A Taina/Boricua Youth's perspective. Keeping the memory of the ancestors alive.
Carpetas, started by governor Blanton Whinship in the 1930's, were used to systematically spy on thousands of Puerto Ricans from the 1930's to the 1980's. It was so widespread it even became a verb in Puerto Rico, te carpetearon. Carpetas contained secret police dossiers that included a realm of personal information. Calls would be tapped, …
Continue reading Las Carpetas: How the FBI spied on over 100,000 Puerto Ricans
Larry Harlow and Frankie Dante (L-R) Si yo fuera presidente, si yo fuera un presidente, no hubiera fuerzas armadas, las guerras se acabarían, los muchachos regresaban a casa donde pertenecen...Frankie Dante pa’ presidente”..Presidente Dante— Frankie Dante feat. Larry Harlow Today we will be honoring a sonero who never received the acclaim and recognition he should have. His …
Continue reading Remembering Frankie Dante on what would have been his 76th birthday.
Israel López, better known as Cachao was the co-creator of mambo, bandleader, double bassist, composer, and arranger. One of his and his brother Orestes’ greatest innovations was mambo, livening up a classical Danzon, with afro-Cuban rhythm, as Cachao termed it “turning the ship 180˚”. Israel López Valdés was born on September 14, 1918 in Belen, Old …
Continue reading Celebrating Israel ‘Cachao’ Lopez on what would have been his 103rd birthday.
I am excited to announce my new podcast, 'Voice of the Waterlily-Our Stories'. This music podcast will be an exploration of Latin Music over the last 100 years intertwined with a historical and personal perspective. Tune in weekly for great music, stories and history. It will be available on many digital platforms, including Spotify, apple …
Continue reading Voice of the water lily- our stories (My New Podcast) Ep 1; S 1
The great Panamanian trumpet virtuoso, Vitin (Victor) Paz joined the ancestors on April 3, 2021. Vitin was/is one of the greatest trumpeters in Latin music. His amazing work spanned across decades. from his work with the Tito Rodriguez Orchestra to his work with the Fania All Stars, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz and countless others as …
Continue reading Panamanian Trumpet Virtuoso Victor Paz has moved to the other neighborhood
June 18, 2020 Anani Kaike Anacaona was a Taino Cacica, or female Cacique from the island of Quiskeya (Kiskeya), which is now Santo Domingo or the Dominican Republic. Anacaona stood up to the brutality of the Spaniards and fought for her people until the end of her life. Anacaona was Cacica of Jaragua, which is …
Today I’d like to highlight one of Puerto Rico’s many horrible governors, for the reason that he reminds me so much of Trump. When I saw the orange man tell people to ingest bleach and later heard, advisors were trying to stop him from holding press conferences, I was struck by how similar this was …
Continue reading Emmet Montgomery Riley: Puerto Rico’s governor Trump.
“When tyranny is law, revolution is order.”“A people full of courage and dignity cannot be conquered by any imperialism.”“The Americans have nothing to offer the world unless it be the destruction of their own empire. The American empire is a curse even to it’s own people”“Those who do not respect the ashes of their elders …
Continue reading 55 years since the death of Don Pedro Albizu Campos (1892-1965).
"U.S. imperialism controls our country socially, politically and economically. They control the mass media, the schools. They indoctrinate us from the time we're children...When you believe they're all powerful and we're powerless, you're already on the mat before they even throw a punch at you. But our people are becoming aware of their own strength, …
Continue reading Freedom fighter / Revolutionary Rafael Cancel Miranda passed on to the ancestors.
Left to right, Tite Curet, Gilda Haddock,, Ruben Blades, Willie Colon, ‘El Sonero Mayor’ Ismael Rivera, Ismael Rivera jr (his son), the unforgettable Rafael Cortijo and the great Cheo Feliciano. Tite Curet and his childhood friend Daniel Santos Catalino Curet Alonso was born on February 12, 1926 in Hoyo Ingles, Guayama, Borinquen (Puerto Rico). …
Continue reading Tite Curet Alonso, “Poet of the People” (New Revised Article).
Voice of the Water Lily 