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| 33rd Annual LatinoFest at Patterson Park |
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Local Artists Performing at the 33rd Annual LatinoFest
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A South Bronx native, Toby Love (Octavio Rivera) is a pioneer when it comes to blending smooth vocals with a mix of hip-hop, R&B and traditional Dominican bachata. A well-known artist in the Latin music scene, this NY-based vocalist began building his musical talents at an early age when he joined a popular local Merengue band founded by his cousins in the South Bronx where the young musicians would play at local festivals, private parties and high school graduations.
Toby has always been surrounded by music; his father was a member of Conjunto Clasico, one of Puerto Rico’s most enduring and popular salsa bands. As a kid, he would always sneak into his school’s music room to teach himself how to play and at home he would sing along to his favorite records from Michael Jackson, R. Kelly and Juan Luis Guerra. His first stage performance was back in middle school where he voiced Lummiere (the candle) in the musical, Beauty and the Beast, ‘it was one of the most memorable moments of my life’ says Toby, ‘Standing on stage was pure magic!.’
At the age of sixteen, fellow Bronx band Aventura invited him to a practice set, at first, Toby was hesitant since the music they were playing wasn’t his field of expertise, but after they explained what they were doing, he decided to go ahead and give it a shot. From that moment on, Toby formally joined Aventura and was part of the group for over six years. During this milestone in his successful career, Toby traveled around the world, savored the sweet taste of success and grew as an artist.
In 2006, Toby begins his solo career with the release of his debut album, TOBY LOVE, an album that positioned him as one of the most prominent singers of the Bachata genre. His first hit single, “Tengo Un Amor”, reached the number ONE position on the Billboard Latin charts and stayed on top for two consecutive months.
With his self-title album, Toby Love received four nominations during the 2007 Billboard Latin Music Awards and won in two categories: Tropical Airplay Song of the Year, New Artist, for his smash hit, “Tengo un Amor” and Latin Rap / Hip Hop Album of the Year for TOBY LOVE. The success of his debut album was followed by three more releases, – Toby Love (2006), Toby Love Reloaded (2007), Love is Back (2008) and La Voz de la Juventud (2011).
Since the release of his last album, “La Voz de la Juventud” in 2011, Toby has been touring all over Europe, Central and South America, writing and working hard on his music. In January of 2012, Toby signed a record deal with Top Stop Music, the record label founded by Grammy-award-wining Latin music producer Sergio George and entrepreneur Gregory Elias and one of the leading Latin independent labels in the U.S. “Signing with Top Stop Music for me is a dream come true and I feel that becoming a part of this family is going to be something out of this world, specially having the opportunity of working with someone in the industry whom I have admired for so long, Sergio George. I am extremely happy!” commented Toby Love.
This young and talented New York singer/songwriter of Puerto Rican decent; is ready to start the next chapter of his life with the release of his new album slated for late 2012. The first single from this new production is title, “Lejos”, a song written by him and co-produced by Sergio George.
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Frankie was born on January 6, 1958, Salinas, Puerto Rico and raised in Guayama, P.R.)
International veteran salsa sonero, started playing in his father's restaurant. At first played congas and quickly benched the lead singers went on to play percussion and sing. Only the gifted sonero singers of the salsa genre can maintain a beat while playing congas and singing at the same time. Frankie is one of them and he grew up doing just that.
In the late 70’s he set his sights to New York City and recorded with Al Santiago (Fuego 77 on the Alegre Label). In those initial years he played on several New York bands including: Sonido Taiborí, Orquesta Calidad, Orquesta Metropolitana, Wayne Gorbea's Conjunto, Charanson, and Lebron Brothers among others.
He collaborated on many popular salsa recordings during the 1980s through 2000. Around 1991 he replaced Herman Olivera as lead singer with Manny Oquendo & Libre, making his debut in London. When Jimmy Bosch debuted as recording artist Frankie recorded several tracks on the 1998 and 1999 production under the RykoLatino label and toured Europe with Bosch.
1999 was turning point for Frankie Vazquez when he teamed up with pianist, bandleader, composer and arranger Martin Arroyo and Los Soneros del Barrio 1999 on the Rumba Jams label and debuted at the New York City prestigious venue S.O.B.'s on November 22, 1999. While on the Soneros del Barrio honeymoon, Martin Arroyo passed away and Frankie was left with the music and Los Soneros del Barrio. Like a real leader, he stepped up to plate continues to fulfill Martin Arroyo’s vision. Quickly, after that Rumba Jams authorized him to record two more productions Remembranzas and Siguiendo la Tradición. These three productions all include classic salsa songs that all salsa music fanatics all know and love. Basically, Frankie Vazquez recorded classic salsa composition with New York modern technologies and arrangements at the dawn of the 21st century to meet the needs and demands of the younger hard-core salseros and the rising salsa and mambo worldwide dancing community and in doing so; Frankie filled a huge void missing throughout the romantic salsa pop era of the 1990s. These three productions found their way into the hands of promoters, deejays, dancers, instructors, and salsaholics WORLDWIDE.
