What I'm listening to right now...

Dios salve al rey from the Buena Fe live concert...sorry, not salsa but I just can't stop listening to this concert. Just found out they are in Spain the next few days. Missed that opportunity but they are supposed to be back in August so I think I'll go to one of the concerts then!
 
groovetpt said:
Salsa De La Mata!
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:D

forgot to mention, last week was the first show where a LP was spun live (Jimmy Sabater's "Que Sabroso" & "Perfidia").

This Sabater's LP (Gusto [1980]) is one of several waiting to be digitally converted to CD. As we lost Jimmy last week, I wanted to play those songs live directly from the original source.

Songs from other Sabater recordings like "Solo" (1969) and "El Hijo De Teresa" (1970) will be included in tomorrow's show...
 
Bandolera- Hector Lavoe ....... with one of my favorite intros to any song. Gilbert "El Pulpo" Colon with some terrific piano playing.
 
Tito Rojas y El Conjunto Borincano - Dile la Verdad

So does anyone know when Tito Rojas started to go downhill? Was it sudden? Songs like this make it clear that he didn't always sound the way he does today.
 
HothouseSalsero said:
Tito Rojas y El Conjunto Borincano - Dile la Verdad

So does anyone know when Tito Rojas started to go downhill? Was it sudden? Songs like this make it clear that he didn't always sound the way he does today.
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Tito's downhill wasn't sudden, but just after his musical director murder in 1996, quality in songs chosen for the following recordings wasn't the best.

Tito usually made 5 to 6 hits from each CD. After that, just one or maybe two after 1997.

His record company, MP, put almost all their efforts to promote his career, leaving other artists of their own label unattended. the results were obvious; they went downhill too. Nowdays, they don't exist.

Tito released a new album as an independent artist last year. "Independiente" is a competitive CD, but it lacks the promoting he used to have 20 years ago...
 
Thanks, Abayarde. I was not aware of the 1996 murder (but then I didn't come on the scene listening to salsa until the very end of 1997). Is this also when Rojas's drug issues got worse (or is that just unconfirmed gossip)? Another question, although it involves some subjective impressions of his singing: when did his vocal style become so, well, hammy and schmaltzy, assuming you even know what I mean? It seems like maybe it would be an adjustment to changes to his voice, but if it was, I think it was a bad move. (Jose Alberto, for instance, has managed at times to make his growing hoarseness work for him. Obviously there are limits to have far someone can push that though. But I like plenty of Alberto material where it's clear that his voice is well past its prime.)

Too bad about MP, too, since they had other worthwhile talent on their label.
 
HothouseSalsero said:
Thanks, Abayarde. I was not aware of the 1996 murder (but then I didn't come on the scene listening to salsa until the very end of 1997). Is this also when Rojas's drug issues got worse (or is that just unconfirmed gossip)? Another question, although it involves some subjective impressions of his singing: when did his vocal style become so, well, hammy and schmaltzy, assuming you even know what I mean? It seems like maybe it would be an adjustment to changes to his voice, but if it was, I think it was a bad move. (Jose Alberto, for instance, has managed at times to make his growing hoarseness work for him. Obviously there are limits to have far someone can push that though. But I like plenty of Alberto material where it's clear that his voice is well past its prime.)

Too bad about MP, too, since they had other worthwhile talent on their label.
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Once I get back to my place, I'll check the name of the murdered musical director. Can't find it on Google.

Is known Tito's situation with alcohol and drugs in the late 90's. His voice took part of the damage and maybe his brain. This may explain the way he sings and the physical gestures (posing as a fighting rooster).

still remember a few unpleasant videos from that time on stage. I do prefer to forget them.

in better times, MP managed to have recording artists like Roberto Roena, Maelo, Willie González, Tito Gomez, Peña Suazo, Limit-21, Choco Orta, Chaney, Puerto Rican Power, Anthony Cruz, Johnny Ventura, Eddie Santiago, Nino Segarra, Luisito Carrión, Los Sabrosos Del Merengue, Salsa Fever, Los Hijos De Los Célebres and Pedro Conga.

It's web site (mponline.com) is still alive but seems like it's last update was years ago.
 
Abayarde said:
Tito's downhill wasn't sudden, but just after his musical director murder in 1996, quality in songs chosen for the following recordings wasn't the best.

Tito usually made 5 to 6 hits from each CD. After that, just one or maybe two after 1997.

His record company, MP, put almost all their efforts to promote his career, leaving other artists of their own label unattended. the results were obvious; they went downhill too. Nowdays, they don't exist.

Tito released a new album as an independent artist last year. "Independiente" is a competitive CD, but it lacks the promoting he used to have 20 years ago...
Click to expand...

Wasn't it that he went all romantica/crooner.

I've got his debut album and it's got some great songs on it - hard edged :)
 
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