Manuel & Fellow Stars Reach No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums with “De Puerto Rico Para El Mundo”

Manny Manuel is helping shine a chart-topping spotlight on Puerto Rico…

De Puerto Rico Para El Mundo, a compilation album by various Puerto Rican stars, including the 44-year-old Puerto Rican singer, leads Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart.

Manny Manuel

The set, which includes Pedro Capo and Ismael Miranda, soars 39-1 in its third charting week, due to sales triggered by its accompanying annual television special put on by Banco Popular, which aired on December 4 on Telemundo.

Sales following the broadcast grew more than 1,000 percent, to 2,000 copies sold in the week ending December 8.

De Puerto Rico Para El Mundo

The album features a mixture of party-ready tunes, holiday selections and patriotic songs that are popular at traditional Puerto Rican Christmas celebrations. They include remakes of Tito Nieves‘ “I Like It Like That” (performed by La Tribu de Abrante featuring Jeimy Osorio) and Vico C‘s “Bomba Para Afincar” (performed by Jowell & Randy), along with the ever-popular “Feliz Navidad” (performed by Manny Manuel featuring Mozart la Para).

Original “Feliz Navidad” singer Jose Feliciano is also featured on the star-studded festive collection. He lends his talents on the patriotic “En Mi Lindo San Juan.”

Miranda Notches His Third No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Songs Chart

Ismael Miranda is having a banner year…

The 65-year-old Puerto Rican salsa singer and Fania All Stars member has earned his third No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Songs chart as his latest single “Bajo, Piano & Bongo” moves up 2-1.

Ismael Miranda

The song, featuring Bobby Valentin, Richie Ray and Roberto Roena, is Miranda’s second chart-topper this year. He previously topped the chart with “Son 45” in February.

With the climb, Miranda claims the most No. 1s on Billboard’s Tropical Songs chart for a member of Fania All-Stars, the legendary salsa group formed by Fania Records in 1968. Miranda breaks out of a tie with Celia Cruz (two No. 1s).

The airplay increase also scores Valentin, who plays bass on the track, and Roena (bongos) — each longtime members of Fania All-Stars as well — their first chart-topper. Richie Ray, an iconic salsa musician known as El Embajador del Piano (The Piano Ambassador), who has collaborated with Fania All-Stars throughout his career, also scores his first No. 1 on the list.

“Bajo, Piano & Bongo” was written and produced by salsa superstar Victor Manuelle, who currently ties Marc Anthony for the record for most No. 1s on the chart (25). When asked about creating this song, Manuelle shared with Billboard, “It’s one of the most important songs that I’ve composed, and was a challenge writing a song for stars of their status.”

It’s the second track to crown the chart from Miranda’s latest album, Son 45, which peaked at No. 3 on the Tropical Albums chart. The set’s title track, an ode to his 45-year career, reached the top on the chart dated February 21.

Manuelle says “reaching No. 1 lets us know that there is still an audience that values good salsa.”

Miranda Earns Second Career No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Songs Chart

It may have taken some time, but Ismael Miranda is back at the top of the charts…

The 64-year-old Puerto Rican salsa singer crowns Billboard’s Tropical Songs chart with “Son 45,” earning him the second No. 1 on the airplay list of his career and his first in a decade.

Ismael Miranda

The track rises 5-1 in its 15th week with a 39 percent increase in plays in the week ending February 8, according to Nielsen Music. Miranda last capped the ranking in 2005 when “Se Fue Y Me Dejo,” featuring Cheka & Andy Montanez, spent a week at the helm.

The celebratory “Son 45,” written and produced by Victor Manuelle, is the title track from Miranda’s most recent album and recounts the salsa veteran’s 45-year career, proudly declaring his roots in the genre.

Miranda becomes only the second member of Fania All-Stars (the legendary musical ensemble formed by Fania Records in 1968) to have two No. 1s, matching Celia Cruz‘s tally. “I’m really proud and satisfied with the work done,” Miranda tells Billboard. “The message in this song represents what the salsa genre means for our culture, history and identity.”

On working with Victor Manuelle, who holds 24 No. 1s on the Tropical Songs chart of his own (the second-most in the chart’s history), Miranda says of Manuelle — who produced the “Son 45” album — “He never took me away from my traditional style of salsa or the social messages in my songs. Every single thing we did, we made sure to do it with quality. This is a big accomplishment for him as well because it is his first time producing an album for another artist and releasing it on his own label Kiyavi Records.”

