BEST SELLING ALBUM BY A LATIN ARTIST

Mexican-born Carlos Santana's Supernatural album released in June 1999 has sold 14 million copies in the USA. Born in Autlán de Navarro, Mexico, on July 20, 1947, Carlos Santana founded the Santana Blues Band with jamming partners David Brown, Greg Rolie, Rod Harper, and Tom Frazer. Their constantly changing line-up experimented with blues, acid rock, Latin, and African music, and their 1968 debut as Santana in San Francisco won a standing ovation. Santana's hit album Supernatural won nine Grammys at the 42nd annual Grammy awards in 2000, including Album Of the Year, Best Rock Album, Record Of The Year, and Song Of The Year for "Smooth" Santana's collaboration with Matchbox Twenty's Rob Thomas

MOST SUCCESSFUL FEMALE SOLO ARTIST

Mariah Carey with the most successful female solo artist . In 2000, she received the Best Selling Pop-Female Artist of the Millennium award for being the best selling female pop artist of all time. In 2003, she also became the first female artist to receive the Chopard Diamond World Music Award, for sales surpassing 150 million albums. She has sold a total of eighty-five million records in the U.S. (sixty-four million albums and twenty-one million singles) and over 215 million records worldwide, (165 million albums plus 50 million singles); Also Mariah Carey is the most successful international artist ever in Japan, with sales of over twelve million.

A Legend To Norteno Music

Los Invasores de Nuevo Leon” is a norteno band, wherein the accordionist, Javier Rios initiated in 1978, in Monterrey, N.L., Mexico, where the accordion music is inseparable from the Noteno tradition. However the group didn’t started playing professionally until 1980 when they obtained the vocalist and acoustic guitarist, Lalo Mora. The career of the Invaders, at the beginning was harsh. In an interview with Mora he mentioned, “At the beginning the group had financial problems, but with God’s blessed we had overcome all those situations”. Where in 1981 a representative name Servando Cano noticed their talent and started representing the group. In 1982 they recorded one of their greatest hits, which gave them first Gold Disc. Which include songs like “Mi Casa Nueva”, a son that until the date receives cheers and applauses from the audience? But the hits don’t end there, “Aguanta Corazon”, “Que La Dejen Ir Al Baile Sola”, “Laurita Garza”, and “Para Ti Mi Amor”, “Te Adorare” and many, many more that were great hits, and continue being classic. Therefore they realized that the most valuable recognition they can receive is not the awards instead without the doubt, the audience love and applauses.

In 1993, Mora decides to leave the group; therefore The Invaders were desperately looking for a new vocalist. Isais Lucero took Lalo’s place, which had a similar voice to the previous vocalist. This definitely didn’t affect the group, the hits continue with Lucero, whit first place hits like: “Me Rindo”, Esta Noche Tu Vendras”, and “Playa Sola” which received a Gold Disc for more that 100 million copies sold. However Lucero’s career with The Invaders was short, since he also decided to be on his own, leaving the group on 1997.

In 1997 Rios is in the same situation, he is anxious to find a new vocalist, therefore he decides to give two guys that work for him the opportunity of their lives. They work for the group carrying the groups’ equipment, Rolando Marroquin (vocalist) and Rigo Marroquin (Acoustic Guitar) who integrated the group in May 23, 1997. This was a dramatic changed for The Invaders, because now they are five instead of four…Rios also decides to change the style of music. Known for having a masculine voice like Mora and playing in their albums most of them Rancheras, Boleros, and Corridos, the group now also concentrates on playing Cumbias, that are a great hit these days in the Spanish Community. Rios leaves behind the 2nd voice to be the 1st in many of the new albums that had brought a great hit. His greatest hit was the song titled “A Mi Que Me Quedo”, this song had a surprising hit, it has maintained 1st place of popularity in all the radio stations in Monterrey, N.L., Mexico during five consecutive months and was cataloged for song of the year. Also with this song they received Double Gold Disc in the United States. This song re-invented The Invaders of before to the New Invaders.

In 1999 another great hit with “De Vida O Muerte” which they started promotion in the United States. Which this new album they overcome the category of Double Platinum Disc for more than 300,000 albums sold, so popular with songs like “Se Acabo”, “To Ya Se Fue”, For recognition of their art, the audience names them “The idols of the Norteno Music”.

In 2000, For a Celebration of their 20th Anniversary of their trajectory they recorded for their first time a “Boleros” album, promotion the song “Amor Ilegal”, who the composer is Rios, the accordionist, this song occupied for more than two months the first place of popularity in radio, rapidly obtaining a Gold Disc for their national sales of 75,000 copies.

