News: Bobi Cespedes and her band will be kicking off the Yerba Buena Gardens Summer of free events starting on Saturday, June 26th at 1 pm. The Gardens are located on Mission between 3rd and 4th Streets in San Francisco. For schedule and information, go to yerbabuenagardens.com. Salsa superstar Oscar D’Leon will headline the reopening of Roccapulco in San Francisco tomorrow evening. Doors open 9 pm. For tickets and information, go to ticketsparati.com.
Julio Bravo Y Salsabor will make their first appearance since COVID at The Ramp in San Francisco on Saturday, June 19th starting at 5 pm…The Western Region Puerto Rican Council will be holding their food drive and annual scholarship drive at Swiss Park, 5911 Mowry Avenue in Newark also on Saturday, June 19 from 10 am to 2 pm in place of their annual Dia De San Juan celebration will has been postponed until 2022. The WRPRC is helping families that have been severely affected by the COVID and that are still in need. Please bring your food donations and check donations for their scholarship fund to the park. Refreshments and Salsa music will be provided. Last but not least, Cubania Total is happening tomorrow, Saturday June 19th at the New Parish in Oakland featuring DJ Leydis De Cuba along with DJ Antonio from 8 to Midnight. Presented by Jaffe Events.
Other events: Checked out the lineup for the Stern Grove Festival season. They will not be featuring Latin music for the majority of the season. La Doña is the only Latin music act and will be opening up the season with Ledisi and The Sheen on June 20th starting at 2 pm. For more information, go to sterngrove.org…The Tribute To Charanga featuring Javier Navarette, Anthony Blea, Michael Spiro, Marco Diaz, Juan Ceballos, Ayla Davila, Raul Navarette and other special guests at Rocky’s Brooklyn Basin in Oakland on Friday, June 25 at 6 pm is already sold out. However, there will be a limited number of standing room tickets available at the door. Braulio Barrera and Somos El Son will play there on Sunday, June 27th starting at 6 pm….Louie Romero and Mazacote plays their first date since the Covid at The Seahorse in Sausalito on Sunday, June 20th starting at 5 pm. SF Bay Area favorite Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca will play there on Saturday, June 26th.
New Songs For The Summer 2021: Puerto Rican vocalist Angel Papote Alvarado and Grupo Esencia teamed up with Ex Sonora Ponceña vocalist Pichie Perez on the irresistible “Cuatro Soneros”. They give tribute to the late great icons that called the town of Ponce their birthplace: Cheo Feliciano, Hector Lavoe, Ismael Quintana and Pete “El Conde” Rodriguez. Strong stuff served Old School Salsa Dura.
Don Perigñon Y La Puertorriqueña’s latest “El Cantante” is a definite “bongo dongo” as my friend Dennis would put it. A smokin affair but Don Perigñon doesn’t disappoint with a swinging number that compels you to the dance floor. Josue Rosado, one of the fine soneros that make up Perigñon’s impressive vocal front line takes the lead vocals on this fine tune. They did it again! Another reason to welcome the post COVID with this welcome return to Perigñon’s great Puerto Rican based dance music.
Eduardo Zayas Y Su EZ La Banda “Yo Soy La Rumba”. Composer/Producer Zayas has come up with an intoxicating Summer banger from his most recent recording “Huerto De Soneros” featuring Venezuelan sonera Veruska Verdu. Perfect Summer fare that features a great arrangement with a driving baritone sax, a powerful horn section, a powerful piano solo and Verdu’s impassioned vocals that propels you to dance. Great tunes for the clubs and radio alike!
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