo Era, Andres only had a few hundred of Hard Salsa albums in his
record collection and was determined to find all of the Hard Salsa Artists he hated during the Latin Americana
days when Symphony Sid was on the air in the 60's and 70's. He attended many record conventions in the
early 90’s with his uncle Henry and hopefully they would find records from those artists Andres hated when he
was younger. Amazingly, the young boy who hated Hard Salsa music was now hunting vigorously for the music
he had a contemptuous malice, HARD SALSA MUSIC.
The Latin Soul Show Radio Launches in 2005
35 years later after Symphony Sid goes off the air in 1973, Padua launches an
internet radio station July 15th 2005 calling it THE LATIN SOUL SHOW RADIO
via Live365 network. The Latin Soul Show was the original name for the radio
show in the late 60’s and early 70's hosted by Sid Torin AKA Symphony Sid on
WEVD Radio in New York City. Joey Pastrana recorded the opening Boogaloo
tune "Sid Walk” for the show and later Joe Bataan followed by other artists.
Andres was unaware Joe Bataan one of his favorite Sweet Latin Soul artist
recorded an opening song for The Symphony Sid Show in 70's. He only
remembered Joey Pastrana's opening tune of the show "Sid Walk."
The first few months after its launch, The Latin Soul Show radio only had 10 peaked listeners. The playlist was
taken from Andres Padua’s limited record collection, which only contained Sweet Latin Soul, limited Boogaloo and
very limited Classic Hard Salsa tunes. Padua was about to throw in the towel and shut down the radio station
after 4 months on the air until one day in November 2005 when he received an email he will never forget from a
listener who has changed and molded The Latin Soul Show Radio to one of the most popular radio stations on
the internet.
NICK AGUIRRE SALSA DURA SHOW MAKES A KILLING ON THE LATIN SOUL
SHOW RADIO!
Nick Aguirre a record collector emails Andres on November 2005 with a short email message stating “Hey, I have
some rare Salsa music for your radio station. Lets do a show called THE SALSA DURA SHOW on The Latin Soul
Show Radio.” Andres who was about to shut down the Latin Soul Show Radio station replied with very little
interest stated “Yeah sure, why heck not. However, lets call your show "Nick Aguirre's Salsa Dura Show. There
are too many Salsa Dura Shows on the internet. Since you’re going to mix a set from your rare vinyl collection,
lets call the show THE NICK AGUIRRE'S SALSA DURA SHOW. The show should be named after you.” said
Andres.
Incredibly, when the Nick Aguirre’s Salsa Dura Show aired January 2006 on Latin Soul Show Radio, over 50
listeners tuned in to the live show. Several listeners from various countries were begging The Latin Soul Show
radio for an encore show and asking when will a new Nick Aguirre Salsa Dura Show air on the station? There is
no question about it. Nick Aguirre’s Salsa Dura Show became a big hit on The Latin Soul Show radio. Other DJs
from various countries were featured on Nick Aguirre Salsa Dura Show spinning their awesome Salsa Dura sets
including DJ Duste (India), DJ Dave (Germany), DJ Kimos (Germany), DJ Tono La Conga (Mexico) and many DJs
that loves Salsa Dura classics.
THE LATIN SOUL SHOW RADIO CHANGES ITS NAME TO HARD SALSA RADIO AIRING NEW
INTERNATIONAL SALSA ARTISTS FROM VARIOUS COUNTRIES!
On January 25 2008, Andres Padua’s 40th Birthday, he decided to change the name The Latin Soul Show Radio
to Hard Salsa Radio. Under its new name, the station continues to air classic Sweet Latin Soul tunes, Boogaloo
and Salsa classics that Andres hated during his younger years. Padua was going to name the station SALSA
DURA RADIO a Spanish name, however a DJ from Germany name DJ Kimos whose Salsa Dura set was recently
featured on Nick’s Salsa Show owned the website domain Salsa Dura. Andres then thought, since the website is
mainly in English, and when he hosts The Nick Aguirre’s Salsa Dura Show that is also broadcasted in English,
why not call the radio station HARD SALSA RADIO with a short domain address www.hardsalsa.com which would
be easier for fans and those visiting the site remember the short URL address.
