Ismael Miranda a.k.a. El niño bonito de la Salsa (The pretty Boy of Salsa) (born February 20, 1950) is a composer and a singer of salsa music.

Early years[link]

Miranda was born in Aguada, Puerto Rico. As a child he always wanted to be a musician. Miranda grew up in New York City on East 13th Street in Manhattan's East Village. His musical inclination led him to form two different juvenile groups, "The 4J's and Little Junior" and "The Class Mates" by the time he was eleven years old. He sang and played the conga for the group and they were good enough to appear on Jerry Lewis' Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. Miranda also grew up and played in his first bands with Jazz percussionist Orlando "Q" Rodriguez and piano player Mark Diamond.^[1]

First recording[link]

In 1967, when Miranda was 17 years old, he made his recording debut with the song "Let's Ball" with Joey Pastrana and had his first "hit" with "Rumbon Melon". He created such a good impression on bandleader Larry Harlow, that he was hired as Larry's lead singer. That same year Miranda and Harlow co-authored "El Exigente" (The Demanding), set to the rhythm of the Latin Boogaloo craze of the time.^[1]

The Fania All Stars[link]

External audio
	You may listen to Ismael Miranda during a concert here.

In 1969, Miranda joined the Fania All Stars and went with on tour to Europe, Asia and Latin-America. In 1973 he formed his own band called "Revelacion" and recorded "Así se compone un son" under the Fania Record Label. With this song, Miranda entered the new salsa craze which was sweeping the nation. He was then baptized as "El Niño Bonito de la Salsa" (The Pretty Boy of Salsa). During the 1970s, he continued to have more "hits" with songs like "Lupe, Lupe", "Señor Sereno" and many others.^[2]

By 1988, Miranda had planned to retire instead however, he went on to establish his own record label "IM Records" and recorded several boleros with Andy Montañez.^[2] By 1992 he signed under the management of Chino Rodriguez in New York City, who negotiated with the late Jerry Massuci on the Fania All-Star Re-Union of 1994.

Later years[link]

The 2002 recording of one of Miranda's concerts received the recognition and acclaim of the National Foundation of Popular Culture of Puerto Rico. He also recorded a well-received CD, which contained songs composed by the renowned Mexican composer Jose Alfredo Jimenez in the salsa version.^[1]

On September 27, 2003, Ismael Miranda performed at the famed Copacabana nightclub in New York City. He currently continues to perform and is now on a national tour.^[2]

See also[link]

Puerto Rico portal

• List of famous Puerto Ricans
• Music of Puerto Rico

References[link]

External links[link]

• Popular Culture
• Unofficial Site - Biography, Discography, Lyrics

Justo Betancourt (b. December 6, 1940) is a Cuban singer famous for his interpretation of Pa' bravo yo. He was born in Matanzas, but has lived a significant amount of time in the United States and Puerto Rico. His music shows Cuban influence but developed in the direction of Puerto-Rican Salsa.^[1] Betancourt led a group called Borincuba (Conjunto Borincuba), a combination of the names Cuba and Borinquen, a name for Puerto Rico of Taíno origin.^[2] In addition to recording a number of solo albums, he has played with Fania All Stars, Sonora Matancera, as well as performing with musicians Eddie Palmieri and Ray Barretto, among others.^[3]

He suffers from diabetes and was hospitalized after fainting in 2008.^[4]

Discography[link]

• El Explosivo (1968)
• El Que Sabe, Sabe (1970)
• Los Dinámicos (1971)
• Pa' Bravo Yo (1972)
• Sigo Bravo (1974)
• Lo Sabemos (1975)
• Ubane (1976)
• Distinto y Diferente (1977)
• The Best of Justo Betancourt (1977)
• Presencia (1978)
• Yo Sin Ti (1979)
• La Sonora Matancera Con Justo Betancourt (1981)
• Leguleya No (1982)
• El Bravo de Siempre (1992)
• Mató (1998)

References[link]

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Johnny Pacheco (born 25 March 1935) is a Dominican producer, musician, bandleader, and an influential figure in American salsa music.^[1]

Early life[link]

Johnny Pacheco was born on 25 March 1935 in Santiago de los Caballeros. Pacheco inherited his passion for music from his father, Rafael Azarias Pacheco, who was the bandleader and clarinetist of the "Santa Cecilia Orchestra". In the early 1940s, when Pacheco was 11, his family moved to New York City from his native Dominican Republic. He continued polishing his musical skills, learning to play accordion, violin, flute, saxophone and clarinet. He attended the Juilliard School of Music to study percussion.^[2]

Early music career[link]

Playing the flute, saxophone and assorted percussion, Pacheco performed with Charlie Palmieri�?s Latin orchestra for a number of years before forming his own band in 1959. Experimentation was the focus of his new band, blending Cuban, Dominican, and Puerto Rican music of African heritage into what came to be known as salsa.^[3]