Continuing their Celebration the next album released “Tiempo al Tiempo” includes cumbias like “No Llorare” in which the vocalist is Rios and Rancheras like “Las Sigues Dando”, in which the vocalist is Marroquin. They both are the voice of the group.

Story: Tejano Music

Imagine driving through South Texas. As you pass through the small towns, countryside, the cities of Austin and San Antonio and head towards the border, you are swallowed by a culture so colorful and proud. Tejano is not only by definition Mexican American music, it is a term used to describe the people, the food and the traditions. Mexicans migrated to Texas and worked hard. They struggled with discrimination, starting a new, and being away from their homeland. As Tejanos moved further north they not only brought their families, they brought their culture. A life style that consisted of Mexican traditions that after time, began to blend with American and European customs. As these traditions began to fuse together we gain an interesting outcome, Tejano music. The traditional music of Mexico is Rancheras. This genre of music consists of lyrics that include love, patriotism and nature. The word Ranchera is derived from Rancho because it came from the rural countryside of Mexico. In the movie “Songs of a homeland” they use Lydia Mendoza as an example of a popular Ranchera musician. Lydia Mendoza was popular during the 1930’s and was one of the first women to be recorded. She was known as “the singer of the poor.” This traditional music was a big influence on the Mexicans that migrated to Texas. Through Rancheras, Conjunto music was born. Rancheras were passed from generation to generation. As New Tejanos became homesick it was only expected for the songs that reminded them of their roots to follow them. As time passed and the population in Texas grew, new influences began to fill the land and impact the existing cultures. Conjunto music was created from the European soft styles and the music from northern Mexico. The influence of instruments like the button accordion from German settlers made quite an impression on Tejano music. Accordion music is community based, which was perfect because Tejano was fan based in a fan driven market. Two popular musicians were the “Father of Conjunto”, Narciso Martinez and master accordion player, Valerio Longoria. Promoters would take the groups to where the people were. The fields were the stage and the migrant workers the audience. Music was not recorded very much in the 40’s so it worked out well. It was very common for Tejano bands to travel throughout south Texas playing for the people. It is how it survived though the times. Conjunto was born in the Valley for the working class. Even as the times started to change, Conjunto held on to its purity. During World War II Mexican Americans experienced equality by fighting along side other Americans. After the war the discrimination continued and left a bad taste in their mouths. They had just finished fighting a country who had not discriminated against them, to come back to their home where they did. It was a turning point and Mexican Americans more than ever wanted to be treated like Americans. This influenced the music as well. As the middle class started to grow, the music started to change. Isidro Lopez sang modern music for the working class. Then, orchestras began to gain popularity due to their more American style. More sophisticated styles were being used and Conjunto was suddenly considered country and less respected. The middle class wanted to be more American and wanted that in their music as well. A very popular music style that really made an impact on tejano music is American Rock and Roll. As Rock entered the Tejano industry, the music style started to change again. In the barrios, the younger generation started to experiment with other types of music like American pop. “Rudy and the Renobops” were the group who marked the change from Mexican American to Chicano. This started the Chicano movement, which started to reunite the Mexican community. Tejano music was born in the Valley of South Texas, influenced by American and European music styles and loved by the Tejanos. Throughout its history it changed with the times. Although constantly changing the music that resulted was never forgotten. Rancheras that Conjuntos derived from is still very much appreciated. Conjuntos are still enjoyed and the Tejano music that continues to change with the times is still popular in the Mexican American culture. Tejano is no longer snubbed and even the playing of the accordion has regained popularity. What Tejano has become by the touch of outside influences has created a music that is both interesting and loved by the Tejano community. It was the result of people living in between two cultures, and by that it created its own identity.

Relation in My Life

Music is…it’s my everything
Because if I didn’t have this,
I don’t know where would I be right now
Or what would I be right now
But one beat, one love, one melody changed my life
I believe in this
I believe in the power of music

ROCK CONCERT

Rough the years, rock stars have been providing entertainment with their unique and diverse style of music. However, a live performance by a rock star has an altogether different effect which elates one to higher levels of music thrill. An opportunity of such kind came my way and I grabbed it with both my hands. Music icon Bryan Adams performed in the city of Mumbai in India which I was fortunate to witness. What I did not expect coming, was a memorable journey into the world of sheer rock music.

