Category Archives: Art and Music

The category contains Puerto Rican art and Music.

Women’s Contribution to Puerto Rican Music; This Year’s Banco Popular Music Special

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Popular/ YouTube.com

People familiar with Puerto Rican culture know how music is to its people. Christmas season is equally important in Boricua culture so it is no surprise that these two elements would collide to make a prolific amount of music celebrating the holiday season.

Banco Popular de Puerto Rico (BPPR) has produced a televised Christmas special for over 29 years. Its success can be attributed to the casting of established and upcoming Puerto Rican and international musicians such as Marc Anthony, Daddy Yankee, and Juanes just to name a few.

The BPPR Christmas special became a staple of Puerto Rican television and in recent years made a crossover into other US markets in the Continental United States. It is simulcast by all television channels in Puerto Rico and later released to other domestic and international markets.  

With the growing popularity of YouTube, Banco Popular decided to stream its Christmas Special for everyone to see. Anyone can run a search on the popular video platform and experience a sample of Banco Popular’s previous musical programs.  

Since Banco Popular’s successful foray into online streaming, other companies have sponsored musicians for their Christmas music specials. These online specials were especially popular during last Christmas season when pandemic protocols prohibited large gatherings and concerts.  

In 2021 Banco Popular continues its tradition of promoting Puerto Rican culture with its latest music special titled “Ellas, Mujeres en la Musica” (Women in Music). This production is loaded with the talents of female Puerto Rican artists such as La India, Lucecita Benitez, Nydia Caro, and Yolanda Monge just to name a few. 

“Ellas, Mujeres en la Musica” will simulcast in Puerto Rico at 8 p.m. (AST) on Sunday December 5th on Puerto Rico’s Telemundo, Punto 2, WAPA, WIPR, TeleOnce, Mega TV P.R., and Canal 13. The program will air on the same date in the Continental US at 8 p.m. (EST) on Meaga TV Orlando, and WAPA America.

Although their page doesn’t specify if this year’s music special will be streamed on YouTube, stay tuned to Banco Popular’s Social Media on YouTube and Twitter as the program has consistently streamed online in the past few years.

The music from this program will be for sale on Apple iTunes and other platforms. DVDs of the program have been on sale in Amazon and other stores in the past, but as of yet, there is no official word.  

Proceeds from this program’s sales will benefit the Banco Popular Foundation, an entity that funds schools and entities with music programs.

Success, Puerto Rican Art Works at the USF Contemporary Art Museum

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Puerto Rico is a melting pot of heritage. Inside churns a brew of African roots and Taino bones simmering in a Spanish broth. We now add tomatoes that were brought back to the island after years of toiling and harvesting in the fields of the US mainland.

All of these ingredients make up the flavor of modern-day Boricuas. Their flavor is served up worldwide mostly through music. Boricuas have savored the flavors of their art for years, devouring the paintings of Francisco Oller, Jose Campeche, and Miguel Pou.

Waves of migration have now spread the taste of our painting, sculptures, and prints to all parts of the US mainland and the world with exhibitions as far from Puerto Rico as Seoul, South Korea.

Toali (Aiba Buya) by Jorge Gonzalez and September Elegy by Angel Otero. Photo by Ricardo Hernandez

Tampa, Florida is one location where waves of Puerto Ricans ended up after being displaced by natural disasters and other socio-economic hardships. It is no wonder why the University of South Florida coordinated with Puerto Rican artists in Florida, New York, and Puerto Rico to put together an exhibition of Puerto Rican art at their Contemporary Art Museum (USF CAM).

“So the museum has been around since 1989 but we feature artists internationally and nationally,” explains Gillian Olortegui Fourth Year International Relations Student and Student Assistant at the USF CAM. She readily volunteered why this exhibit was significant.

“Constant Storm: Art from Puerto Rico and the Diaspora” is a compilation of paintings, photographs, sculpture, video, interpretative art, and studies that tell the story of the Puerto Rican migratory wave that happened as a result of the impacts that Hurricanes Maria and Iris had in conjunction with the subsequent COVID-19 pandemic.