In 1960, he organized his first orchestra, "Pacheco y Su Charanga". The band signed with Alegre Records and its first album Johnny Pacheco y Su Charanga sold over 100,000 copies within the first year. Beginning then and through the end of 1963, Pacheco introduced a new dance craze called "Pachanga". He became an internationally renowned star and toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Moreover "Pacheco y Su Charanga" was the first Latin band to headline the Apollo in 1962 and 1963.^[2]

Fania Records[link]

Pacheco's career as a musician reached its peak in 1963, when he joined forces with Jerry Masucci to create Fania Records, of which Pacheco was the CEO, creative director, and musical producer. There, he solidified the careers of many artists who are now part of the history of the “Fania Family.” This was the record label that would set the standard in Latin music and gain unforeseeable celebrity at the international level.^[4]

In 1964, the label released his next endeavor entitled Cañonazo (Cannon Shot). The album feature Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez on vocals and a switch from the Charanga to Conjunto style. This was the first of many recordings with the "compadres" (literally familial compatriots) (as they came to be known) and the beginning of a long friendship and working relationship. Together they recorded Los Compadres (1970), Perfecta Combinacion (Perfect Combination) (1971), Tres de Cafe y Dos de Azucar (Three Parts Coffee and Two Parts Sugar) (1973) and many other successful albums.

In 1968, he gathered many of the musicians from the Fania label and showcased them together in concert. This marked the birth of the legendary Fania All-Stars.

Also in 1966, Johnny Pacheco worked with the nasal voiced singer Monguito "El Unico" (from Orquesta Broadway) and vocalist Chivirico Davila to record the seminal "Viva Africa" LP.^[5] This album nods to Pacheco's increasing popularity at the time in West Africa.

As the company's executive, creative director and musical producer, Pacheco was responsible for launching the careers of many young stars that formed part of Fania Records family.

Original Fania band[link]

The early Fania All-Stars band was made up of Johnny Pacheco, musical director and flute; Larry Harlow on piano; Bobby Valentín (later replaced by Salvador "Sal" Cuevas) on bass guitar; Ray Barretto on conga (replaced later on by others, including Mongo Santamaria, Johnny "Dandy" Rodriguez and Eddie Montalvo); Roberto Roena on bongos; and Orestes Vilato on timbales (later replaced by Nicky Marrero due to a conflict with Ray Barreto, whose singer, Adalberto Santiago, formed La Tipica 73 with Vilato, angering Barreto and forcing Patcheco to replace Vilato to prevent internal conflicts); Willie Colón, Barry Rodgers (subsequently replaced), and Renaldo Jorge (replaced by several others) on trombones; Larry Spencer (also to be replaced), Roberto Rodriguez (replaced by Victor Paz, and subsequently by Juan "Juancito" Torres) and Hector "Bomberito" Zarzuela on trumpets; and Yomo Toro on the cuatro (a small Puerto Rican guitar with 5 pairs of strings). The lead singers included vocalists from the Colon, Pacheco, Barretto and Harlow bands. Héctor Lavoe, Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez, Adalberto Santiago, and Ismael Miranda were joined by Santitos Colon (from the Tito Puente band), Jose Cheo Feliciano (from the Joe Cuba band) and Ismael Quintana (from the Eddie Palmieri orchestra). Early Fania All-Stars guests were Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puente, Joe Bataan, Monguito, Mongo Santamaría, Jimmy Sabater, La La, Louie Ramirez, Ralph Robles, Ricardo Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz. The 1970s line-up included Rubén Blades, Celia Cruz, Papo Lucca, Luigi Texidor, Jorge Santana (Carlos's brother), drummer Billy Cobham and the Cameroonian sax player Manu Dibango, who appeared as a guest in concerts and live recordings in Puerto Rico and New York. Later on singer Andy Montañez would join the band in the mid 1990s.

Other achievements[link]

Pacheco has recorded and composed over 150 songs. Among them are "La Dicha Mia", "Quitate Tu" (Pa’ Ponerme Yo), "Acuyuye," "El Rey de la Puntualidad," Tito Puente�?s "El Numéro Cien," and Celia Cruz's "Celia y Tito." His nine Grammy nominations, ten Gold records and numerous awards acknowledge his creative talent as composer, arranger, bandleader and producer.

Pacheco has also been an inspiration to the younger generations. For example, rap artist Mangu asked him to write arrangements, sing chorus, and play the flute in his album "Calle Luna y Calle Sol". Pacheco also produced music for feature films; he was the musical director of the film, Our Latin Thing, the first film about salsa and its influence on New York Latinos; in 1974, he worked on a second film entitled Salsa. In the 1980s, he wrote the musical scores and themes for the films Mondo New York, and Something Wild. The latter was a collaboration with David Byrne, the lead singer of the group Talking Heads.^[3] Several tracks that he arranged, produced, and/or performed were on the soundtrack of the 1992 Warner Brothersfilm The Mambo Kings.^[6]

Pacheco participated in the AIDS benefit concert "Concierto Por La Vida," in November 1988 at New York City's Avery Fisher Hall. He demonstrated his solidarity with the victims of Hurricane Georges (Zhorzh) by collaborating with the Hispanic Federation Relief Fund during "Hurricane Georges Relief Fund 1998". This event was transmitted live across the northeastern United States by the NBC television network. He also participated at an event at Hostos Community College for the same purpose.

