Vocal Sampling is an all-male a cappella musical group from Cuba. They are distinctive for their rich a cappella adaptations of traditional Cuban salsa music, son, and Rumba, such as their renditions of "El Cuarto de Tula" and "La Negra Tomasa", vocally imitating the piano, cowbell, conga, bass, and trumpet, used originally in such songs. Their 2002 album Cambio de Tiempo (English: Change of Time) was nominated for 3 Grammy Awards.
"Many music fans enjoy a time-machine fantasy where they are transported back to a famous dance club of the past. For some, it's Studio 54 or the Fillmore, but for me, the first choice would be New York's Palladium Ballroom in the 1950s."
"Like many American stories, the tale of Fania comes from the boroughs and inner city barrios of New York City. In the early 60’s young Latin musicians brought the music from their homelands into the Great Apple and thus began a great period of musical reinvention and free cooperation amongst the melting pot of cultures living in the city."
Fania Records now has a new website. Check it out: www.fania.com
Hispafilms in association with Perles Films presents the Kids in Exile Films production, Celia the Queen, a feature length documentary about the life and legacy of a woman whose voice symbolized the soul of a nation. Erupting onto the Cuban music scene as the frontwoman for La Sonosa Mantancera, Celia Cruz broke down all the barriers of racism and sexism. With the powerful weapon of her voice and the warm tolerance of her heart, Celia soon became all things to all people. This film will show the diversity of the people whose lives she touched, from the big stars of music, literature and film like Quincy Jones, Andy Garcia and Wyclef Jean to ordinary people all over the world.
From Latin jazz and mambo to salsa, Tejano, Chicano rock, Latin pop and reggaeton, LATIN MUSIC USA tells the story of the rise of new American music forged from powerful Latin roots and reveals the often overlooked influence of Latin music on jazz, hip hop, rhythm and blues and rock n roll — and on all of American culture. Jimmy Smits narrates. For more information on the film, visit http://www.pbs.org/latinmusicusa.