Exodus/ Pilgrimage by Wanda Raimundi-Ortiz. Photo by Ricardo Hernandez

The public can explore five different areas of the museum where they can see the works of art up close and personal. While there are traditional paintings and poster art, the exhibit also features performance and video artwork. “One of my personal favorites is actually the one in the hallway; It’s a for video installation and they all kind of sync up with each other, so it’s like four separate storylines and they converge and diverge,” says Olortegui with excitement.

While talking about intangible art, the student assistant also pointed out the investigation work contained in the symposium titled “Bregando with Disasters: Post Maria Realities and Resiliencies” which is posted on the exhibit’s website.

The Boricua en la Luna blog will soon feature a story dealing with recent Puerto Rican migratory patterns, what forces caused them to be displaced from their home, and in what direction they are headed. The page Olortegui pointed to contained case studies and interviews presented by Dr. Alessandra Rosa which provided insight into the very topics that this blog will be covering. In her conclusion, Alessandra Rosa’s study “highlights the importance of developing strategies that can promote not only resiliency but also mitigation and prevention of crises.”

In this respect, art strives not only to show how things were and currently are, but also how they can be. Exhibits like this one allow us to virtual taste the “Boricua melting pot.” Puerto Ricans will continue to add the ingredients of their experience to this pot and are responsible for how the “Puerto Rican cultural recipe” turns out in the future.

“Constant Storm: Art from Puerto Rico and the Diaspora” will be on display through December 4, 2021. The USF Contemporary Art Museum is open Monday through Wednesday and Friday from 10 am to 5 pm, even-numbered Thursdays from 10 am to 8 pm, and on Saturdays from 1 pm to 4 pm.

Flora Santiago Sigue En La Lucha

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Record cover for Pepe y Flora’s “En la Lucha” album. Photo used with permission by Flora Santiago.

 

This month The Boricua en la Luna had a chance to catch up with Flora Santiago. Santiago is one of Puerto Rico’s first protest folk singers. She moved to the Bronx in New York City in the 1950s where her absence from Puerto Rico would inspire her love for the island.

Photo provided by Flora Santiago.

During her journey, she met many people that would join her on her voyage of self-discovery. One of these people was Pepe Sanchez with whom she would form the influential recording duo, Pepe y Flora.

 

 

 

 

 

Photo of Grupo Tahone. Photo provided by Flora Santiago.

 

Years later she after returning to Puerto Rico, she went on to form part of the famous music group Taone. Roy Brown, one of the members of this group, composed the music for the Song “Boricua en la Luna” which is the namesake of this blog.

Flora went on to take part in other music groups including Edgardo Delgado y Taller Criollo.

 

 

Flora Santiago performs a duet with her daughter Melisa Claudio. Photo provided by Flora Santiago.

 

Numerous albums, songs, poems, and books later, Flora continues to be an advocate for Puerto Rican independence. Her spirit continues to influence her compatriots through her talents in music and poetry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flora Santiago meets recently freed political activist Oscar Lopez. Photo provided by Flora Santiago.

Puerto Rico on Exhibition in Florida

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Vulture Brand Yams; acrylic painting by Miguel Luciano. Photo by Ricardo Hernandez

The Boricua en la Luna Podcast prequel before arriving at the Art Exhibit.

 

Hispanic Heritage Month runs yearly  from September 15 through October 15 during the anniversary of Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Nicaragua’s independence from Spain, through Columbus Day.

As a part of this year’s observances, Florida Southern University’s Contemporary Art Museum (FSU CAM) curated a display of Puerto Rican art titled “Constant Storm Art from Puerto Rico and the Diaspora.”  

Cibelle Hernandez visits the Constant Storm Art Exhibit. Photo by Ricardo Hernandez

“We feature artists both internationally and nationally,” says Gillian Olortegui a student assistant at FSU CAM. The collection was actually a year late, being delayed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Pandemic delays seem to complement the theme, becoming themselves like another storm the contributors had to overcome to have their voices heard. 

 

Pimp my Piragua by Miguel Luciano. Photo by Ricardo Hernandez

Art on display included traditional canvas paintings, performance art, and even a “pimped-out” piragua (shaved ice) cart complete with its own audio system.  The binding theme for all the art was Puerto Rican reaction to the adversities brought on by climate change including the more recent destructive power of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.  

