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A Musical Heritage Uncovered
Digital Domain
September 2005
415 pages ISBN: 0976499002 Hardcover
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Historical | Non-Fiction
Salsa Talks is a celebration of this music, in the words of
the artists, promoters, arrangers, bandleaders, and singers
who have lived to the rhythm of the clave beat. These
"insiders" talk about the music from their own unique
perspective. With a contents page that reads like a Who’s Who in salsa
music, you can skip from young Celia Cruz’s first singing
contests to her challenge of acceptance by fans as La Sonora
Matancera’s new singer; India’s transition from dance-hip
hop music to her first encounter with cigar-smoking salsa
legend Eddie Palmieri. You can flip to Joe Cuba’s memories
of the Palladium days and how Cheo Feliciano’s voice soared
under his leadership. You’ll cry when Cheo relives his most
difficult moments battling drug demons and rejoice when his
fans embraced him again after rehab. You’ll learn how the
Fania All Stars were formed and why this seminal group has
played such an important role in salsa history. You’ll hear
about royalties, or lack of same. Where the term salsa came
from. What is the clave. The real story behind the Buena
Vista Social Club. Music and religion. The seedy side of the
business. What it takes to be a musician. New York’s
contribution to salsa music. Marc Anthony’s stage fright.
The panorama stretches from New York to Cuba, to Puerto
Rico, to Colombia and Venezuela. When and where they were
born, their musical influences, their successes, their
failures. As actor Andy Garcia said in his endorsement, this
book is "A treasure trove." The 416 page hardcover coffee table book is beautifully
designed in full color. Three level index, bibliography,
glossary. Mary Kent has taken over 300 original photos, adapted
artists’ stories and the salsa music scene, and distilled
them into an entertaining, riveting, lively discourse with
an impact comparable to the live music experience. Each page
recounts personal stories of triumps, explanations of
musical terms, anecdotes and highlights of moments in
history. Together they paint a fascinating landscape of
salsa’s musical heritage. The artists bare their souls and
reveal their strengths, their weaknesses, their fears, their
aspirations, their disappointing moments, their musical feats.
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