CANAAN LAKE RECORDS





LA FANTASTICA    

THEN AND NOW!

                                              

SIDE A

1. No Puedo Mas (Sammy Léon)
2. El Final (Sammy Léon)
3. Las Nenas (Sammy Léon)
4. Busco Un Rincon Lejano (Antonio Polito - Ivan Diéz)
5. Brillante Estrella (Sammy Léon)

SIDE B

1. Moliendo Café (D.R.)
2. Rumbero Bueno (Sammy Léon)
3. Maria Mercé (D.R.)
4. Wild Flower (D.R.)
5. Sagitarius 2001 (Sammy Léon)
 

 

Musicians:

GREGORY SWIFT - Piano
CHARLIE HERNANDEZ - 1st Trumpet
SANTOS RIVERA - 2nd TrOUIE RODRIGUEZ - 3rd Trumpet
JOHN GALINDEZ - Tenor
SAMMY LEON - Leader, Tenor
RAYMUNDO HATUEY - Baritone
LOUIE LEON - Bass
STEVEN THORTON - Conga
ROBERTO (ETO) LASTRA - Timbales
JESUS (CHUITO) NUÑEZ - Bongo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salsa the year after 2011 

We all wonder way latin salsa has changed within

 the last decade. I believe the music has change 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.
The Players
The formation of La Fantastica is up and coming in

 the music industry as once before. We are bringing

the roots, of latin salsa with sabor back on stage, with

 two key players from the past Sam Leon and brother

jl Leon. If you follow up on Facebook, Youtube  and or

Google you’ll find La Fantastica. A forth coming blog on

 (www.Leonjl.wordpress.com), is being implemented

for your viewing.  The percussionist mentioned below

are the driving force of the group. They provide a

strong presents, bringing sabor into salsa. These musicians

are a team of perfection, when you ask them what’s up,

they reply “studio time”, they love what they do.
Felix (Puchy) Santiago          Luis (CheChe) Cotto                    

 Eddie (Colorao) Reveron
                                     


 


                                              

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 Febo

Producer ) & 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 held

the # 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 there

second #1 hit titled “ Rumbero Bueno”, followed by Las Nenas, & there revolutionary

salsa version of Strauss's Sprach Zarathustra “Sagitarius 2001”( also known as the 2001

Space– 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.