This was an intelligent move on apart of Andres because within 3 months of its new name, the official site
averaged over 7,000 hits per month. Andres felt by having a long domain name like its original domain
www.thelatinsoulshow.com fans and listeners will not remember it. Salsa fans will remember the short English
name HARDSALSA.COM
HARD SALSA RADIO AIRS NEW INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL SALSA
ARTISTS
On February of 2008, Andres decided to create a myspace page for Hard Salsa Radio (www.myspace.
com/hardsalsaradio). With only 2 months of its publication, the page accomplished over 8,000 hits. The site
only featured classics album photos from Salsa Artists, 45rpms records and pictures of worldwide DJs spinning
the classic swinging Salsa Music on slideshows.
Andres received a request from someone to be his friend at myspace. This request came from a Salsa Band
called disLOCAdos from Ukraine (former Russian country.) Andres was really curious because he was not aware
of many non-Hispanic countries that had bands recording Hard Salsa music. He heard one of disLOCAdos songs
“Resaca” sung in Spanish and requested the band to submit the song to HARD SALSA RADIO for airplay.
Hard Salsa Radio listeners sent emails to the station when the song debuted asking, “Who is this band? Where
can I buy their CDs? Where are they from? Do they have a website?” disLOCAdos was the first international
band aired on HARD SALSA RADIO February 2008 that changed the format of the station. Hard Salsa radio now
airs many new independent and international Salsa Artists including “Israel Salsa Band (Israel), Alex Wilson
(United Kingdom), Orquesta Remembranzas (Puerto Rico) and many others. Salsa fans are now learning
through Hard Salsa Radio there are many artists not just in the USA and Puerto Rico who are recording quality
Hard Salsa Music.
Welcome To Hard Salsa Radio. Created by A Little Boy That Hated
The Music and Now Passionately Loves It!
|
Alex Wilson
(United Kingdom)
|
Astrid La
Holandesa
(Holand)
|
Rumba Caliente
(United Kingdom)
|
La Orquesta
Remembranzas
(Puerto Rico)
|
Mercadonegro
(Switzerland)
|
The Israel Salsa Band
(Israel)
|
Click on the LInks in This Story For Some Cool Surprises!
BELOW ARE ARTIST SYMPHONY
SID AND DICK RICARDO SUGAR
AIRED. YOU WILL NOT HEAR
MOST OF THESE LEGENDARY
SALSA ARTIST ON SATELLITE
RADIO OR COMMERCIAL RADIO.
Benito Sextet
Bobby Valentin
Bwana
Cafe
Cal Tjader
Candido Y Su Movimiento
Chaquin Garcia
Charlie Palmieri
Jose Chepito Areas
Chollo Rivera
Chacon Y Su Batirrtmicos
Chulito and The Latin Uniques
Creacion 75
Conjunto La Perla
Dax Pacem
Eddie Bastian
Eddie Lebron
Eddie Palmieri
El Chicano
El Gran Combo
El Gran Conjunto Universal
Fajaro Y Sus Estrellas
Frank Ferrer
Frankie Dante Y Markolino Dimond
Frankie Nieves
Freddie Rodriguez
Fredrico Y Su Combo Latino
Har You Percussion
Harvey Averne
Hector Rivera
Hector Lavoe
Hi-Latins
Joe Pappy and His Combo
Joe Cuba
Jimmy Sabater
Jobell
Joe Acosta Orquesta
Joe Bataan
Joe Quijano
Joey Pastrana
Jorge Santana
Johnny Colon
Johnny Sedes
Jose Chepito
Judge's Nephews
Justi Barretto
Kako and his Orchestra
King Nando
La Crema
La Lupe
La Cucaracha Brass
The Latinaires
The Lat-Teens
The Lebron Brothers
Lee Oskar
Malo
Mandrill
Mantrap
Manny Corchardo
Manu Dibango
Monchito and His Latin Swingers
Mongo Santamaria
New Generation
New Swing Sextet
Nester Torres
Ocho
Orquesta La Libertad
Orquesta Soledad
Orquesta Capri
Orquesta Olivieri
Orquesta Dee Jay
Orquesta Rodax
Osibisa
Paul Ortiz Y La Orchesta Son
Papo Felix
Pete Rodriguez
Pete Terrance
Pijuan and His Sextet
Poncho Sanchez
Quique Y La Sobrosa
Ralfi Pagan
Ray Rodriguez
Ray Barretto
Ray Texidor
Ralph Robles
Santana
Sapo
Seguida
Sunny and The Sunliners
Tito Rodriguez
Tito Puente
Tito Ramos
TNT Band
Titanic
Tough Pucho
Tony Middleton
War
Willie Bobo
Willie Baby Rodriguez
Willie Colon
Willie Melendez
Willie Rodriguez
Willie Rosario
Wiso Pagan
These are just a few artists
Symphony Sid and Dick Ricardo
Sugar Aired On their Radio Show
in the 60's and 70's. Hard Salsa
Radio airs every one of these
classic artists and over 1,000
other artists for a total of over
50,000 songs. That is a lot on our
playlist and our playlist continues
to grow.
