Bad Bunny Joins Voices with Victor Manuelle on the Salsa/Trap Collaboration “Mala y Peligrosa”

Posted on November 5, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Bad Bunny is going tropical…

The 23-year-old Puerto Rican Latin hip-hop/trap singer and rapper, who will be performing at this year’s Latin Grammys, has joined voices with salsa star Victor Manuelle on the new single “Mala y Peligrosa.”

Released on Friday morning along with a music video, the single combines Manuelle’s salsa with what’s popular today, trap music.

“My intention with this song is to try to reach a young audience that is captivated by urban music, because I feel that salsa has lost its attention,” told Manuelle to Billboard.

When Manuelle collaborates with an urban singer, his only rule is that it has to be a salsa song.

“He [Bad Bunny] was very clear that the message and style of the song has a vocabulary that is not his style, but his improvisation was very clean and humorous, nothing that could sound offensive,” Manuelle explains.

The song was co-written by Manuelle, Bad Bunny and Víctor Alfonso Sanabria-López and follows Manuelle’s previous single “Hasta Que Me Dé La Gana“, which peaked No. 6 on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart.

The music video, directed by Fernando Lugo, was filmed in Puerto Rico with scenery of a clandestine bar, where a band plays Latin jazz and a lady flirts with Manuelle and Bad Bunny, becoming the song’s muse.

“Mala y Peligrosa” is Manuelle’s second single from his forthcoming album, which will be released in 2018 as part of a celebration of his 25-year career.

Prince Royce Notches 15th No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Songs Chart

Posted on April 22, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a special quinceañera for Prince Royce…

The 27-year-old Dominican American singer has earned his 15th No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Songs airplay chart as “Deja Vu,” featuring Shakira (who earns her fifth leader), steps 2-1 on the April 29-dated chart.

The lift puts Royce in third place for most chart-toppers on the 23-year-old chart, breaking out of a tie with Gilberto Santa Rosa and Elvis Crespo (each with 14 No. 1s). He is bested only by Marc Anthony and Victor Manuelle, who each lead the pack with 28 No. 1s.

“I feel honored and grateful for being amongst artists I admire. Marc Anthony and Victor Manuelle have been creating great music for so many years and have maintained the tropical genre,” Royce shared with Billboard.

The song reaches the top spot due to a 9 percent audience increase at monitored Latin stations, to 14.3 million impressions in the tracking week ending April 16, according to Nielsen Music.

Further, Royce has earned the 15 crowning hits faster than any other act — six years, six months, and two weeks after is first (“Stand By Me” reached No. 1 on the Aug. 14, 2010 chart). Anthony has the second-fastest accumulation of his first 15 No. 1 hits: seven years, one week (between June 17, 1995, when “Te Conozco Bien” hit No. 1, through June 29, 2002, when “Viviendo” first led the tally).

Royce adds, “Obtaining my 15th number 1 on the Tropical Songs chart in less than seven years is an accomplishment I’m proud of and I’d like to thank my fans, radio programmers, my team and all of the people that have supported my music throughout the years.”

Prince Royce’s 15 No. 1s on Tropical Songs chart
Title, peak date (weeks at No. 1)
“Stand By Me,” Aug. 14, 2010 (one week)
“Corazon Sin Cara,” Oct. 23, 2010 (10 weeks)
“El Verdadero Amor Perdona” (Mana featuring Prince Royce), Dec. 10, 2011 (two weeks)
“Las Cosas Pequeñas,” Feb. 4, 2012 (two weeks)
“Incondicional,” June 16, 2012 (two weeks)
“Te Me Vas,” March 2, 2013 (four weeks)
“Darte Un Beso,” Aug. 17, 2013 (seven weeks)
“Te Robare,” March 8, 2014 (two weeks)
“Soy El Mismo,” Aug. 2, 2014 (one week)
“Solita,” March 21, 2015 (one week)
“Que Cosas Tiene El Amor” (Anthony Santos & Prince Royce), June 20, 2015 (one week)
“Culpa Al Corazon,” Feb. 13, 2016 (four weeks)
“La Carretera,” July 9, 2016 (one week)
“Moneda,” featuring Gerardo Ortiz, Jan. 28, 2017 (three weeks)
“Deja Vu,” with Shakira, April 29, 2017 (one week, so far)

On working with Shakira, Royce says the collaboration “has been such a great experience. She’s so talented and professional. The chemistry between us has been great; I love that she’s hands on and has been part of the process since day one.”

