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Willie Rosario visits Born To Salsa |
By PuertoRicanPete
It was a great honor to be able to have a brief conversation with one the living legends of the world of salsa. In this era of commercial "Salsa Monga" where "good looks" not talent are the rule, and the multinational recording companies are determining what gets played in the radio; Willie Rosario stands out as one of the most professional musician and band director in salsa. Willie Rosario is keeping the traditional "Salsa Gorda" alive for the new and future generations of salsa dancers. Salsa stars like Gilberto Santa Rosa, Bobby Valentín, Tony Vega, Humberto Ramirez, Chamaco Rivera, Josue Rosado , and many others have all been members of his orquestra in the past. We can say that Willie Rosario's orquestra is the "University of the Salsa" where the future stars are born.
During the last couple of weeks a few fellow salseros sent their questions through the Born to Salsa forum and, between two radio interviews that he was conducting on a visit to Orlando Mr. Rosario gladly took the time to answer all of our questions.
Question: How did you started your musical career and what where your influences?
Answer: I started at the age of seven. The orquestras and musician of that era had great influence in my musical vocation. The orquestra of Rafael Muñoz in particular had a lot of influence.
Question: Which orquestra was your favorite one during the Golden age of the Salsa-Mambo music?
Answer: In the Mambo Era or the 50's, the time of the original Palladium, The Tito Rodriguez Orquestra was my favorite. I also liked Machito, Tito Puente, Johnnie Seguí and Arsenio Rodriguez.
Question: Which is your favorite Orquestra of this present time?
Answer: At the present time my favorite orquestra in addition to my own is The Sonora Ponceña Orquestra.
Question: Chamaco Rivera will be sharing the stage in Fort Lauderdale with your orquestra as a guest singer. Do you have plans to record again with Chamaco Rivera.
Answer: It's not in my plans right now to record again with Chamaco Rivera, but you never know in the future.
Question: How do you compare present day salsa bands to the ones from the Golden Age?
Answer: The present day orquestras are just as original as the ones in the Golden Age. They have a unique different sound. I'm referring to El Gran Combo, Sonora Ponceña, Bobby Valentín, Roberto Roena, Willie Rosario, Barreto, Palmieri, etc. Now .....The orquestras that play commercial salsa (salsa monga) and romantic salsa have nothing that you can compare to with the Golden Age orquestras.
Question: How does it feel to be one of the most influential masters of the genre and to have had as members in your orquestra famous musicians and singers like Bobby Valentín, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Humberto Ramirez, Tony Vega, Josue Rosado and others?
Answer: I am very proud that present day salsa stars had been members of my orquestra because at my band they learned how to be musical and moral professionals.
Question: The Salsa Congress in Puerto Rico, New York, Miami and LA have brought more interest in Salsa Gorda and salsa dancing but the radio stations hardly play it. How do you view the salsa scene now days?
Answer: Salsa Gorda at the moment is at a little disadvantage with other music. Lately the soloist singers have done a lot of damage to the classic salsa or salsa gorda because they are only playing and recording ballads with "salsa" arrangements but with no swing. Salsa is to have the people alive and dancing not sleeping with salsa monga.
Question: What are your future plans and when is your next recording coming out?
Answer: My future plans are to keep playing salsa until God decides otherwise. I'm going to start recording very soon.
Question: Thank you for creating such a unique salsa sound and for playing salsa gorda for the dancers. I wish you great success in all your future projects.
Answer: Thanks to all the salseros at Born to Salsa.
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just kidding alex. hope u r doing well.
..will have 2 start all over again