The stage was set on a huge piece of land with lights and all the vital equipments needed for the concert. Giant speakers were placed in the four corners to make the music highly audible. Even before the event got underway, there were people everywhere. All of a sudden it felt like too many people in a small space. The crowd surged forward and back in one relentless wave like the wild waves of the ocean during a high tide. In such a situation, none could help but to push and shove the others around. The crowd provided or allowed no personal space. We were all packed in there like caged wildcats. I had to move as the crowd allowed or insisted. Everything was done as a group. It was only one group of crazy fans fighting for that one glimpse of their favorite star. The crowd would shift as people passed out. This only allowed me to move closer to the front. As one can tell, I was packed in until the end.

The level of sound was astronomical. The decibel level was on the threshold of pain. The music roared through the streets for miles and the crowd would go crazy. Every time the bass drum was struck, I could feel the repercussion in the organs within my chest. It even made my teeth chatter. The floor beneath me seemed to move with the beat of each song. The vibration that each sound produced, felt like current passing through one’s body. It truly felt like a festival of sensory overloads. At this instant, my body felt stimulated in every area to its complete capacity.

The stage was a constant flurry of excitement. It presented a spectacular sight and the atmosphere sucked us into the aura of rock music. Plenty of pyrotechnics kept my eyes filled with colorful wonder as the music played on. The hyperactive guitarist, who was never at a standstill, wore a path in the floor running back and forth. He along with the drummer made the show exciting, and never was there a lull in the show. The light and fireworks kept me craving for more. A fireball would fly to the left, then to the right. The sky was sparkling with beautiful colors everywhere. The whole sight was mesmerizing. The crowd was kept in a constant trance. The entire picture was food to the eyes and music to the ears.

Afro - Caribbean Music

If African music is said to have roots in almost all music, then undoubtedly a branch extends directly into the heart of the Caribbean Islands. All the islands have a spice of African influence, but due to length constraints, we’ve chosen to confine our discussion to Afro-Caribbean music in Jamaica and Cuba.

History and Musical Cultural Context:
Jamaica:
From the early 1400’s to the middle 1600’s Jamaica was island under Spanish control. That was until 1655 when the British took control. After a brief period of experimenting with indentured European labor, the British turned to large scale importation of Africans to be used as slaves on the sugar plantations. The plantation dominated economic life in every sense. It occupied the best lands, the laws supported the slave system, and in general all commercial and other economic activity depended on the rhythm of activity of the plantation. Upon Emancipation, many of the ex-slaves settled down as small farmers in the mountains, cultivating steep hill slopes far away from the plantations.

With many Africans settling into the beautiful landscape of Jamaica, new musical dawns were on the horizon. While enslaved, Africans developed a new form of music and dance which was known as Mento. Mento remained popular until the 1940s, however, during the early 50s, popular music in Jamaica was usually of US origin. In the late 1950s “Ska” another Jamaican musical innovation emerged. In the mid 60s”Rock Steady”-a slower tempo with emphasis on syncopation-grew out of “Ska”. However, by the late 60s, yet another new Jamaican musical form had emerged-“Reggae”, the most famous of the musical styles developed on the island. Reggae spans the globe and has influenced the music of internationally famous performers in the US, Japan, UK, South America, and the rest of the world.
Cuba:
For most of the eighteenth century, Cuba was a relatively underdeveloped island with an economy mainly based on cattle raising and tobacco farms. However, towards the beginning of the nineteenth century cultivation of sugar began to run the Cuban economy. With the intensive cultivation Cuba began to turn into a plantation society, and the need for African “slaves” skyrocketed. The slave trade with the West African coast exploded, and it is estimated that close to 400,000 Africans were brought to Cuba during the years 1835-1864. By the end of the nineteenth century, it was estimated that Cuba had over 100 different African ethnic groups.

Cuban dance music stormed the globe following World War II. Led by Benny Moré and others, a new, vibrant rumba emerged, which brought together the European-inflected son and the African rumba guaguancó. Traditionally percussive music, Cuban son rides on congas and bongos. Distributed widely by record and radio, this music with its exuberantly African heartbeat had a special and enduring effect on Africa, which was beginning its process of independence from the colonialists. Here was a music that they could lay a claim to, which was rooted in their own rich rhythmic heritage. While the popularity of Cuban music eventually waned in other parts of the world, in Africa (especially in the Congos, Guinea, Mali, and Senegal) it went on to influence the development of a variety of pop music such as Congo jazz, makossa, soukous, mbalax, and horn-based highlife. Since the salsa is also a descendant of the rumba explosion, many say that it is a cousin of those African pop forms.