“Deja Vu” is the latest single from Royce’s most recent album, Five, which remains at No. 1 for a seventh straight week on the Tropical Albums chart.

Nazario Releases Video for “Soy Tuya,” Dedicated to Her Native Puerto Rico

Posted on March 25, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Ednita Nazario is celebrating La Isla del Encanto…

The 61-year-old Puerto Rican singer-songwriter has released her new single “Soy Tuya,” which she dedicated to Puerto Rico’s baseball team.

Nazario premiered the song in her social media, along with an emotive lyric video.

The clip shows the beautiful island scenery and great achievements of different personalities like Zuleyka Rivera winning the Miss Universe crown, boxer Tito Trinidad, tennis player Monica Puig winning the gold medal in the 2016 Olympic Games and, of course, the Puerto Rico baseball team during the World Baseball Classic 2017.

“Seeing my country, Puerto Rico, united is the greatest joy that I can feel, she wrote, adding: “Thank you for giving the best of you and we will continue to do the same: give ourselves in body and soul to a productive and positive life for ours and for everyone.”

This year, Puerto Rico’s team made its presence felt after reaching the finals without losing a game and uniting an entire country. They also generated a polemic movement: all the players decided during the series to dye their hair blond, immediately going viral. From young people to singers like Victor Manuelle, Ken-Y and Wisin (with a wig) also joined the movement and went blond.

Santa Rosa Becomes Guinness World Records Record-Holder

Posted on November 7, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Gilberto Santa Rosa has entered the record books…

The 54-year-old Puerto Rican singer, known as El Caballero de la Salsa, has become a Guinness World Records record-holder.

Santa Rosa has been recognized for having the most No. 1s on Billboard’s Tropical Albums chart.

He’s earned 12 No. 1s since the chart launched in 1985, more than any other act (Victor Manuelle follows with 11).

Guinness World Records presented him with the award at La Salsa Vive, The Concert at Madison Square Garden, where Santa Rosa and other tropical artists, like El Gran Combo, Ruben Blades and Jose Alberto “El Canario” all performed.

Santa Rosa, who began his singing career during the 1980s, earned his first No. 1 in 1992 with Perspectiva — which, with 10 crowning weeks, is his longest-running chart-topper to date. Most recently, Necesito Un Bolero topped the tally on the Feb. 28, 2015 dated list.

Here’s a look at Santa Rosa’s 12 No. 1s on the Tropical Albums chart:

Title, Peak date (weeks at No. 1) 
Perspectiva, Jan. 11, 1992 (10 weeks)
Esencia, Dec. 7, 1996 (four weeks)
Intenso, May 19, 2001 (two weeks)
Viceversa, Sept. 21, 2002 (eight weeks)
Autentico, Sept. 11, 2004 (one week)
Asi Es Nuestra Navidad (with El Gran Combo), Dec. 17, 2005 (two weeks)
Dos Soneros, Una Historia (with Victor Manulle), Dec. 31, 2005 (three weeks)
Directo Al Corazon, April 1, 2006 (two weeks)
Una Navidad Con Gilberto, Dec. 20, 2008 (three weeks)
El Caballero De La Salsa: La Historia Tropical, May 30, 2009 (one week)
Irrepetible, July 17, 2010 (one week)
Necesito Un Bolero, Feb. 28, 2015 (one week)

Guinness World Records adjudicator Raquel Assis bestowed the award to Santa Rosa at the concert. She stated “as the global authority in record-breaking, it is an honor to present Gilberto with this achievement and to be part of a night filled with some of the biggest stars of tropical music.”

