Roberto Roena

Salsa and Latin music legend Roberto Roena turned 80 years old this month, so here are some highlights of Mr. Bongo. The Legend of Roberto Roena Ten years ago I wrote a 2-blog series following the musical career of Roberto Roena. It was…

When Roberto Roena decided to leave El Gran Combo 50 years ago he ended up naming his new band the Apollo Sound.

The '60s saw El Gran Combo go through a rocky startup, develop their own musical identity, achieve success, see their demand decline due to over-exposure, and manage the departure of several key members. Yet, at the end of the decade, they…

Se me hace difícil catalogar a "Master Class" como un álbum debut para un veterano sonero como Papo Sánchez. Pero Papo muestra que se puede ser romántico con veteranía y maña. La carrera de Papo, ligada de cerca a la del legendario…

Roberto Roena has enjoyed a long and successful career. At the pinnacle are 3 classic albums with his Apollo Sound that cemented his legacy in Salsa and Latin music. The Apollo Sound albums #6, #7, and #8 cemented Roena's legacy among…

In Part 1, I gave you a brief history of the career of Roberto Roena. We covered his early career with Cortijo, El Gran Combo, and the start of his Apollo Sound. Here we'll cover a bit of his dancing and a lot more about his music. The…

I had the fortune to witness the peak years of legendary Puerto Rican bongo player Roberto Roena. His Apollo Sound of the '70s and '80s made a profound impact on Salsa music. One of my highlights regarding Roberto Roena was a concert he…