Cibelle Hernandez visits the Constant Storm Art Exhibit. Photo by Ricardo Hernandez

 “I’m exited to see such an exhibition here in the US” says artist Cibelle Hernandez. “I hope that [people] find a connection with us [Puerto Ricans] since we are like a people like a coqui hidden in the leaves.”

Multimedia by Ivelisse Jimenez and Wanda Raimundi-Ortiz. Photo by Ricardo Hernandez

Constant Storm Art from Puerto Rico and the Diaspora is on display to the general public at the FSU CAM through December 4, 2021.  

A One-Man Orchestra, Now that’s Entertainment

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Work hard, play hard is a saying observed by many at the end of a long work week. During a weekend some people may go to a restaurant, some may look for a place they can enjoy music, but what if you find a place where you can do both. That certainly would make for an epic outing with friends or family.

Enter Luis Rios, an entertainer from Lares, Puerto Rico whose guitar and music skill was forged with over 40 years of experience starting at the tender age of seven. Rios is no stranger to the satisfying nature of music. “When I was a boy my father was a musician and there were many instruments in our home” Rios remembers”.

Growing up, Rios was surrounded by music. His father would regularly take him out to participate in Puerto Rican Christmas caroling called parrandas.

At some point in his life, Rios shifted his focus and learned a trade, and became a barber. “I dedicated myself to my studies and let the music fall somewhat to the wayside”. Being a barber is his livelihood, but it didn’t take too long for Rios to pick back up his passion for music.

“I put together a group called “Los Sabrosos del Ritmo” and for over 17 years we played music in many activities, weddings, and hotels”. “During this time I also learned how to be successful in a group and as a soloist as well”. It is during this time that he became “El Hombre Orquesta” or the One-Man Orchestra. 

It’s been forty years and Rios is fortunate to continue to work on both of his life’s passions, music and cutting hair. As he continues to nurture his musical talent, Rios would like to work on recording and distributing his music on the internet.

Asked why he enjoys performing music, Rios says that “being able to please an audience is fulfilling”. He also wants to thank his public for supporting, following, and accepting him throughout his career

To keep up with the entertainment scene in Central Florida, subscribe to The Boricua en la Luna blog.

Dance Fever Grips Crowds At Amway Center During Puerto Rican Festival

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The pandemic shut down many activities, concerts, and festivals this year. For Puerto Ricans, even the New York City Puerto Rican Day Parade was canceled this year.  

This year the city of Orlando put on a successful show of culture during its own 5th Annual Florida Puerto Rican Parade and Festival. Last year this activity was cancelled, but organizers decided to go ahead with the festivities this year, and to dedicate them to first responders as a way of thanking them for their service during the pandemic. The parade and festival were also dedicated to the Puerto Rican towns of Cabo Rojo and Moca.

The festival included prominent figures of Puerto Rican music and sport including Olympic Gold Medalist Jasmine Camacho-Quinn who made her appearance on one of the parade floats.

As always, music was a prominent part of this year’s festivities. Crowds gathered at the Orlando Magic’s Amway center to continue the party atmosphere. Performers included trovador Andres Jimenez, merengue band Limi-T 21, salsero Frankie Negron, and rock band Algarete.

Besides providing a great atmosphere for dancing, the festival also gave vendors an opportunity to interact with the public. There were artworks of all sorts, most of which included the Puerto Rican flag the unifying symbol of this festival.

One improvement festival organizers should address was a shortage of typical Puerto Rican food. There were only a few kiosks that served Puerto Rican favorites such as alcapurrias, bacalaitos, and empanadillas. Next year it would be nice to see a few more food vendors catering to everyone’s appetite.

It was a hot and humid day on the festival grounds but there were plenty of kiosks set up to quench the thirst of festival-goers. Whether you wanted to partake in a mixed drink, a piña colada, or a tropical fruit juice, there was something for everyone to wet their whistle.

If the dancing and singing were any indications, this year’s festival was an outstanding success.  

Pay attention to Florida Puerto Rican Parade & Festival Inc’s website for next year’s festival dates and participants.  