In addition to his album achievements, Santa Rosa has also notched several hit songs on the Billboard charts. He holds 10 top 10s on the Hot Latin Songs chart, including a No. 1 with “Que Alguien Me Diga,” which spent three weeks atop the chart in 2000. Over on the Tropical Songs chart, he has notched 14 No. 1s, where he is tied (with Elvis Crespo) for third place among acts with the most chart-toppers.

Anthony Earns His Record 27th No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Songs Chart with His Gente de Zona Collaboration

Posted on March 19, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Marc Anthony is the sole King of Tropical Music once again…

The 47-year-old Puerto Rican singer’s collaboration with Gente de Zona, “Traidora,” rises 3-1 in its 10th charting week on Billboard’s Tropical Songs chart (up 31 percent in plays at the format in the week ending March 13).

The crowning achievement gives Anthony his 27th career No. 1 on the chart, breaking him out of a tie with Victor Manuelle to now lead as the artist with the most chart-toppers ever.

Additional, the single gives Gente de Zona its fourth No. 1.

Zaa Pulls Rare Double on Billboard’s Tropical Charts

Posted on November 27, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Charlie Zaa has pulled a rare tropical double…

The 41-year-old Colombian tropical singer tops both Billboard’s Tropical Albums and Tropical Songs charts (dated Dec. 5), becoming only the second act to simultaneously top the charts this year.

Zaa’s new album, the Sergio George-produced Mi Mejor Regalo, soars 18-1 in its second week with 1,000 copies sold in the week ending Nov. 19, according to Nielsen Music.

The album debuted a week earlier after pre-street date sales pushed it onto the list early.

The 10-track set is a tropical tribute to Mexican singer-songwriter Joan Sebastian, who died earlier this year (July 13, 2015). The concept to record the songs, in Zaa’s typical bachata/bolero style, was already in the works prior to Sebastian’s death.

Mi Mejor Regalo gives Zaa his fourth chart-topping album, the first of which was earned in 1997 when Sentimientos spent 15 weeks at No. 1. It’s also his best-selling album in the U.S., with 326,000 sold. His most recent No. 1 was in 2011, when De Bohemia reached the peak and spent 61 weeks in the top 20.

Meanwhile, on the Tropical Songs airplay chart, Zaa’s “Un Idiota” rises 52 percent in spins during the tracking week ending Nov. 22, according to Nielsen Music, shooting the track 9-1 and earning Zaa his first No. 1 (of his seven total charted tracks – which includes three top 10s).

Other than Zaa, salsa singer Victor Manuelle is the only other artist to concurrently top both Tropical lists. In 2015, “Agua Bendita” and Que Suenen Los Tambores each held the highest rank on the charts dated May 9.

Boneta to Serve as a Presenter at the Latin Grammys

Posted on November 17, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Diego Boneta is heading to the Latin Grammys…

The 24-year-old Mexican singer/actor will join Zoe Saldaña, Rita Moreno, Miguel Bose, Yandel, Julieta Venegas, Leslie Grace, Victor Manuelle, current nominees including René Camacho, Pedro Capó and Aída Cuevas and over a dozen other Latin personalities in presenting awards at the Latin Grammys on Thursday night.

A total of 22 well-known presenters will cross the stage at the 16th annual Latin Grammy Awards, joining 32 performers, including Fifth Harmony, Latin chart-topping artists Nicky Jam and J Balvin, OMI of “Cheerleader” fame, Ricky Martin, regional Mexican star Espinoza Paz, urban sensation Maluma and six-time Grammy winners Banda el Recodo. Will Smith is set to appear with Colombian duo Bomba Estereo, and Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year Roberto Carlos will also perform.

The show will be broadcast live on the Univision Network Thursday night (Nov. 19) at 8 p.m. ET/PT from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Actress Roselyn Sanchez and model and Univison presenter Jacqueline Bracamontes will host the awards.

