Our Thing: The Birth of Salsa in Nueva York

La Brega is back, and here to stay! For three weeks out of every month, you’ll hear fascinating stories about our history and identity, reports on the latest issues in Puerto Rico and across the Caribbean, and exciting interviews with some of the most creative artists and thinkers of our time. In this episode, we dive into Esencia, a controversial $2.7 billion proposed luxury complex in Cabo Rojo. Experts warn the project would displace locals and threaten wildlife in the area. The La Brega team takes us through this landscape as we hear the sounds that could be lost if Esencia is built. Subscribe to La Brega and follow @labregapodcast so you never miss an episode! Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for ad-free listening, early-access and exclusive bonus episodes with the chisme behind Our Thing: The Birth of Salsa in Nueva York and all our podcasts: www.futuromediagroup.org/joinplus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Senior Producer Jeanne Montalvo sat down to chat with Afro-Filipino singer-songwriter and New York legend Joe Bataan at the Bronx Music Heritage Center in 2024.As you’ve heard in Our Thing: The Birth of Salsa in Nueva York, Joe is full of all kinds of stories about New York, about music, and about the rollercoaster ride that’s made up his career. In this week’s bonus episode, we share unaired segments from their interview and are even treated to a special performance by Joe. The Futuro Plus Team includes associate producer Liliana Ruiz, production manager Victoria Estrada, and development manager Danetsy Len. Mixing by Multitude Productions. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for ad-free listening, early-access and exclusive bonus episodes with the chisme behind Our Thing: The Birth of Salsa in Nueva York and all our podcasts: www.futuromediagroup.org/joinplus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fania Records is changing. Co-owner Jerry Masucci wants to sell the company but his partner Johnny Pacheco refuses to sell. Tensions rise between the two, until an alleged betrayal sets them on very different paths. The end of Fania Records doesn’t spell the end of salsa though. The artform these underdogs created lives on. Listen to the Music Behind Our Thing: The Birth of Salsa in Nueva York playlist here.Archival courtesy of Craft Recordings, a Concord company, Doc Stanley, Mary Kent’s Salsa Talks interviews, Aurora Flores Hostos Interviews, Jeanne Montalvo Interviews and Maria Hinojosa for Latino USA. This episode also utilizes fair use clips from HITN Television and TelevisaUnivision. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for ad-free listening, early-access and exclusive bonus episodes with the chisme behind Our Thing: The Birth of Salsa in Nueva York and all our podcasts: www.futuromediagroup.org/joinplus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New kid on the block Ruben Blades moves from Panama to New York City. He gets a job in the mail room at Fania Records, where he tries to pitch his music. Eventually, he gets executives to listen to what he has to offer and lands a collaboration with the legend Willie Colon. But their idea for an album is met with skepticism from music executives, who are later – very dramatically – proven wrong. Listen to the Music Behind Our Thing: The Birth of Salsa in Nueva York playlist here.Archival courtesy of The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library, Maria Hinojosa for Latino USA, Craft Recordings, a Concord company, and Aurora Flores Hostos Interview. This episode also utilizes fair use clips from WBAI Radio, Third World Newsreel Film Collective - El Pueblo Se Levanta, FOX 5 New York, Tik Tok, and Vox Media. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for ad-free listening, early-access and exclusive bonus episodes with the chisme behind Our Thing: The Birth of Salsa in Nueva York and all our podcasts: www.futuromediagroup.org/joinplus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the height of Fania’s success, the label’s artists are invited to Zaire to perform at a highly anticipated boxing match. For many of these Black artists, this is the first time they are stepping foot on African soil. Welcomed by a rapturous crowd, the Fania All Stars give a legendary performance and many of them connect with their roots.  Listen to the Music Behind Our Thing: The Birth of Salsa in Nueva York playlist here.Archival courtesy of The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx Historical Society, Mary Kent’s Salsa Talks interviews, Aurora Flores Hostos Interviews, Craft Recordings, a Concord company, and Maria Hinojosa for Latino USA. This episode also utilizes fair use clips from Hemdale Leisure Productions, ESPN, Ora TV, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Antidote Films, and PolyGram Filmed Entertainment.Additional music this episode also courtesy of SONGS of Media Creature.Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for ad-free listening, early-access and exclusive bonus episodes with the chisme behind Our Thing: The Birth of Salsa in Nueva York and all our podcasts: www.futuromediagroup.org/joinplus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.