Among them some of his ex musicians like, Tito Puente, Tito Rodriguez, Ray Barreto, Santitos Colon, Gilberto Monroig, also the Palmieri brothers, Joe Cuba and El Judio Maravillos, Larry Harlow.  

There was a fellow by the name of Fidias that had a radio program in Caracas and called his program "La Hora De La Alegria. In his program, he played Mambo, Merengue, Son, Son Montuno, Guaguanco, Bolero, Cumbia and everything with a "Latin Flavor" At the 1973 carnival he decided to change the name of the program to "La Hora De La Salsa" According to Jose Curbelo some of his artists that were at the carnival were Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Charlie Palmieri, Ray Barreto, Tito Rodriguez, and Johnny Pacheco, the musical director of Fania All Star. 
 

Jerry Masucci, president of Fania All Star heard the word "Salsa and immediately Jerry and Pacheco made a recording featuring the word "La Salsa" and the rest is history. It was a hit and still is.
Even though Curbelo does not agree that La Salsa is a rhythm or a dance, but a word, he accept the fact that it has unionized the Latin Beat around the world. He says "the dance is an extension of the mambo and has the same basic step and the music(more modern) and the rhythm is the same aside from the hand turn movement which is very enjoyable and exciting to dance. Like Eddie Palmieri said " You have to go with the flow."

Jose Luis and Debbie from Salsa Karibe said "Que Viva El Mambo y Que Viva La Salsa. And Jose Curbelo says " Thank you Fidias for revolutionizing and enhancing the latin music with La Salsa word.

Jose Curbelo at the age of 19 and because of his talent in music became the pianist of Cuba's number one orquestra "La Orquesta Riverside., He came to the U.S. from Cuba in 1938 and formed the Jose Curbelo Orquestra from 1942-1959. In 1950 the Perez Prado mambo explosion happened, the Palladium became the home of the Mambo. Machito, Puente and Rodriguez were the stars at the Palladiium. Those Frantic Fifties whoa!

Thank you Jose for sharing with us this Salsa story that I'm sure a lot of people wanted to know and thank you Fidia for La Salsa of today.

Jose lives here in Miami and is 88 years young this year. Happy Birthday and God Bless you. Ciao Mike Vazquez

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