Manuelle Reclaims the Record for the Most No. 1s on Billboard’s Tropical Songs Chart

Posted on September 9, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Victor Manuelle is back in the lead…

The 46-year-old Puerto Rican salsa singer, songwriter, and improvisational son singer, has reclaimed the record for the most No. 1s on Billboard’s Tropical Songs chart, as he earns his 26th leader on the Sept. 19-dated chart with “No Queria Enganarte.”

Manuelle’s song steps 2-1 in its seventh week, rising 26 percent in plays at the format, according to Nielsen Music, in the week ending Sept. 6.

Manuelle, known to his fans as El Sonero de la Juventud, breaks a tie with Marc Anthony for the most No. 1s, as “Enganarte” becomes his third chart-topper this year.

The track also climbs seven percent in plays on Billboard’s Latin Pop Airplay chart (continuing at No. 25 for a second week), aided by a pop version featuring Puerto Rican singer Raquel Sofia.

Manuelle Gearing Up for 20-City U.S. Tour

Posted on August 4, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Victor Manuelle is hitting the road…

Following a string of smash singles on Billboard’s airplay charts, the 46-year-old Puerto Rican salsa star is gearing up for what could very well be his most extensive U.S. tour in recent history.

Manuelle’s Que Suenen Los Tambores tour, named after his most recent album and single (which hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart), kicks off on August 25 at Chicago’s Auditorium Theater. From there, he’ll play a total of 20 dates, ending in Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater on November 28. Tickets go on sale Friday, at 10:00 am ET.

Manuelle’s nearly 20-year career has been marked by innovation and risk. He’s recorded pop and at one point recorded independently. Most recently, on the album Que Suenen los Tambores, he included a track dedicated to his father, who’s suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease.

Through it all, Manuelle has remained a constant on the charts. Earlier this year, his single “Agua Bendita” became his 25th No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Songs chart, tying him with Marc Anthony for the most No. 1s on the chart.

For the chart dated August 8, his new single “No Queria Enganarte” arrived at No. 9, giving him his 60th charting hit and extending his record as the act with the most hits on the chart in its 21-year history (Anthony follows with 50). The entrance of the latest single marks Manuelle’s 49th top 10 — also furthering his lead for most top 10s.

In addition to the album track, a pop/ballad version featuring singer Raquel Sofia, is expected to be released on August 14.

Manuelle’s tour will serve as a retrospective of his No. 1s, those close to him told Billboard. He will be touring with his full salsa band (who also accompanied during his Billboard en Vivo performance in April) and new production.

Que Suenen Los Tambores U.S. tour dates:

Aug. 29 – CHICAGO, IL – Auditorium Theatre
Oct. 9 – NEWARK, NJ – NJ Performing Arts Center
Oct. 10 – ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – Tropicana Casino & Resort
Oct. 11 – BOSTON, MA – Orpheum Theatre
Oct. 16 – ORLANDO, FL – Hard Rock Live at Universal Studios
Oct. 17 – HOLLYWOOD, FL – Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hotel & Casino
Oct. 18 – ATLANTA, GA – Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
Oct. 22 – CHARLOTTE, NC – The Fillmore
Oct. 23 – RALEIGH, NC – The Ritz
Oct. 24 – JACKSONVILLE, FL
Nov. 5 – COLUMBUS, OH – The Palace Theater
Nov. 6 – ROCHESTER, NY – Auditorium Theatre
Nov. 7 – MASHANTUCKET, CT – Foxwoods Resort Casino
Nov. 14 – SAN JUAN, PR – Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot
Nov. 20 – HOUSTON, TX – Bayou Music Center
Nov. 21– SAN ANTONIO, TX – Aztec Theater
Nov. 22 – DALLAS, TX – House of Blues
Nov. 25 – SAN DIEGO, CA – Balboa Theatre
Nov. 27 – SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Warfield Theater
Nov. 28 – LOS ANGELES, CA – Microsoft Theater

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

Posted on July 3, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

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.

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.”

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