Also, make sure to subscribe to the Boricua en la Luna blog for the low-down information on this and other Puerto Rican community events.

Corozal Restaurant is Zephyrhills’ Diamond in the Rough

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The Boricua en la Luna blog reviewed a few Puerto Rican restaurants in the past.  

Now that The Boricua en la Luna relocated to Tampa Bay, Florida, it should not be as hard to find more Boricua restaurants like it was in the Baltimore-Washington D.C. area.

This week something unique happened while exploring the town of Zephyrhills, Florida. Known for bottling its pure waters and serene spaces, Zephyrhills is probably the last place you would expect to find a Puerto Rican restaurant.

Despite it all, there it sits, a bastion of Puerto Rican gastronomic excellence in a town of about 17,000 people.

Corozal Restaurant is a testament to hard work and family unity. The original restaurant was founded in 1994 by restaurant worker Angel Jimenez in the city of Bayamon, Puerto Rico where the restaurant received much acclaim.

After moving to Florida, Mr. Jimenez’s daughter Jeanette and her family opened the second Corozal Restaurant. Opening in a small town with not many Puerto Ricans (at least at that time) some in the family were concerned about how successful this second venture would prove to be.

Just like the line from the movie Field of Dreams, the Jimenez family proved that “if you build it, they will come.” The restaurant thrived despite its unlikely location, drawing regular business from patrons driving from as far away as Tampa, Ocala, and Orlando.

“Maneuvering a successful advertising campaign was key in growing our customer base,” said Corozal administrator Sheila Jimenez. “It’s important that you let everyone know that you are there and open for business.” An innovative way Corozal has done this is by advertising live music performances Saturdays and Sundays.  

Corozal Restaurant is known for its powerful paellas, searing seafood, perfect pork chops, and marvelous stuffed mofongos. So if you are looking for a place where you can get satiate your cravings for Puerto Rican comfort food, what better place than Corozal Restaurant where their slogan is “eat like you’re home.”

For more information about Corozal Restaurant’s hours, menu, and specials go to their website here. You may join the many happy customers that have made Corozal their favorite Puerto Rican restaurant in Florida.

Puerto Rican Power Director Luisito Ayala Drops Exclusive Surprise for the Boricua en la Luna Podcast

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Luisito Ayala, director of the Puerto Rican Power, on The Boricua en la Luna Podcast

 

Link to English Translation of Transcript for Episode 1 of The Boricua en la Luna Podcast

Few salsa bands can rise to the level of being an institution within the genre. In Puerto Rico, we are lucky to host two of them and they proudly wear the name of their country within their own group’s name. We had the pleasure of interviewing the director of one of these iconic institutions.  

Luisito Ayala and the Puerto Rican power have been making music for more than 42 years. This is greatly in part to Ayala’s work ethic and dedication to both his music and his orchestra.

In this podcast, Ayala tells our podcast some exclusive information about the future of the band. He teaches us about the early beginning of the Puerto Rican Power and what it took to take the group from a humble beginning playing cover music to being nominated for a Latin Grammy. Ayala also shares pearls of wisdom about what it takes to be successful in the music business. As a leader to his band members, he walks the walk and leads by example to show his younger band members not only how to achieve success in the industry but how to maintain it.

The pandemic affected Ayala and the Puerto Rican Power as it has affected many other musicians. Canceled tours and private activities cut into revenues. This has not deterred Ayala. He is positive in his outlook that the music industry will bounce back harder than before. With easing COVID restrictions and people getting an itch for wanting to go out to enjoy listening and dancing to live music, venues are starting to contact his group again.  

Ayala is already planning upcoming tours and starting to book venues internationally. The Puerto Rican Power is back in the studio and Ayala has a very special surprise for all of his fans. To find out about  the exclusive information Ayala shared with us, make sure to tune in to this first episode of The Boricua en la Luna Podcast.

Baltimore Dances for Joy as Latin Dance Community Returns Amid Easing Restrictions

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Dancing for Joy

As the sun goes down on the Baltimore Inner Harbor, there’s a noticeable change. After more than a year of restrictions, the sound of music permeates the air.

