TWO GENERATIONAL MUSIC ICONS LOST

Entertainment /

TWO GENERATIONAL MUSIC ICONS LOST I originally wasn’t looking to write an obituary column this month, however Latinos of two separate generations lost two music icons. I’d be remiss to not acknowledge their passing and what it meant to me, as a music enthusiast and lover who has enjoyed their work during various tenures in my life. Johnny Pacheco, co-founder of Fania Records, which introduced a specific New York Salsa and Guajuanco sound, passed away on February 15th. Born Juan Azarias Pacheco Knipping in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic in 1935, it wasn’t until Pacheco’s family moved to New York City in the 1940s that his love of music began. Pacheco had decent success as a musician throughout the 1950s and early 60’s, however it wasn’t until he founded Fania Records along with Jerry Masucci in 1963 where Pacheco’s “Nuevo Tumbao” was created. Working with a stable of artists such as Pete “El Conde” Rodriguez, Ray Barretto, Celia Cruz, Ruben Blades, Cheo Feliciano, Ismael Miranda, Willie Colon, Hector Lavoe and a host of other talented musicians, The Fania All Stars (as they were known) toured worldwide, selling out concerts from Yankee Stadium to Zaire Africa, in front of 80,000 attendees. This event seemingly brought Salsa music back to its African roots with Pacheco leading the way as Composer and musical Arranger, improvising his dances on stage for all to enjoy. Then on February 18th, the Hip Hop world mourned the loss of Prince Markie Dee, of the early Hip Hop trio known as the Fat Boys. Markie Dee, born Mark Anthony Morales on February 19, 1968, was a pioneer in the early genre of Hip Hop music. Not only did he bring  in a new sound to Hip Hop, he was also  one of the first Puerto Rican Hip Hop artists to be accepted into the mainstream. Being a young Puerto Rican Hip Hop fan in the 1980s, seeing the Fat Boys in music videos or in movies, it was amazing to see someone who looked like me (and some of my cousins) rocking stages worldwide. The Fat Boys and Markie Dee had their heyday during the 1980s, releasing seven albums, three of which reached Gold status while another reached Platinum, which was (and still is) a huge achievement. The Fat Boys were regularly seen as a comedy Hip Hop act, almost like the Three Stooges, but they were a talented group whose acceptance in the Hip Hop world was visible in films like “Krush Groove” and in the comedy film “Disorderliness.”  After the group broke up in the early 1990s, Morales made a life as a producer for artists such as a young Mariah Carey and Mary J. Blige, even writing Blige’s debut single “Real Love” which was also produced by a young Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs. Although Pacheco and Prince Markie Dee were worlds apart as far as musical genres, the loss of these two artists is felt by many, especially by those of us in our early to late 40s, as Salsa and Hip Hop music grabbed our attentions as youths growing up in the 80s. I still remember going to parties as a youth hearing Salsa music played at house parties, and at the same time, I also remember seeing cousins and friends carrying folded cardboard boxes ready to break (dance) at Beecher’s Boys & Girls Club on 10th Street. Although our heroes pass on, the memories we made with their music became the soundtrack that  never fades. Read More From This Writer All Post Business Culture Food Government Health Interviews Lower West Side Business & Economic Development Medical Music Our Community Peace People Sports TWO GENERATIONAL MUSIC ICONS LOST March 18, 2021/No Comments POST TITLE (CAPITAL) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus Read More GOOD DAYS ARE COMING February 18, 2021/No Comments GOOD DAYS ARE COMING It is now February 2021 and since we last touched base, we have been witnesses to Read More SIEMBRA COMO EL JIBARO SIEMBRO December 18, 2020/No Comments SIEMBRA COMO EL JIBARO SIEMBRO December is upon us, and while colder weather and the holiday season is in full Read More Load More End of Content.

