East River Park

José Alberto, is a Dominican salsa singer with a career that spans the past thirty years. His voice was widely adored by salsa fans, and his exceptional whistling abilities led fans to give him the nickname “El Canario” (The Canary). As a pioneer of a new style of salsa called salsa romántica, which arose at a time when classic, big-band salsa, was losing popularity on the Latin record charts, El Canario focused mainly on the romantic, softer aspects of the music, creating a mixture of earlier salsa brava and the ballad style. El Canario received international attention as the bandleader of Tipica 73 as well as for hit songs such as “Sueño Contigo” and albums including his debut, Noches Calientes and Dance With Me.

8 y Más is one of the hottest new bands on the contemporary Latin music scene today. Comprised of a team of internationally recognized musicians considered by many to be some of the best in NYC and beyond, 8 y Más boasts a stellar lineup including Bobby Allende, Angel Fernandez, Ricky Gonzalez and Marc Quiñones. In November, 2006, the band released its first production, Juega Billar to much acclaim by salsa music lovers. For this special night, the band celebrates the musical legacy of the late, beloved salsero, Tito Puente called by many, “El Rey de los Timbales” (The King of the Timbales).

On air for over fifty years, DJ Polito Vega is “as much a part of the soundtrack of urban life here as the blare of a taxi’s horn or the roar of the crowd at Yankee Stadium.” (NY Times) One of the first DJ’s to identify with salsa music, Vega is an iconic radio personality. The Puerto Rican DJ currently hosts “Salsa Con Polito” on WSKQ 97.9 FM where he shares his expertise and passion for salsa music.

Event website: http://www.elcanario.com