Awards and recognition[link]

Pacheco's contributions to Latin Music have been recognized throughout his illustrious career. The following are among the awards that have been bestowed upon him:

In 1996, the then President of the Dominican Republic, Joaquín Balaguer, bestowed him with the prestigious Presidential Medal of Honor. A year later, Pacheco was the recipient of the Bobby Capó Lifetime Achievement Award, awarded by New York Governor George Pataki. In addition, Pacheco was presented with the First International Dominican Artist Award from the distinguished Casandra Awards. In June 1996, Johnny Pacheco was the first Latin music producer to receive the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, (NARAS) Governor's Award in New York City.^[7] In 1998, Pacheco was inducted to [International Latin Music Hall of Fame] (ILMHF) during the first Induction and Award of the ILMHF. The ILMHF awarded him The Lifetime Achievement Award, in 2002.^[8]

In 2004, Pacheco was awarded the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, ASCAP Silver Pen Award.^[9]

On June 5, 2005, Pacheco was honored by Union City, New Jersey with a star on the Walk of Fame at Union City's Celia Cruz Park.^[10]

On March 24, 2009, Pacheco was awarded "El Soberano", the highest distinction given by the Association of Art Columnists of the Dominican Republic.

Discography[link]

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• Pacheco y Su Charanga Vol 1 1960 (Alegre Records)
• Pacheco y su Charanga Vol 2 1961 (Alegre Records)
• Que Suene la Flauta Vol 3 1962 (Alegre Records)
• Suavito Vol 4 1962 (Alegre Records)
• Spotlight on Pacheco Vol 5 1963 (Alegre Records)
• The Alegre All Stars Vol 1 (Alegre Records)
• Once Upon A Time 1964 (Alegre Records)
• Las Charangas 1963 (Alegre Records)
• Canonazo 1964 (1st recording for Fania Records)
• Latin Jam 1965
• Pacheco at the N.Y. World's Fair 1966
• Pacheco - Te Invita a Bailar 1967
• Viva Africa 1968
• By Popular Demand 1965
• Sabor Tipico 1967
• Pacheco presents Monguito 1968
• Volando Bajito 1969
• Los Dinamicos 1970
• La Perfecta Combinacion 1971
• Los Compadres 1972
• Tres de Cafe y Dos de Azucar 1973
• 10 Great Years 1974
• Celia & Johnny 1974
• Tremendo Cache 1975
• El Maestro 1976
• Recordando el Ayer 1977
• The Artist 1977
• El Zorro de Plata y El Flaco de Oro
• De Nuevo con Celia Cruz
• Jicamo
• Sima
• Salsobita
• Celebracion
• Llego Melon 1978
• Eternos con Celia Cruz
• Introducing Johnny Pacheco
• Champ
• Los Amigos 1980
• Flying High
• Los Dos Mosqueteros
• La Crema
• Sabrosura
• Los Distinguidos
• De Pelicula
• Las Tres Flautas
• Pacheco y Fajardo
• De Nuevo Los Compadres
• Celia, Johnny y Pete
• Entre Amigos

As sideman[link]

This section requires expansion.

With George Benson

• Tell It Like It Is (A&M/CTI, 1969)

Fania All-Stars (musical director)[link]

• Live at the Red Garter Vol 1
• Live at the Red Garter Vol 2
• Live at the Cheetah Vol 1
• Live at the Cheetah Vol 2
• Live at Yankee Stadium Vol 1
• Live at Yankee Stadium Vol 2
• Live in Africa
• Live in San Juan - 1973
• A Tribute to Tito Rodríguez
• Live in Japan - 1976
• Delicate and Jumpy
• Spanish Fever
• Rhythm Machine
• Crossover
• Commitment
• Viva La Charanga
• Latin Connection
• Lo Que Pide La Gente
• Bamboleo
• California Jam
• Havana Jam
• Guasasa
• Social Change
• Bravo
• The Perfect Blend
• Viva Colombia - The Cali Concert
• Live in Puerto Rico - 1993

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website of Johnny Pacheco
• Pacheco 50th anniversary celebration

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (July 2010)

Nano Cabrera is a singer, guitarist, and composer born in Condado, Puerto Rico, who was a member of Haciendo Punto en Otro Son,^[1] the musical group that brought popularity to typical Puerto Rican music during the last quarter century. He was a close friend of Tony Croatto, and is a cousin of golfer �?ngel Cabrera.

Cabrera was featured on a very popular, Old Colony soda commercial in Puerto Rico during the early 1980s.

His popular song "Isla Para Dos" was covered by Thalía on 2008's Lunada.^[2]

References[link]

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