SAMMY SAX AND THE MD'S
Salsa the year after 2011
We all wonder way Latin salsa has changed within the last decade. I believe the music has changed for the better but, it lacks sabor. The new wave musicians come on the stage doing the usual entertaining with great aspiration of becoming the key figure in the group and that?s what drives the player. But, what drives me insane, where is the history of the pioneers. The musicians who pave the roads for, the newbie. When interviewing the next horn player or, singer about what was then and what is now, they get lost in conversation. This gives me the opportunity to provide them with history. Performing on the stage is a good thing but, before you climb the final steps behind the lights know why, your able to be there. Respect the history of the musicians, who made that same stage their home.
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La FANTASTICA
Orchestra
THEN Founded in 1969 in the Redhook section of Brooklyn N.Y. 10 young men,
ranging in ages from 14 too 18 years, got together & decided to form a salsa-band, under
the musical-leader-ship of Samuel Leon (A.K.A today ) as SammySax .
It was the early years of “Urban-Salsa-Music” characterized by afro-Cuban-beats
with English & Spanish-lyrics. This combination helped pioneer most of the salsa music
that’s heard today. They performed in & around the New York-Tri-State-area, & soon
made a name for themselves as the new promising orchestra in the circuit. They played at
all the major-clubs, such as “The Cheetah, Blue Note, St. George Hotel, Casino 14, The
Grand Paradise, the Corso, Manhattan-Center…. & to many to mention….In 1972, They were performing at the famous “Village Gate” located in
Manhattan & were picked up by a new-upcoming label ( “Ghetto Record”, George FeboProducer ) & were signed , hence, there new album release titled “All Ears”, the release
was met with great reviews, & got them there first # 1 hit- titled “Latin Blues “ that heldthe # 1-spot for 12 consecutive weeks, on The Synphony Sid radio-show ,& Dick Ricardo-
Sugar -show & followed by Joe Gains ) that year Borinquen, Negrita Mia, Telegrama,
& Con Quien Andas, were also in the top 10 countdown.In 1974, They were signed to ( Mericana Records, Joe Cain &Ralph Lew
producer ) & release there second album titled “ La FANTASTICA-2001” & had theresecond #1 hit titled “ Rumbero Bueno”, followed by Las Nenas, & there revolutionary
salsa version of Strauss's Sprach Zarathustra “ Sagitarius 2001”( also known as the 2001Space– Odyssey movie-theme song ). In 1975 there third released ( titled Fantastica-Jazz-Express “was also well-received with hits as “ Los Soneros del la Calle”. All songs written
& composed by Samuel Leon.
La fantastica enjoyed world-wide acclaim for there music & today is considered a rare-find to own the original vinyl releases, (& with the present day computer-age ),
loyal-fans have reached out to them & asked for there return, there music & discography
can be heard on You-Tube, Wikipedia, Facebook, My Space & continues a popularity with
new found-fans, as well as the old-established fans.
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