Hard Salsa Radio is Powered by
Rock and Roll Hosting
|
The Evolution of Hard Salsa Music
|
Boogaloo &
Shing-A-Ling
1960s
|
Hard Salsa
2000 - 2008
Click on The Photos Below
|
O.K folks, hopefully you went through this whole web page. You read about the little boy that hated
Hard Salsa Music and his influences that converted him, you sampled all the Hard Salsa songs on this
page including the founding fathers of Hard Salsa and new artists you never heard before, you
viewed classic vintage video clips, you went through the EVOLUTION OF HARD SALSA and found out
HARD SALSA began sometime in the 1940's with Mambo Music.
Now the little boy is going to connect you to the radio station he created in 2005, featuring Hard Salsa
classics he hated with a passion and now dearly loves and new worldwide HARD SALSA ARTISTS,
ladies and gentlemen, we give you HARD SALSA RADIO. Enjoy the radio station.
Radio DJs That Continue
To Keep Hard Salsa Music
Alive in Our Generation
2008!
|
DJ Gury Gury
Viejoteca Show
Tue 6pm EST
CFRU 93.3 FM
Guelph, Canada
DJ Luis Speedy Gonzalez
Latin Jazz & Salsa
Sats 4pm EST
WMNF 88.5
Tampa, Florida
SYMPHONY SID RETIRES AND GOES OFF THE AIR 1973
While in Kindergarten, Andres learned Symphony Sid was retiring from radio and was
going off the air. Being so young, Andres did know the term "Retirement" or the
radio industry jargon "Going Off The Air" meant. All he knew, it sounded exciting and
he better tune in on WEVD, the radio station Symphony Sid was on. Andres was a
little confused when he tuned in to the show. He noticed famous artists on the
broadcast including Willie Colon, Ralfi Pagan and La Lupe where bidding farewell to
Symphony Sid like he was going away for a long time. After tunning in several weeks
on Mondays 10pm on WEVD radio, little Andres realized SYMPHONY SID WAS
GONE. Where is Symphony Sid? said little Andres.
Sid Torin (Symphony Sid)
1909 - 1984
|
THE FINAL BROADCAST OF SYMPHONY SID - RECORDED LIVE AT THE
CHEETAH (THE FAMOUS NYC CLUB WHERE MANY LEGENDARY HARD SALSA
ARTISTS PERFORMED AND BECAME FAMOUS WORLDWIDE.)
|
SYMPHONY SID INTRODUCES
FANIA ALL STARS
AT THE CHEETAH 1970'S
|
Here is the video clip of Symphony
Sid introducing Fania All Stars at the
Cheetah in the 70s taken from The
film "Our Latin Thing." Strange, it's
an intro but it was the ending credits
of the film.
Although it was the ending credits of
the film, you can say ironically, HARD
SALSA BEGAN IN THE 70'S HOWEVER
IT CONTINUES TO LIVE ON THE SOULS
AND HEARTS OF MANY! That clip is
just a little message saying, "The
Beginning is not the end of Hard
Salsa."
Star of broadway Musical, Anissa
Gathers Performs Live in NYC at
Columbus 72
|