According to the Baltimore Health Commissioner’s Directive Order dated in May, Baltimore City is easing masks restrictions for some outdoor venues and activities. These new guidelines are music to Manuel Caceres’ ears.

Caceres is one of the organizers in SalsAddicts, a community of people living near the Baltimore area that love dancing Salsa and Bachata music. Today the group is meeting in the deck in front of the Four Seasons Hotel. Caceres starts up the playlist on his iPad and people slowly start to trickle in for Saturday’s SalsAddicts meetup.

As the sunsets beautifully on the horizon of the inner harbor, Caceres tells me about what makes this group special. We have people from all nationalities that come from places as far away as Pennsylvania to dance with us says Caceres. We started the group in 2020 with hopes of bringing people together to enjoy Latin culture through salsa music.

SalsAddicts’s setup is simple. Organizers like Caceres announce when and where the group will meet on the SalsAddicts Facebook Groups Page. After that, anyone is welcome to join in on the fun. There is no charge and anyone walking by can join in without needing to register.

During previous COVID restrictions, meetups like this one were impossible without breaking city ordinances. While the state of emergency still exists in the State of Maryland, the latest emergency declaration by the state merely encourages continued use of masks by non-vaccinated people for indoor public settings, continued social distancing, and avoiding large gatherings.

Organizers for this meetup are sensitive to these recommendations. Caceres says this is one of the reasons their latest activities are outdoors. He also mentioned that they encourage mask-use for anyone not vaccinated and for all those that wish to do so in keeping with Maryland State and Baltimore City recommendations.

As the sun disappears, the city lights and the ambient lights illuminate the deck. Tonight was a good turnout with approximately twenty-something people coming out to enjoy a social activity that was completely restricted just a mere few months before. As the people start to show their moves on the dance floor, things seem just a little closer to normal. SalsAddicts demonstrates that there can be a balance between observing pandemic guidelines and having fun.

For more information about SalsAddict’s upcoming events, you can visit their Facebook page or email them at salsaaddict2020@gmail.com.

No One Expected It… Fans Mourn Salsero Tito Rojas’ Tragic Death After Online Christmas Concert

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Tito Rojas: June 14, 1955 – December 26, 2020

It is with much sadness and shock that I found out that Tito Rojas “El Gallo Salsero” passed away today December 26, 2020. The shock was more pronounced because just 24 hours prior, we had seen him perform in the “Canta Gallo, Canta en Navidad” Christmas special released on YouTube for all to enjoy.

Even though I have never met him personally, Tito had an influence on my life as if I had. You see, Tito was part of my father’s circle of friends when he was growing up in the town of Humacao, Puerto Rico. On many occasions, he would fondly remember all his “loqueras” (crazy stuff he did). My father grew up with many musician friends in his town and always remembered how music affected Tito both good and bad.

Left to Right is Chiqui Sanabria, Tito’s sister Idalia Rojas Lopez, and kneeling center is Tito Rojas.
Personal photo provided by Chiqui Sanabria

“He was trying to date your mother’s younger sister,” my father would say. When I heard this story Tito was already was famous and I just chalked it up to another one of my father’s eccentric exaggerations. As it turned out, I confirmed from my aunt this story was actually true. She recalls rejecting his advances because she did not want to have anything to do with his party lifestyle. She shut him down cold and despite his attempts, she wouldn’t give him the time of day when he would try to talk to her.

Don’t think from this story that they thought less of Tito. Even though my family wasn’t really into the party scene that came with his fame, they remember him fondly for his joviality and for being a genuinely good person. I will not only remember him for these family anecdotes but for contributing to my life’s soundtrack. As a child, teen, or adult, during my time living in Puerto Rico, the United States, Europe, or Korea, Tito Rojas was and will continue to be a great influence on what it means to be from Humacao and what it is to be Boricua.

May you Rest in Power Tito. Dale pa’ arriba y vete pa’ tu casa en el cielo.

This is Tito Rojas’ last performance released on his YouTube channel for all his fans on Christmas Eve.  Let’s all enjoy it while it is still posted on YouTube and pay homage to his life by remembering his music.