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THE EYES OF MARCH, FROM THE LATINA KIND MAKING HERSTORY

People /

In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation declaring the month of March 8th as National Women’s History Week.  1987, Congress passed Public Law 100-9 designating March as “Women’s History Month.” Since 1995, each president has issued an annual proclamation making March as “Women’s History Month”. In 1979, the Hispanic Women’s league also took its place in “Herstory”, established as the first official Latin women’s organization created in Buffalo, N.Y.  and still exist today after over 40 years. The organization started as a reaction to an article in one of Buffalo’s local newspapers, which wrote that there were no “Latino professionals in Buffalo, NY.” This falsehood crystalized how the Latin population was viewed by the larger Buffalo community. The rest was Herstory! It was the Latin women of Buffalo who took the reins on this matter and held meetings for months deciding on how to respond to this outrageousness. At the time, no other organization in Buffalo or Western New York had a strong reaction to this discrediting, belittling, and irresponsible journalism. It took this article in 1979 to make the professional women of Buffalo fed up with the sexism, belittlement and constant ridicule of their contribution to “herstory.”  This ignorance also comes from Latin people refusing to be identified as Latin, ashamed of their culture, they allow themselves to go along and be defined by the status quo. Like all injustices in society, change was not easy. With several professional women relocating to other areas of the state, it was time for Buffalo’s Latin women, especially those with strong leadership skills, and who would not sell out to the “status quo” to speak out on behalf of their Latin community. In September 1979, the formation of the Hispanic Women’s League became official. The first officers were unanimously elected: Lillian G. Orsini, first president, Carmen Del Valle, vice president, Sarah Norat, treasurer, and Maria Rosa, secretary. That day “Herstory” was made in Buffalo. They came from all walks of life but not one hesitated to carry this torch. While these officers were the leaders, it was a reflection of the many who counted on them. There are many who ask what has the Latin population contributed to society as well as younger women questioning what the women’s league has done: we proudly stood up while many others stayed seated, we courageously faced the unknown social consequences, and marked a place and time in a hostile society that can never be erased. It took an United States president in 1980, to publicly acknowledge women’s social contribution, the Hispanic Women’s League started in 1979, in Buffalo. While the legacy belongs to a few, its continuation belongs to many. May we in the local Puerto Rican /Latin community recognize and acknowledge the past and present contributions of the Hispanic Women’s League and what is to come in the coming years. Enjoy the month of March! Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Community Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Military & Veterans Peace People Politics Sports SPORTS IN PUERTO RICO: PUERTO RICAN WOMEN AT THE OLYMPICS 2021 September 17, 2021/No Comments SPORTS IN PUERTO RICO: PUERTO RICAN WOMEN AT THE OLYMPICS 2021 (Puerto Rico first partcipated at the Olympics Games in Read More SPORTS IN PUERTO RICO August 17, 2021/No Comments It has long been known that women have taken a historic back seat in all fields.  The  lack of exposure Read More BRIEF HISTORY OF SPORTS IN PUERTO RICO July 17, 2021/No Comments BRIEF HISTORY OF SPORTS IN PUERTO RICO The Taínos who inhabited Puerto Rico before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in Read More Load More End of Content.

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COMMON SENSE

Community /

COMMON SENSE When neighbors accept that “It takes a village to fully raise a child” STUFF HAPPENS! I grew up on such a block, a village within a village. I got punished because of neighbors ratting me out whenever caught doing or saying something out of line. Neighbors shared resources as simple as cups of sugar or milk. I did not like or understood it at the time, but remember: the name of the neighborhood cop that walked the beat and would take us to our parents instead of jail for trivial stuff, the mailman that delivered the mail with a smile, sprinkler caps put on fire hydrants for kids to cool off in the summer, and trees getting planted to beautify the blocks. That is what united block associations can do to hold community boards accountable to use available resources (city, state, and federal projects and funds) for the betterment of the whole community. Sure, there will always be a few bad apples in the barrel; a drunk, a junkie, and/or a thief here and there, but the barrel was still full of good ones to savor and get things done. That is the way we, the little people, can still be. We are all feeling neglected and left behind, but the world is too small for saying “mind your own business” or “everybody looks out for self.” onsider February and March as preparation to celebrate Easter, a day for resurrecting new attitudes and direction. Year after year we celebrate the birth, fall, and rise of Jesus on the scene without considering a practical, deeper meaning. He cried “I am the truth, the way, and the light”. Confronting political, economic, and religious corruption he cried “what you have seen me do you can do also”. As God’s creations, we are all called to be ambassadors for the cause: Love, Justice and Equality for all. We still face those same issues. Do not government officials need transparency (the truth) new direction (the way) and wisdom (the light)? Can’t our neighborhoods be a tightly bonded village committed to raising our children, the next generation destined to be our future leaders in government, business, church and so on? That is our job! As vanguards, government and institutions are appointees meant to support and assure our efforts to achieve a healthy society. They were not meant to pigeonhole communities to pursue individual fame, power, and economic royalties. While there may be little we can directly do on their level, communities are still the backbone for a healthy society. We are a melting pot of different colors, races, religions, and economic standings meant to be promoted and protected. Is that so difficult? Do not continue to be deceived into feeling hopelessly helpless. In his 1776 publication “Common Sense”, Thomas Pain sought a true democratic republic and sparked a united peoples revolution by urging the common, not the affluent, persons of the existing colonies (communities) to dispose (get rid of) tyrants (the powers that be) and demand independence (from political rhetoric and institutionalized inequalities). They pursued and manifested a new destiny with an evolving vision to continue fighting for. Do not be blinded by the smoke of current bipartisan battles for power while forgetting our daily needs. This is a perfect time for local communities to flex the muscles of people power. A more peaceful and harmonious future relies heavily on the next generation needing local role models to follow. It is not rocket science. It is Common Sense! Read More From This Writer All Post Food Government Health Interviews Lower West Side Business & Economic Development Peace People COMMON SENSE March 16, 2021/No Comments POST TITLE (CAPITAL) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus Read More TURNING THE PAGE February 16, 2021/No Comments TURNING THE PAGE Valentine’s Day! Make it an everyday event and collectively “Love Thy Neighbor as thy self.” Along with Read More NEW YEAR, NEW DEAL? January 16, 2021/No Comments NEW YEAR, NEW DEAL? Happy New Year! It’s done! The ballots have been tallied, verified, and announced. On January 20th Read More Load More End of Content.

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