Bassist and trumpeter Bobby Valentin contributed greatly to the Fania All-Stars during the '70s (he was their principle arranger) and recorded numerous solo albums during the period, moving from boogaloo and Latin soul into salsa as his career progressed. Born in Puerto Rico in 1941, Valentin was taught guitar by his father before he even... [+] Read More

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Puerto Rican salsero Eddie Santiago has had a long and productive career, recording steadily and frequently since the 1980s and scoring more than a few popular successes. His material has appeared on several major labels, including EMI International, Polygram, and Sony International. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide

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Puerto Rican Ismael Miranda became involved in popular music at a young age, participating in different local bands before teaming up with Andy Harlow. He debuted in 1967 with the release of an album recorded along with Joey Pastrana, featuring the hit "Rumbón Melon." In 1973, Ismael Miranda joined Fania All-Stars, getting the nickname of "Niño... [+] Read More

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Relocated to New York during the late '40s, Johnny Pacheco learned to play sax, percussion and flute in high school. In September 1959, he left Charlie Palmieri's flute and strings orchestra to organize his own. With his first recording, Pacheco y su Charanga, released by Alegre Records in 1961, Pacheco changed the sound of music throughout... [+] Read More

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Singer Johnny Rivera was born and raised in the bosom of a Puerto Rican family settled in New York's Bronx, and studied at Manhattan's Benjamin Franklin High School. After a temporary visit to Puerto Rico, the artist returned to New York, getting involved in the tropical music scene. Johnny Rivera's debut came in a compilation called Noche... [+] Read More

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A reliable country hitmaker for much of the '70s, Johnny Rodriguez was born in Sabinal, TX, in 1952, growing up 90 miles from the Mexican border. His older brother Andres, a big country music fan, bought him a guitar when he was seven, and he was playing and singing by his teens. Rodriguez was captain of his high school football team at 16, but... [+] Read More

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Was infuenced by father Buddy Kahn Harlow, a bassist. Began piano studies at age five. Wanted to be a jazz pianist until he first heard the mambo while attending Music and Art High School during the early 1950s. During the 1964 Flushing Queens World's Fair, Harlow played piano for Johnny Pacheco's conjunto before creating the Larry Harlow... [+] Read More

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Puerto Rican la Sonora Ponceña, one of the most popular tropical acts ever, was formed in 1954 by local musicians Enrique Lucca Caraballo and Antonio Santaella, who were previously playing in a band formed in 1944, called El Conjunto Internacional. In 1958, la Sonora Ponceña's first single was released, featuring "No Puede Ser" and "Tan Linda... [+] Read More

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Born in Puerto Rico but raised in the U.S., Tito Nieves (born Humberto Nieves) began his career while participating in Cimarron, a New York-based orchestra. He then teamed up with Héctor Lavoe in 1977 and joined Conjunto Clásico soon after. Tito Nieves decided to start his solo career in 1986, setting himself apart by singing salsa in English.... [+] Read More

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Adelmo Fornaciari is the talented Italian musician more commonly known to the world by his nickname, Zucchero ("Sugar"), given to him by an elementary school teacher. He began playing the guitar in his home province of Reggio Emilia, focusing on music in the blues/R&B mold. As a teenager, he founded a local band called Le Nuove Luci. After... [+] Read More

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Adelmo Fornaciari is the talented Italian musician more commonly known to the world by his nickname, Zucchero ("Sugar"), given to him by an elementary school teacher. He began playing the guitar in his home province of Reggio Emilia, focusing on music in the blues/R&B mold. As a teenager, he founded a local band called Le Nuove Luci. After... [+] Read More

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