Miranda humbly revels in the long-lasting success of salsa music, saying “The fact that this music is still played heavily on the airwaves worldwide is a testament to our message. I have been representing this genre for over forty-five years and salsa is here to stay,” leaving us with the hook of the single: “Yo llevo 45 y sigo con el mismo son!!

Fania Records Signs with Creative Artists Agency

Fania Records is experiencing a resurgence…

A half-century after its founding, the iconic Latin music label is capping off its 50th anniversary by signing with the Creative Artists Agency (CAA), according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Fania Records

Founded in New York City in 1964 by Dominican Republic-born bandleader Johnny Pacheco and attorney Jerry Masucci, Fania Records went on to represent artists including Hector Lavoe, Willie Colon, Celia Cruz, Ray Barretto, Ismael Miranda, Ruben Blades, Cheo Feliciano and Roberto Roena. That impressive roster help cement the label’s status as the definitive home for genres like Latin big band, Afro-Cuban jazz, boogaloo, salsa and Latin R&B.

Masucci became Fania’s sole owner in 1967 (Pacheco stayed on as artistic director), and when he died in 1997, the label, which had fallen dormant for decades, became entangled in probate court.

Miami-based Emusica Entertainment Group purchased Fania’s assets from Masucci’s estate for a reported $9 million to $12 million in 2005 (ownership was later transferred to Codigo Group). The new management got to work sorting through its newly acquired catalog (it eventually unearthed almost 3,000 albums, 3,000 compositions and approximately 10,000 master tracks) and remastering and reissuing them for a new generation of listeners.

The new Fania has been adroit at adapting to changing times. In 2013, the label resumed profitability with approximately a quarter-million albums sold, most of them via digital download. In April, the label partnered with Spotify to launch a dedicated Latin-music app, a first for the genre. The app makes Fania’s entire digital catalog available for streaming, along with visually rich artist pages and a timeline of the label’s 50-year history.

This year, Fania also issued digital compilation albums and DJ remixes and partnered with Central Park’s SummerStage program for a concert series that married its classic tunes with “new school artists,” including DJ Turmix, Canyon Cody, Timothy Brownie and Whiskey Barons.

“Fania has evolved into a robust entertainment brand,” Codigo CMO Michael Rucker said in a statement. “CAA, with its breadth and depth of expertise in harnessing the power of pop culture, will guide us as we move forward into new creative and business territory and introduce us to a broader fan base.”

Sergio George’s Salsa Giants to Perform in Latin America Beginning in October

Sergio George’s Salsa Giants will have you moviendo tus caderas this fall…

The 52-year-old Puerto Rican pianist and noted record producer has announced plans for his music group to perform a series of concerts later this year.

Sergio George's Salsa Giants

The Salsa Giants kick off concert will take place on October 4th in Lima, Peru.

Oscar D’León, Luis Enrique, Cheo Feliciano, Andy Montañez, Willy Chirino, Jose AlbertoEl Canario,” Tito Nieves, vocalist Nora from Orquesta de la Luz and Charlie Zaa make up the line up of the Salsa Giants concert at Lima’s San Marcos University.

The group’s tour will continue to Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia and Panama, with dates still to be announced.

Marc Anthony, a featured singer on the Salsa Giants debut album, which was recorded live at the Curacao North Sea Jazz Festival, will not be part of the group’s kick off concert, as he’s scheduled to play the same night at San Juan, Puerto Rico’s Coliseo de Puerto Rico José M. Agrelot, commonly referred to as el Choliseo.

Meanwhile, salsa pioneers the Fania All Stars will stage a rare reunion concert at the Choliseo on Oct. 18.

That line up will include Fania founder Johnny Pacheco, Ismael Miranda, Feliciano, Colón, Larry Harlow, Bobby Valentín and others who were present at the birth of salsa in 1960s in New York City.

The concert will include tributes to departed All Star members Hector Lavoe, Celia Cruz, Ray Baretto and others, with a special nod to Puerto Rican cuatro player Yomo Toro, who passed away last year.

The Fania musicians will continue on a world tour in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Fania Records, according to the company’s Chief Marketing Officer Michael Rucker. No other concert dates have been announced at this time.