Finally, Frankie Vazquez is a hardworking self-made grassroots international recording artist surviving in the new salsa music recording industry in which going to a music store looking for good classic salsa is such a dismal experience. That said, Frankie travels all over the world to perform in Salsa Congresses and salseros from all walks of life and races are all familiar with Frankie Vazquez and the music of Los Soneros Del Barrio. And, when he’s not representing himself Frankie is the go-to singer in New York that can fill-in for any salsa band that can sing almost any salsa classic with little or no rehearsals; because he knows them all just like a good-old jukebox.
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Herman at the age of 12 knew he was destined to be a singer. Three years later he would be on stage trying to make his way to the microphone and responding to his impulses. He’s a native Jersey-Rican to parents from Maricao and Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. From the limited times I have spoken to him…it is obvious that he was raised an authentic jibaro. He’s got so much in him…someone like him must have had a lot of LP growing up. Research shows that his elders were singers…to me that means plenty of parrandas, serenatas, rumbones, and storytelling family events growing up.
I have been scouting and watching him for years and have noticed how much Herman has evolved as a singer and sonero. I first noticed him with Conjunto Libre, I collected several videos of him with Libre in the early days, and the one thing that stood out about this natural sonero pioneer was his work ethic and his passion. Recently, I found an old video of him with Libre in which Hector LaVoe started jamming with the band. During the performance…he was kind of giving Hector pointers of what to do during the song…which was surprising to say the least.
Herman Olivera on stage is a singing force in terms of spontaneity, delivery, ability, appearance, and entertainment. When he performs everyone enjoys…hard-core and old-school salseros get a great fix, salsa congress dancers do not stop, ladies with smartphones run them dead, Puerto Ricans scream “ Yo Soy Boricua”, and musicians feel joy and play their hearts out. Herman is like a modern day combination of Tito Rodriguez, Beny More, Ismael Rivera, and of course Pellín Rodríguez.
His recording career is quite admirable it began in 1980, and it several Grammy nominations and collaborated with international artists in the Likes of Tito Puente, Israel Cachao Lopez, Manny Oquendo, Johnny Pacheco, Eddie Palmieri, Arturo O'farril Latin Jazz Orchestra (Grammy Nominated), Jimmy Bosch, Nelson Gonzalez, Isidro Infante, Spanish Harlem Orchestra (Grammy Nominated), Jose Lugo Orchestra, Grupo Caribe, Andy Montañez, Descarga Boricua, and much more. Currently, he is recording at moment when he’s not travelling and performing around the world.
On YouTube.Com he’s all over the place including (2013) Russia and Siberia visit the following to see: http://youtu.be/_h15v-Vk6eM
At LatinoFest we are joyful to have Herman Olivera in this year’s lineup and he will be performing with Los Soneros de Barrio and a living legend trombone player Reynaldo Jorge of the legendary Fania All Stars has being added to the band to mark this special occasion.
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The 32nd LatinoFest the best place on the east coast to celebrate the tremendous sounds sights and tastes of Latino culture. LatinoFest is known as the Premier Latino Festival of Baltimore. Every year since 1980 LatinoFest has the delighted crowds who come to dance, eat great food and express the diversity of all the countries that have contributed to the fabric of Baltimore's Hispanic community. This year June 23 and 24 Patterson Park is THE place to be! The music is the soul of LatinoFest and the heart is the beautiful faces of all of those who come to enjoy and relax at this family friendly event. LatinoFest is produced by a like minded group of community organizers for the people we have been serving since 1980, we changed our name yet our acronym is the same, since 1980 we are still and will forever be EBLO.
Sincerely,
Claire Hollister
Co-Founder of EBLO and LatinoFest
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| EBLO |
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| eblo.org |
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Education Based Latino Outreach
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Jose Ruiz Community Center
606 South Ann Street,
Baltimore, Maryland 21231
Telephone: (410) 563-3160,
Fax: (410) 563-0097
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| June 22nd - 23rd, 2013 |
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Visit: 33rd Annual LatinoFest
Jun 22-23rd 2013
| 6th Annual LatinoFest
Baltimore County
Sat. Oct. 8, 2011
| La Plaza Hispana
Fells Point Fun Festival
October 1-2, 2011
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| Certificate from Senator Mikulski 2010 |
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| Certificate from Mayor Stephanie D Rawlings 2010 |
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| Certificate from Senator Mikulski 2010 |
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| Certificate from Senator Mikulski 2009 |
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Proceeds to benefit Education Based Latino Outreach EBLO’s ongoing educational, arts and cultural programs offered free to the children and families of the Hispanic community of Baltimore. www.eblo.org
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| FOR MORE INFORMATION TUNE INTO “FIESTA MUSICAL” MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY WEAA 88.9FM “LA VOZ DE LA COMUNIDAD”, TUESDAYS FROM 8PM-MIDNIGHT
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